|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 5:19 pm
A long time ago I made a topic on this, but that was a long time ago, so I'll present my thesis here.
There is no such thing as a normal person. Our personalities are too unique to allow one vast majority of people to be similar enough to be truly called "normal people". This means that the truth of what we call normal is merely defined by a certain influential figure or group. Normal is fitting the standards of the current trend, whether that is your natural tendency or not. This means that there are few people who truly are what we call "normal", and a great deal more who pretend to be the same way in order to fit in with those around them. This means that everyone should be considered "weird", and, when I was discussing this with people art school, one girl pointed out that "the only thing that is normal is to be wierd".
Mind you, this is a comparison of your everday person, not sociopaths or psychopaths, nor the mentally retarded. I'm talking about people who are of typical mental health. This is not anything against the handicapped, but merely stating that they are incapable of being dishonest with their personality, as well as incapable of our typical social activities. Therefore, I do not count them in this argument.
Discuss what defines normal in our society, as well as how you try to or don't try to fit in with those around you.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:09 pm
I agree that there is no such thing as "normal". It is all a matter of perspective. What one generation considered wierd or abnormal is quite acceptable to other generations. As for how normal is defined, I think we take our cues from the "alpha males" of society. Obviously they are not always male, rather they are individuals that we perceive as leaders (people we look up to or admire). For example: it seems that a lot of today's teens look to celebrities for their cues on what to wear, how to act, and what to believe.
This is a generalization, of course. There will always be free thinkers, and even those that try to be normal only do so to fit in while not actually buying into it. This ties in to a post I made in some thread somewhere about people wearing masks in society. We all wear masks to some extent to hide our true selves. Many people even hide their true self from themselves. Mostly these masks allow us to "fit in" with the current perception of what is normal or acceptable in society and not be labeled an outcast.
I can't even begin to describe what passes for normal these days. I am mostly out of the loop when it comes to things like that. I basically just do what I like. This is not to say that I don't act certain ways at certain times. At work, for example, I act the part of the dedicated employee in front of my supervisors, when in reality, I could care less about the job I do. To me, it is only a way to get money. I obey the laws of my state and the country only because I don't want to pay fines or go to jail, not because I actually believe all of them are fair or good. As for anything else, (music, clothes, movies, art, literature, politics, spiritual beliefs) I follow my own heart and don't care what others think.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:28 pm
In terms of personality, it is true that a person cannot be completely normal. However, certain aspects of behavior can be considered normal. For example, it is normal to abstain from killing someone when unprovoked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 8:56 pm
Of course. There is always a norm if there is a majority, and even without laws, a majority of people would not willingly kill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:10 pm
as my favorite quote says, "Talk to your pink elephants, then you'll be normal" in today's society, I definitely agree with you. Personalities vary way too much to say that there is a such thing as normal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 10:04 am
archangel1772 I agree that there is no such thing as "normal". It is all a matter of perspective. What one generation considered wierd or abnormal is quite acceptable to other generations. As for how normal is defined, I think we take our cues from the "alpha males" of society. Obviously they are not always male, rather they are individuals that we perceive as leaders (people we look up to or admire). For example: it seems that a lot of today's teens look to celebrities for their cues on what to wear, how to act, and what to believe.
This is a generalization, of course. There will always be free thinkers, and even those that try to be normal only do so to fit in while not actually buying into it. This ties in to a post I made in some thread somewhere about people wearing masks in society. We all wear masks to some extent to hide our true selves. Many people even hide their true self from themselves. Mostly these masks allow us to "fit in" with the current perception of what is normal or acceptable in society and not be labeled an outcast.
I can't even begin to describe what passes for normal these days. I am mostly out of the loop when it comes to things like that. I basically just do what I like. This is not to say that I don't act certain ways at certain times. At work, for example, I act the part of the dedicated employee in front of my supervisors, when in reality, I could care less about the job I do. To me, it is only a way to get money. I obey the laws of my state and the country only because I don't want to pay fines or go to jail, not because I actually believe all of them are fair or good. As for anything else, (music, clothes, movies, art, literature, politics, spiritual beliefs) I follow my own heart and don't care what others think. I like the way you think. The word "normal" is nothing more than a nuisance, atleast in society. "Normal" only applies to the majority or group inquiry and I am not excluding personal beliefs or ideals. Everyone in here atleast has an opinion that varies on the definition or belief of normality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:38 pm
You have, stolen, my <3 [from the beginning]...
Normality is non-existent.
It's true, we differentiate so much in comparison, that there is no such thing as normal.
...it's unconditional love, right? [that's what makes it worth it]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:25 pm
The true definition of normal: The setting on a cloths drier.
Normal is when you feel right with yourself, your actions, and your surroundings, and are just setting there, collecting dust, doing nothing, and rotting where you sit.
Life is not meant to be 'normal'. Have your little 'abnormal' quirks, it's what makes life grand.
besides, normal is only comparative. What someone thinks is 'normal' might be TOTALLY wierd to someone else. So, Normal is in the eye of the beholder. whee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sand From The Future(GTD)
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:39 pm
The way normal is used in our society is wrong as far as it being directed towards human beings. What you must realize (If you don't already), is that being called abnormal isn't necessarily a negative. It lets you know that people around you are still thinking and acknowledging that we're not all the same. The majority is always 'normal'.
It doesn't seem broken to me, why fix it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:20 pm
To me, normal's definition is rather simple.
It is what each person is adjusted to. To others it may seem sick, or distastful, but to the person it concerns it is merely a natural chain of events, or group of people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 6:31 pm
I believe that most all of us are conforming in some sort of way. You may decide to stick out instead of follow the crowd... but in my case, I only do that because my friends do too. I'm not ashamed to admit that I followed the crowd at one point because I wasn't comfortable sticking up for MYSELF. Now I feel truly myself with how I act... but I do appreciate the friends who support me. I also think it helps that my school is a magnet and seems to house a wide variety of 'clicks'... so no matter what you are, you fit in somewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 7:02 pm
Being "normal" is a matter of perspective created by the majority of a group of people to have that comfort feeling for all being the similiar in a physical, mental, or person attribute. *shrugs* Or so my theory is. But in my eyes, the word "normal" is nothing more than that...a word. Because of how times have changed, we are now more individually driven to express ourselves differently in which no one looks or seem the same. The only thing that would seem "normal" is if there is a common trait amoung the majority. I mean, in many muslim country, it is "normal" for women to cover themselves in public. While they see this normal, we don't because we have broken away from a single perspective. I guess its kind of like saying the idea of being normal is dying and that the only thing that would seem normal to us humans is the idea of being different. Oh well, just an idea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:11 pm
Eh, normallcy is overrated anyway.
No one I know is normal. To me, normal is boring and none of my friends. Some of them are nuts but not boring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 9:20 pm
I've picked up two possiblities here cool :
1)A whole bunch of educated debaters agree with me biggrin
2)Everyone here is a bunch of freaks trying to make it sound better blaugh
Doesn't matter to me; I AM Wierdo-man, nunununununuh, Wierdo-man!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 10:57 pm
Put me in that second catagory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
