Topic normal. Discuss

[Charles]

Well, there's not much I can say regarding this topic. Most of my views have been covered already.

I believe that I stated in another thread sometime ago, that normality is tied in with ideology. For those of you who don't know, ideology can be stripped down into a simple definition: It's the way we do things and why we do things.

As society progresses, we experience revelations in normality. Even the bible or other classic literature exhibit actions that were considered normal for the time, but would be outlandish in much of today's world. Slavery would be a fine example.

Also, as I said before, the Hittites, who were a marvelous group of people (they invented the wheel, arithmetic, the division of six in measuring time, etc.) found it perfectly acceptable to have sex with animals. Other societys found prostitution honorable because human fertility was needed to bring forth spring, or winter would never end.

In the end, normality is a tool used by much of society in measuring others, thus, producing a superiority complex. In the end, we're all programmed to believe what's "normal" and what is not. Most of you will be very unhappy to learn that many of your thoughts and values aren't even yours to begin with. You've merely been produced and packaged to operate within society.

[Manic Webb]

Okay, I've broken down normal into two things...

[b]People Normal[/b] is the way we want/don't want things to be. It's what we've been talking about this whole time. Is normal the average? Is normal relative? Is it carved by society? That's what I call "people normal."

[b]Law Normal[/b] is what [i]should[/i] be. The Earth takes 365 days (366 on leap years) to spin around the sun. If the Earth suddenly rotatated around the sun in only 10 days and spun on its own axis at half its normal speed (reducing everything's weight by one half), that wouldn't be normal. :)

So there. There [b]is[/b] such thing as normal, it just exists on different terms.

[Desbreko]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Vegitto4 [/i]
[B]I have not fouynd a definition in the dictionary for normal.[/B][/QUOTE]
[color=indigo][b]Normal[/b] - nor mal
adj.
1. Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical: [i]normal room temperature; one's normal weight; normal diplomatic relations.[/i] :p

When you're talking about normal among how people act, dress, think, what have you, there simply is no [i]real[/i] normal. Everyone is unique in some way or another. "Normal," as most people think of it, is what happens to be popular at the time. So, in other words, whatever the majority of people are doing at the time.

It seems that people that are worried about "being normal" are, when it comes down to it, worried about what other people think about them, and as such, they try to do anything they can to be like other people so as not to be thought bad of. Hence you have large groups of people, acting basically the same, and that becomes the new "normal" when the group becomes large enough.

So, yeah, that's basically what it comes down to, I think: People that are scared of what other people think of them. I, myself, pretty much totally ignore what's "normal" because I really don't care what other people think about me. And, as such, I tend to stand out from most people, and I'm, from what I can tell, considered "weird" among other things by quite a few people. (Granted, I'm not the best at reading people's expressions and such, but sometimes it's hard to miss). Coincidence? I don't think so.[/color]

[James]

[quote]If nothing is normal, then in this post-modern age, there is no truth, everything is relative and a matter of perspective. I don't buy that.
[/quote]

[color=royalblue]Yet, that is exactly right. Everything in our society is what we make it.

Of course, it depends what you mean by truth. I don't think we're talking about objective truths here though; we're talking about morality and human society. We're not talking about scientific facts or something.

Everything in our society is an issue of perspective. I mean, there are tribes on some parts of the Earth where old people are killed because they are a burden on the tribe. Now, to you and I that sounds totally and utterly wrong and immoral. But to that society, it is acceptable. Even elderly people within that society accept it.

My point is, we all have different "normals". There is no objective normal in the world. Every society is different to some extent and society evolves and changes over large periods of time.

Things such as murder and rape have been consistently wrong and immoral in our society for many thousands of years. This doesn't mean that our laws or perceptions are objectively right or wrong...it's just how we, as human beings, have decided to organize our society. The masses (and those in power) decide what is acceptable and unacceptable.

So, yes...normal at its most basic level simply means "what the majority thinks/does". Does that mean normal is necessarily right or wrong? No. Normal is just normal for that period of time. It may or may not change.

So if people ask "Am I normal?", they are asking "How do I compare to the majority of our society?". It's really as simple as that.[/color]

[marbar]

Wow, talk about a hard act to follow.

I just want to say that I think that 'normal' describes the exact average, the view of the majority. For example, using the Japanese shoe thing brought up before, in some countries you remove your shoes when you enter a building but in majority of countries, you don't. Therefore a 'normal' person (using the biggest air quotes ever!) does not remove their shoes, or sandals, or moccasins, or whatever. Worldwide normal is just the average.

The problem with that is that modern society has warped the definition of 'normal' beyond recognition. Now every country, town, small group even time period has its own view of normality.

Sorry, everyone hates a literalist but that is what I have to say.

[Lady Asphyxia]

[color=darkred] ...Well, okay. I'll use Desbreko's definition (which I believe comes from dictionary.com)

[quote]Normal - nor mal
[i]adj.[/i]
1. Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical: normal room temperature; one's normal weight; normal diplomatic relations.

[i]n.[/i]
Something normal; the standard: scored close to the normal.
The usual or expected state, form, amount, or degree.

Correspondence to a norm.
An average. [/quote]

Normality is relative to the standards of people in the environment, as you guys have already said. Normal will change with time, seasons, fashions, and people who were once considered wierd will become normal...but it might take a few hundred years or so.

Some people revel in their wierdness. Some are just naturally odd. However, I must admit, in this day and age, normal is pretty much an 'ideal'. Everyone has their quirks which takes them out of the normal category.

And thinking about it, would we [i]want[/i] everyone to be normal? Think about it. The idea leans itself so much to everyone being identical in looks, thoughts, and feelings.

But normality is something which, in trying to be normal, we create the wierdness that defines and identifies so many people.

I have no idea if what I just said makes any sense, but there you go. [/color]

[Dan L]

"Normal" in terms of people all depends on location. Normal is whatever the majority in any particular area decide it to be. "Normal" in terms of people is all subjective, there's no absolute objective truth.

However, in terms of absolute truths, we can never really know what 'Normal' is because we all perceive things so differently that it's impossible for us to tell..

[Vegitto4]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Desbreko [/i]
[B][color=indigo][b]Normal[/b] - nor mal
adj.
1. Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical: [i]normal room temperature; one's normal weight; normal diplomatic relations.[/i] :p

[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

Interesting. Glad you found it. however, wasn't it just stating with what i thought anyway? Conformity. Bah, such a waste of time.

James has well covered what i was going to say. Dang.

Who cares about majority. Maybe, in voting, majority rules, but whats that to say about individualism. if so many people do preach about being yourself, and not conforming, then why conform to those people? Dont say it, do it. In life, you really can't end up not conforming to anybody, there will always be somebody you conform to, and someone will conform to you. You can't escape it, and thats what sucks.

[Mitch]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Crazy White Boy [/i]
[B]

In the end, normality is a tool used by much of society in measuring others, thus, producing a superiority complex. In the end, we're all programmed to believe what's "normal" and what is not. Most of you will be very unhappy to learn that many of your thoughts and values aren't even yours to begin with. You've merely been produced and packaged to operate within society. [/B][/QUOTE]

[color=red] That is so true. We are all in part a way we act today because of the restrictions, the laws, and everything in between, that our society says is right. Even if some might not admit it, they are at least in some part or way, a packaged and produced individual within our society.

It is only our normal inquisitive and curiosity ridden human ways that let us break out and become something a little more than that.

But still, we are held back within society, and what we have absorbed from it and placed within our minds as what is the truth and what is falsly portrayed is changed into what society believes is normal and correct. It may seem rather lacking for changing us, but it does.[/color]