Thinking Twice About Twins | Alex Armer | TEDxOU

With 21 years of experience on the matter, Alec Armer explains how twins have a stronger sense of personal identity than most individuals. Alec Armer is a senior Entrepreneurship major at The University of Oklahoma who currently serves as the chair for Campus Activities Council. During his time at OU, he has made an impact on growing businesses through his involvement in the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth and served to improve campus life through his involvement in CAC, Camp Crimson, the JCPenney Leadership Program, and more. One of the biggest factors that has shaped his life experiences and sense of identity is the fact that he is an identical twin. Alec’s identical twin, Justin, is a rising junior majoring in drama with an acting emphasis at OU, and most recently appeared in the University Theater production of “Noises Off.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Minghui8170]

I found my people ❤ Growing up it’s really hard growing up as a identical twin. Also to those non twins who think you’re so original for asking “have you switched places?” Literally everyone I know has asked me this

[@hellopinkandyelowfloowerss]

That and the classic "Do you have twin telepathy?" Are the most common. People also think they're original when the tell me they difference me and my twin because I wear earrings or because of my hairstyle. I find it really sad that they difference me because of my physical look and not because of my personality

[@michaelastasova4555]

I roll my eyes when People ask me how can I tell my twins apart, because "oh my God, they look same" 😂 I can tell the difference by their behaviour

[@danielvanderputten162]

I’m absolutely shocked with the points. I’m an identical twin myself, now fourteen years old, and you are so right.

[@CarysAmelie]

I’m a twin, and me and my twin often get treated like we are 1 person, and it’s really annoying lmfao

[@hellopinkandyelowfloowerss]

Me

[@jugglerj0e]

Yah. I know what you mean. As a twin its really annoying.

[@noahpalmer6653]

As a non identical twin, although my brother and I look strikingly similar, it's definitely true (in my experience) that twins develop strong senses of who they are in order to differentiate themselves and stand out from their sibling.

[@trinqwq]

Mmhm

[@kayleegaray6993]

THIS DUDE SPEAKS FACTS as a twin myself not identical but fraternal (people tell us we look identical all the time though) it’s been really really hard to find my individuality as a person and not be clumped up with my sister all the time. I like different things, I enjoy different things, I have my own name, not 1 or 2, not A or B but my name. I am an individual

[@user-cq5tl7um2i]

Literally dealing with this atm and i am also a fraternal twin. I dont really know who i am and got all kinds of other issues as well. Wish you the best kaylee🙏🏼

[@music_loverbff2682]

Ikr! And when people start saying "Oh look.. its the twins"- Like I have a name. I used to be ok with it, but now its just annoying.

[@Tomi-sc7dv]

The thing with identical twins is that you actually think the exact same. Yes you have different preferences and your social behavior is different etc but underneath your thinking is basically the exact same. That's how I see it as an identical twin anyway. Hard to feel like an individual if it bothers you and it has bothered me.

[@hellopinkandyelowfloowerss]

I'm a twin too and people really need to understand that we are different people, and that we don't have twin telepathy 😐

[@hellopinkandyelowfloowerss]

@@music_loverbff2682 people would call me a twin when I was younger instead of my name. I was like, you know I have a name right? I don't want the fact that I have a twin to be my whole personality

[@genevamisssativa2972]

This spoke levels to me. As an identical twin it’s been hard to find myself apart from my twin. This makes me want to pursue who I am without her so much more then precious to watching this video. Thank you❤️

[@brookemorse1407]

Thanks you for this amazing reflection on growing up as a twin! I’m also a fraternal twin and look very similar to my sister. I’ve struggled with my identity for so long that It’s consumed a lot of my life. But watching this has made me feel not so alone on my journey to finding my individuality 🙏

[@w.p.9509]

Is it only me who thinks that twins are less likely to get depressed? I’m a twin and I know everything about my brother and he knows everything about me, we can tell our problems to each other and I think talking about your problems is really helpful if you’re feeling sad. Idk if that’s just us but I really think it’s true.

[@BadMathGavin]

Yeah, same here. I'm a twin, and despite us living closely almost our entire lives, we both have problems dealing with the world and everybody around us. It's like we're in our own little bubble... and it gets lonely, and everything gets so difficult.

[@cheyannecollins3620]

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks the twin bond is breakable, I used to be a twin until my (identical) sister broke our bond. It's been a couple of years and it still hurts, I think about her everyday. IT IS BREAKABLE. No one talks about that, but it is.

[@JaneAtwellRobinson1825NY]

Cheyanne, I'm so sorry to read this. A little talked of fact is that all twin bonds must be broken eventually. My dad is an identical twin and he lost his "clone" 12 years ago when he died in his sleep. He worked very hard on his health after that and I think (almost KNOW really...) that he has lived much longer as a result.

[@Rain-bj2ue]

I’m not an identical twin (I’m a fraternal twin) and this is so true even to me. Also, since my brother is ginger and I’m blond, the first thing people say when they hear I’m a twin is “why don’t you have red hair”

[@tututuffin2575]

I am a twin and semi retired and we have always been very competitive and often have worked for same companies and same jobs throughout the years...we also had parts in plays where we both tried out for the leads and we were both in drill team. We are also fierce about our independence and boundaries at times.

[@pladselsker8340]

I'm a twin and I can relate hehe I'm an INDIVIDUAL

[@adielmartinezfleites7962]

Same here

[@samperrault7962]

Ya

[@hellopinkandyelowfloowerss]

Same

[@tomcanderson]

ALEC ARMER RULES

[@hardeepsingh2505]

Having twins in a few months and this was incredibly insightful....if you have any advice for a father to be on how to nurture individuality let me know 👍

[@lindaharsh6729]

Don't make twins share a birthday cake or gifts! Celebrate each individual for being born. If they argue about what they want to do for their party, give them both their own party.

[@Wilderthought-hm3lr]

as a twin I've never really fitted i society i didn't even learn our mother tongue and it still is very difficult to learn , there is tons of anxiety

[@Kate98755]

raised twins, i could unload all sorts of things i've learned

[@emiliachka]

I’m always so strict with my twin sister because she doesn’t put in as much effort into her looks as me ans I feel like I suffer under this. For me it’s really important that other people find me approachable especially because I have a hard time finding friends and I feel like i don’t have that much friends because of her but I don’t want to criticise her the whole time because if she doesn’t want to be like me, she also shouldn’t. In school we are always together and sit next to each other but I am actually so different to her. I feel like when people want to be friends with one of us they also think that they have to be friends with the other one of us and that sucks because we are not alike.

[@plaidshirtguy2211]

My sisters were named twin A and twin B. As their older sibling I was always with them so I was told go get one or the other because I was always around I supposedly could tell them apart better than anyone else. Not true even though they look the same they clearly have they're differences. People just failed to see it or read it.

[@hollywood7702]

My identical twin friends switch places all the time lol Only one had driver's license but both use it, they have even switched in class too.

[@ronnieacosta5764]

My twin brother and I have switched places.

[@jax2292]

I have identical twin girls 14. It’s tough at this age when they fight it’s mostly over friends or one is more mean. I’ve never had a sister or a twin so I don’t know what to say. I just try to remind them about respect. But any advise is great 🤣👍

[@hardeepsingh2505]

Here you go....learn to spell...it's advice, not advise

[@kirstinetermansen]

Brave

[@krugerfuchs]

Twinless twin

[@areozol7]

Xd

[@Sir_Korey]

Idk if I like this clone telling me “we” have a better sense of individual identity than I do. 🤔