blonds always get asked if they have more fun tall people get asked if they
more fun tall people get asked if they
more fun tall people get asked if they play basketball or volleyball I always
play basketball or volleyball I always
play basketball or volleyball I always get asked have you guys ever switched
get asked have you guys ever switched
get asked have you guys ever switched places hi my name is Alec Armour and I’m
places hi my name is Alec Armour and I’m
places hi my name is Alec Armour and I’m an identical twin now grow Mac growing
an identical twin now grow Mac growing
an identical twin now grow Mac growing up as an identical twin isn’t much
up as an identical twin isn’t much
up as an identical twin isn’t much different from the rest of you but one
different from the rest of you but one
different from the rest of you but one big difference is with the introduction
big difference is with the introduction
big difference is with the introduction and my brother and I have broken this
and my brother and I have broken this
and my brother and I have broken this down into three crucial steps are you
down into three crucial steps are you
down into three crucial steps are you guys twins yes have you guys ever
guys twins yes have you guys ever
guys twins yes have you guys ever switched places No well if I was a twin
switched places No well if I was a twin
switched places No well if I was a twin I would totally switch places sure you
I would totally switch places sure you
I would totally switch places sure you would for a group that makes up 3.4
would for a group that makes up 3.4
would for a group that makes up 3.4 percent of the population meaning over
percent of the population meaning over
percent of the population meaning over two hundred twenty eight million twins
two hundred twenty eight million twins
two hundred twenty eight million twins worldwide we are a vastly misunderstood
worldwide we are a vastly misunderstood
worldwide we are a vastly misunderstood peoples and I don’t just mean that in
peoples and I don’t just mean that in
peoples and I don’t just mean that in the colloquial sense I mean there’s very
the colloquial sense I mean there’s very
the colloquial sense I mean there’s very little conclusive research done on the
little conclusive research done on the
little conclusive research done on the development of twins and most of it’s
development of twins and most of it’s
development of twins and most of it’s done in the same way that I’m doing
done in the same way that I’m doing
done in the same way that I’m doing right now as a personal reflection by a
right now as a personal reflection by a
right now as a personal reflection by a twin themselves so with birth rates
twin themselves so with birth rates
twin themselves so with birth rates nearly doubled in the United States for
nearly doubled in the United States for
nearly doubled in the United States for twins since 1980 this is an increasingly
twins since 1980 this is an increasingly
twins since 1980 this is an increasingly important and impactful area of study so
important and impactful area of study so
important and impactful area of study so another question I get asked is are you
another question I get asked is are you
another question I get asked is are you guys like the same person well to the
guys like the same person well to the
guys like the same person well to the people that mistake me for Justin on a
people that mistake me for Justin on a
people that mistake me for Justin on a weekly basis and the people that mistake
weekly basis and the people that mistake
weekly basis and the people that mistake Justin for me on a daily basis this may
Justin for me on a daily basis this may
Justin for me on a daily basis this may be true and even you guys maybe have
be true and even you guys maybe have
be true and even you guys maybe have consciously or unconsciously thought
consciously or unconsciously thought
consciously or unconsciously thought that he likes it so his twin must like
that he likes it so his twin must like
that he likes it so his twin must like it too but like Justin’s belief that
it too but like Justin’s belief that
it too but like Justin’s belief that white wine is better than red wine you
white wine is better than red wine you
white wine is better than red wine you would be sadly mistaken so today I’m
would be sadly mistaken so today I’m
would be sadly mistaken so today I’m going to prove to you that twins aren’t
going to prove to you that twins aren’t
going to prove to you that twins aren’t just clones but rather have a stronger
just clones but rather have a stronger
just clones but rather have a stronger sense of individual identity than
sense of individual identity than
sense of individual identity than individuals because of their need for
individuals because of their need for
individuals because of their need for differentiation immediate point of
differentiation immediate point of
differentiation immediate point of reference and cooperatively competitive
reference and cooperatively competitive
reference and cooperatively competitive natures so first I have a strong sense
natures so first I have a strong sense
natures so first I have a strong sense of individual identity because I had to
of individual identity because I had to
of individual identity because I had to purposefully build myself the way that I
purposefully build myself the way that I
purposefully build myself the way that I am it’s not something that came
am it’s not something that came
am it’s not something that came naturally
naturally
naturally this is twins grow up with a collective
this is twins grow up with a collective
this is twins grow up with a collective it’s a lot like being a married couple
it’s a lot like being a married couple
it’s a lot like being a married couple except you’re born that way so that
except you’re born that way so that
except you’re born that way so that means if one quote by Lavoie puts us
means if one quote by Lavoie puts us
means if one quote by Lavoie puts us really well in his study of twins in
really well in his study of twins in
really well in his study of twins in 1989 when he says while most people
1989 when he says while most people
1989 when he says while most people begin life separate and learn intimacy
begin life separate and learn intimacy
begin life separate and learn intimacy my twin and I began life intimate and
my twin and I began life intimate and
my twin and I began life intimate and had to fight for separateness twins
had to fight for separateness twins
had to fight for separateness twins fight their whole lives for
fight their whole lives for
fight their whole lives for individuality because Society will
individuality because Society will
individuality because Society will always assume their collectiveness an
always assume their collectiveness an
always assume their collectiveness an article on smithsonian.com entitled
article on smithsonian.com entitled
article on smithsonian.com entitled twins spend their entire lives trying to
twins spend their entire lives trying to
twins spend their entire lives trying to be different from each other and
be different from each other and
be different from each other and amazingly over title talks about 20
amazingly over title talks about 20
amazingly over title talks about 20 older twins who still in their old age
older twins who still in their old age
older twins who still in their old age were spending time trying to be
were spending time trying to be
were spending time trying to be different from someone that society was
different from someone that society was
different from someone that society was making them fit to be like although I
making them fit to be like although I
making them fit to be like although I don’t have 60 years of experience with
don’t have 60 years of experience with
don’t have 60 years of experience with this I first noticed that this was a
this I first noticed that this was a
this I first noticed that this was a problem when I was writing essays for
problem when I was writing essays for
problem when I was writing essays for college and I had to use the ctrl F
college and I had to use the ctrl F
college and I had to use the ctrl F feature to replace all the Wiis with
feature to replace all the Wiis with
feature to replace all the Wiis with eyes I knew I had to make a difference
eyes I knew I had to make a difference
eyes I knew I had to make a difference and really differentiate myself so when
and really differentiate myself so when
and really differentiate myself so when I came to college I did just that
I came to college I did just that
I came to college I did just that I lived separately for my twin I joined
I lived separately for my twin I joined
I lived separately for my twin I joined different clubs and I had different
different clubs and I had different
different clubs and I had different friends and the same thing was found in
friends and the same thing was found in
friends and the same thing was found in the study all these xx twins ended up in
the study all these xx twins ended up in
the study all these xx twins ended up in different career paths and also never
different career paths and also never
different career paths and also never worked in the same company as their twin
worked in the same company as their twin
worked in the same company as their twin this is because we understand what we
this is because we understand what we
this is because we understand what we like together already but we have to
like together already but we have to
like together already but we have to work to find out what we like as
work to find out what we like as
work to find out what we like as individuals
individuals
individuals separate from our twin so I built myself
separate from our twin so I built myself
separate from our twin so I built myself the way that I am but the good thing is
the way that I am but the good thing is
the way that I am but the good thing is I already had a great starting point to
I already had a great starting point to
I already had a great starting point to know my differences because you guys
know my differences because you guys
know my differences because you guys have been comparing our differences our
have been comparing our differences our
have been comparing our differences our entire lives so that brings me now at my
entire lives so that brings me now at my
entire lives so that brings me now at my second point I have a stronger sense of
second point I have a stronger sense of
second point I have a stronger sense of the small aspects of my identity because
the small aspects of my identity because
the small aspects of my identity because I have someone identical to compare
I have someone identical to compare
I have someone identical to compare myself to
myself to
myself to so we all get a better understanding of
so we all get a better understanding of
so we all get a better understanding of what we’re good at when we compare
what we’re good at when we compare
what we’re good at when we compare ourselves to others so as a twin that
ourselves to others so as a twin that
ourselves to others so as a twin that means you really understand all of your
means you really understand all of your
means you really understand all of your small differences and they become a part
small differences and they become a part
small differences and they become a part of who you are as a twin I found that
of who you are as a twin I found that
of who you are as a twin I found that this is often something social so I have
this is often something social so I have
this is often something social so I have two twin friends Rachel and Alexis and
two twin friends Rachel and Alexis and
two twin friends Rachel and Alexis and their mom describes Alexis as chill and
their mom describes Alexis as chill and
their mom describes Alexis as chill and Rachel as glitter now I have we have a
Rachel as glitter now I have we have a
Rachel as glitter now I have we have a similar thing in my family I’m
similar thing in my family I’m
similar thing in my family I’m considered the more bubbly twin while
considered the more bubbly twin while
considered the more bubbly twin while Justin seen as more personal this
Justin seen as more personal this
Justin seen as more personal this doesn’t mean that one of us is not the
doesn’t mean that one of us is not the
doesn’t mean that one of us is not the other but it does mean that you noticing
other but it does mean that you noticing
other but it does mean that you noticing our small nuances to tell the difference
our small nuances to tell the difference
our small nuances to tell the difference between us it becomes hyper accentuated
between us it becomes hyper accentuated
between us it becomes hyper accentuated in our minds and becomes a part of our
in our minds and becomes a part of our
in our minds and becomes a part of our truths so when I take personality tests
truths so when I take personality tests
truths so when I take personality tests despite the fact that I’m quite good at
despite the fact that I’m quite good at
despite the fact that I’m quite good at one-on-one conversations when I’m
one-on-one conversations when I’m
one-on-one conversations when I’m approached with that idea I find it hard
approached with that idea I find it hard
approached with that idea I find it hard to say that I’m good at that because
to say that I’m good at that because
to say that I’m good at that because that’s always been a part of Justin’s
that’s always been a part of Justin’s
that’s always been a part of Justin’s identity not my own the positive side of
identity not my own the positive side of
identity not my own the positive side of this of course is that we know our
this of course is that we know our
this of course is that we know our difference as well so I’m pursuing
difference as well so I’m pursuing
difference as well so I’m pursuing business and he is pursuing acting
business and he is pursuing acting
business and he is pursuing acting because along the way we found that our
because along the way we found that our
because along the way we found that our strengths helped us more in those
strengths helped us more in those
strengths helped us more in those different areas and it allows us not to
different areas and it allows us not to
different areas and it allows us not to compete directly with one another which
compete directly with one another which
compete directly with one another which brings me to my last point which is that
brings me to my last point which is that
brings me to my last point which is that I have a strong sense of my individual
I have a strong sense of my individual
I have a strong sense of my individual strengths because of cooperative
strengths because of cooperative
strengths because of cooperative competition with my twin I’ve read three
competition with my twin I’ve read three
competition with my twin I’ve read three or four blog posts saying things along
or four blog posts saying things along
or four blog posts saying things along lines of things you don’t know about
lines of things you don’t know about
lines of things you don’t know about twins and all of them have something
twins and all of them have something
twins and all of them have something that says we’re not as competitive as
that says we’re not as competitive as
that says we’re not as competitive as you might think
you might think
you might think which I’m here to tell you is a
which I’m here to tell you is a
which I’m here to tell you is a downright lie I’m extremely competitive
downright lie I’m extremely competitive
downright lie I’m extremely competitive with my twin but over time it’s
with my twin but over time it’s
with my twin but over time it’s transformed into something more
transformed into something more
transformed into something more cooperative we know our differences we
cooperative we know our differences we
cooperative we know our differences we know our strengths so we learn to play
know our strengths so we learn to play
know our strengths so we learn to play to those a big example of this was in
to those a big example of this was in
to those a big example of this was in musical theatre I did a lot of that
musical theatre I did a lot of that
musical theatre I did a lot of that growing up and you know the first five
growing up and you know the first five
growing up and you know the first five shows I did just and I were cast in the
shows I did just and I were cast in the
shows I did just and I were cast in the exact same part you know being twins of
exact same part you know being twins of
exact same part you know being twins of course we got to play it spit split one
course we got to play it spit split one
course we got to play it spit split one small part and got half the lines we
small part and got half the lines we
small part and got half the lines we found out we did not like that so we
found out we did not like that so we
found out we did not like that so we learned to go for different parts that
learned to go for different parts that
learned to go for different parts that play to our strengths Justin has
play to our strengths Justin has
play to our strengths Justin has typically played the more lead
typically played the more lead
typically played the more lead roll well I go for the more character
roll well I go for the more character
roll well I go for the more character humorous actors on the side even though
humorous actors on the side even though
humorous actors on the side even though of course I’m the more handsome one this
of course I’m the more handsome one this
of course I’m the more handsome one this is because of our identity as
is because of our identity as
is because of our identity as competitive identity twins which is one
competitive identity twins which is one
competitive identity twins which is one of six twinship profiles ranging from
of six twinship profiles ranging from
of six twinship profiles ranging from more codependent twins to the
more codependent twins to the
more codependent twins to the collaborative relationship that my
collaborative relationship that my
collaborative relationship that my brother and I share because of this we
brother and I share because of this we
brother and I share because of this we can preemptively stop people from
can preemptively stop people from
can preemptively stop people from assuming our sameness by differentiating
assuming our sameness by differentiating
assuming our sameness by differentiating ourselves from the beginning and
ourselves from the beginning and
ourselves from the beginning and therefore further understanding our own
therefore further understanding our own
therefore further understanding our own strengths in the process
strengths in the process
strengths in the process so in conclusion twins may have a
so in conclusion twins may have a
so in conclusion twins may have a stronger sense of their individual
stronger sense of their individual
stronger sense of their individual identity than you do because they had to
identity than you do because they had to
identity than you do because they had to purposefully find out who they were by
purposefully find out who they were by
purposefully find out who they were by differentiating themselves from their
differentiating themselves from their
differentiating themselves from their twins they’ve also have an immediate
twins they’ve also have an immediate
twins they’ve also have an immediate point of reference to compare themselves
point of reference to compare themselves
point of reference to compare themselves to and they’ve competed with someone
to and they’ve competed with someone
to and they’ve competed with someone their entire lives to further figure out
their entire lives to further figure out
their entire lives to further figure out their own strengths twins aren’t just
their own strengths twins aren’t just
their own strengths twins aren’t just clones while I may respond to Armour or
clones while I may respond to Armour or
clones while I may respond to Armour or twin or even Justin I am an individual
twin or even Justin I am an individual
twin or even Justin I am an individual twins are individuals and they may have
twins are individuals and they may have
twins are individuals and they may have a better sense of what that means than
a better sense of what that means than
a better sense of what that means than you do thank you so much
you do thank you so much
you do thank you so much [Applause]
”
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