What's your definition of normal?

[Jessica]

I think normal is in the eye of the beholder.  When it comes to asking the question "am I normal", you view your own reality and that is what is normal.  When you know that you are living your existence in the best way you are able....that is normal for you.  Nearly everyone is in that group, seeing through their eyes their "normal" life.  Commonalities group society into separate norms, and that is a factor in all this hate seen throughout history.
And all of it, looking at it as a whole is ..........normal.

[AnneK]

Normal, that's the kitten Garfield is always trying to send to Abu Dhabi right?

No, that's "Nermal".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Garfield_characters#Nermal

[SeptagonScars]

Definition: common, usual, average, typical, healthy, expected, etc.
Antonym: my life xD

Whenever I use the word "normal" in conversations with people (usually irl) they tend to berate me for using that word as though it's something bad. I never get that. For me, "normal" is neither good nor bad but a neutral word. Like when I say "I'm not entirely normal" I mean it as in that I deviate from what's generally considered typical or common, and it can be a negative thing, but most often it's something that's positive. Like I can be more artistic than what's normal, for example. A lot of people around me seem to hate that I use that word, cause they put negative connotations to it that I don't. That bothers me sometimes.

It's especially bothersome when I tell someone I think they're normal when they ask, and then they get angry at me for saying so, but it was a compliment cause I envy their normalcy and wish I could be more like them in that aspect.

I don't think of myself as normal cause nothing in my mind and life ever really makes sense to me or others. Because things about me that I'm used to are weird, shocking or unbelievable to a lot of other people. I don't relate easily to others, I always feel "off" and like I don't belong. To me, that doesn't fit my definition of normal, it's abnormal. But sometimes it's a gift and sometimes it's a burden.

[Susan H]

a setting on the dryer?

[DawnOday]

I can tell who it's not. It ain't me babe, I say no, no, no it ain't me babe.

[V M]

I think it rather weird to be discussing the term "Normal" 





*Runs to hide*

[SarahM777]

Normal?? What's normal?


I may be able to point you in the right direction, what ever it is it's not me. 

[Complete]

Statistically typical, with no inherent positive or negative connotation. (Ie: There are tons of bad things that are extremely normal.) Same with abnormal/rare/deviant/etc., in that they are simply statements of variation from the norm or a smaller chance of occurrence without any inherent positive or negative connotation.

One can define anything anyway and call  I t normal. One's personal preference is not necessarily normal.
The above definition is the most widely accepted and accurate definition is provided above, in my opinion.

[DustKitten]

Normal is boring; originality is strange.

Normal is close-minded and hateful; open-mindedness and kindness are rare.

Normal is what everyone else likes; what YOU like is what makes you interesting and unique.

Normal is the blank canvas of society, and those who deviate from the norms are its paint. Without our outcasts and weirdos, the world would be a much blander, less interesting place to live.

[Complete]

Strictly speaking,  normal is a statistical term. "... according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle."

According to this simple, widely accepted definition, blonde hair, blue eyes is abnormal in the human population.  However it is the norm in Scandinavia, (at least until recently when there has been a huge influx of African and Middle Eastern migrants.)
Similarly high intelligence or artistic affinity is a statistical abnormality. Being abnormal is not a bad thing.  Neither is it necessarily a good thing.

[MaryT]

"Normal" is what doctors say you are when they mean "below average" in some respect .  Otherwise they say "average" or "above average".  I presume that the "some respect" is still within a standard deviation of the mean, though.

[MaryT]

That's the truth. I think kangaroos are totally adorable but Tristan told me they are really mean animals. And he told me those adorable koala bears are totally vicious and would shred you with their claws. Then he told me about these huge evil spiders they have there that routinely go into peoples homes and their bite can kill you if you don't get treatment right away. Note to self....Never visit Australia!

Are meanness and viciousness normal for kangaroos and koalas?  Most animals are potentially dangerous, even pet dogs.  When contestants on a reality program were put in a pool with "harmless" Australian freshwater crocodiles, I commented to someone that anything with teeth will bite.  He responded "Yes, and anything without teeth'll give you a damned nasty suck!"

Kangaroos do have a self defence mechanism that at one time caused them to be forced into boxing exhibitions.  Koalas can attack, e.g. in the case of Mary Anne Forster.  She allowed her dogs to approach a koala while it was sitting at the base of a tree.  She was bitten while "protecting" her dogs from the "aggressive" koala.  Look at it from the point of view of the koala, though.  It is a relatively slow moving creature approached by predators descended from wolves.  It must choose fight or flight, and flight was not an option.  BTW I have a photo of my mother holding a koala during one of her visits to Australia.

In 2016, an Australian was bitten on the penis by spiders twice within five months.  Even being bitten once on the penis in a lifetime is pretty rare.  Both attacks took place in portable toilets on building sites.  I can't help wondering whether some colleagues, after seeing him recovered after the first bite, had said "Hur hur hur, wouldn't it be funny if he got bitten on his %^&* again".  The victim said that after the second bite, his colleagues "were making jokes before I was getting in the car".  I'll bet they were. 

[MaryT]

That's the truth. I think kangaroos are totally adorable but Tristan told me they are really mean animals. And he told me those adorable koala bears are totally vicious and would shred you with their claws. Then he told me about these huge evil spiders they have there that routinely go into peoples homes and their bite can kill you if you don't get treatment right away. Note to self....Never visit Australia!

I suppose that "normal" is what you are used to.  You seem to be put off by rumours of dangerous animals in exotic Australia. 

Remember, though, that without leaving your home state of Colorado, you could encounter black bears, mountain lions, black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, rattlesnakes and leprosy-spreading armadillos.  In neighbouring Wyoming there are grizzly bears and wolves.  In the southern states there are alligators and in Florida, gigantic American crocodiles.  Parts of the US are known for terrifying earthquakes, blizzards and tornados, and some geologists say that Old Faithful, not all that far away from you in US terms, is part of a supervolcano that could erupt at any time and make a third of the USA uninhabitable.

You'd better move to Britain.  Animal rights protesters released wild boars in the Forest of Dean but they, and the occasional cold spell, are about the only aspects of nature that could seriously hurt anyone on British dry land.

[RobynD]

Normality seems to me to be something to not strive for. Sometimes people use it as a term for "flying under the radar" sort of thing. It sounds both arbitrary and negative to me.

Many years ago my mom met a new dating partner of mine, after pretty much not approving of previous partners for various reasons. In a family discussion, she said: " I love your new girlfriend, she is so normal it's pathetic". She meant that as positive. My sister and i burst out laughing.

[Sephirah]

My definition of "normal" is... a word other people attribute to someone who fits in with their own views of the world. Whether or not they themselves would, by someone else, be considered "normal."

Personally, I believe everyone on this planet is wonderfully, beautifully abnormal. And the better for it. We're all unique. That uniqueness is what makes every single person interesting.

[MaryT]

As my Aussie uncle says (he used to be Tyke)

"Everybody's queer but thee and me, and I'm not too sure about thee."

I used to hear other Tykes say it but they're all dead now, and my uncle was obviously right not to be sure about me.  That means that he is the only surviving normal person in the world. 

He's getting on, so it won't be all that long before he's gone too.  That will be very sad.  On the other hand, then everyone in the world will be queer! Yay!

[Chloe]

"Normal" is agreement on the same thing . . .

even if INSANE? If unanimous who's be left to notice otherwise?

[Charlie Nicki]

Blending in, not standing out unless I choose to.

[Karen]

Great question.

I am not a big fan of the word normal, because the opposite is abnormal.   Everyone is normal.

I like the words "common" and "uncommon".   Being transgender might be uncommon, but we are part of the diverse beauty of what it is to be human. 

Karen

[Devlyn]

"What's your definition of normal?"

It ain't the same as everybody else's!