What do you think is "NORMAL"?

There are certain norms to society and people who don't conform to what the norm is will usually suffer for it in some way. For instance, there is a societal norm that we don't steal from other people. Those who do can be taken out if our society. There is another societal norm in which we become nurturing parents. So those who abuse their kids don't fit the norm. It's a societal norm that we behave in certain ways. Like we don't walk out on the street naked, or flash body parts to unsuspecting citizens. What we consider normal for other people is what WE compare to what is normal for us. For instance, a person from another part of the world might find it normal to do very strange things according to our standards, so we go by what our society considers normal. Now we have these ideas about mental illnesses. They may take meds to feel more normal. Many in our society consider folks with obvious mental conditions to be crazy or strange. I think I would just call them unique, because we are all mental. Mental as being that we can think. I think we should just strive to be the best we can be and ket someone else figure out if we are normal or not.

bjc66bjc ..I always thought the definition for normal was average...and I doubt anyone really want to just be average...

I totally agree with the saying.. especially as "the norm" seems to change over the years and generations.. besides, who wants to be 'normal'!? I find myself digging deeper for more long lasting values.. eternal truths..

Normal is boring. It takes away all of the possibility of variety. It is an artificial concept. We are all unique. It is important to adhere to some types of norms, but not to the point that we lose all that is interesting about us.

HI BJ, I agree a lot with that quote. What is normal for me, probably would not be for someone else. It would not be normal for me to work in the morning since for years I have been working nights. Working days is normal for an awful lot of people. That's just a small example. We are all different and in the broad sense, normal just doesn't exist and thankfully so. How boring the world would be if it did, heh?

Well normal is what is normal to me and what is the same for all. Works both ways. Everybody has a different way of looking at 'normal'. The quote makes a lot of sense. In the schools now they are pretty bad about normal and average. I think it is sad because do you reach for excellence or for above average. Which is better?

You really can't measure the your norms though you can test if you are still normal. For me confirming your norm is not losing someone's uniqueness because by nature each of us is already unique though when we say "NORMALITY" is it common to us because most of us are normal. Since the quote implies general thought, I am going to point out my thought generally that each of us were created unique, norm is just an attitude or behavior that we people have something in common. When it comes to norm we've never been unique because norm is common to us so it doesn't lose someone's uniqueness. But if you are talking about the whole human being, there is no such thing as "losing your uniqueness" even if you are trying to copy someone or check your norm over and over again because as what I have said we are already unique that even twins are different is some other ways. So I don't agree with the thought of the quote.

Generally people strives to be abnormal. hehe...What I mean about that is that we all want to be unique, to be recognize as an individual but at the same time be accepted by the group that is why we also want to follow the norm. For me, the term normal when define to a person is variable. What is normal to me may not be normal to you. I also believe that the quality that is making us unique might be our gateway towards greatness. Bit it all depends on how you use it towards your advantage. It can be a an asset as well as a liability.

Hi! What I can say about this is that when you say normal, it suggests "what is typical." What are the things a typical or common person would do? A normal person would cry if hurt. A normal person would feel pain when pinched or stab. Being normal is somewhat being a predictable human being. It's like plainly reading a book. It's all about being within a scope of a common understanding that we no longer be amused by it's appearance. About the quote, I say that it really has a lot of sense, right? If one continues to follow to a trend, then one is nothing but a common person. The point of Archer here is that we shouldn't just limit ourselves to what is presented to us. We must go beyond what is defined. We must continue to seek what is yet hidden. "We must create a difference" -like the old saying say, right?