Normal, what is it?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

There is a simple test for Ratz Normalcy. Look at a teapot for several minutes - if you have homicidal feelings towards it, you are Normal.

[hadespussercats]

There is a simple test for Ratz Normalcy. Look at a teapot for several minutes - if you have homicidal feelings towards it, you are Normal.

Uh-oh! I like teapots.

[DRSB]

[normal]

Ok, guys. I have a confession to make. As my name suggests I'm normal. But when all is said and done I'm not entirely normal.

I have my little eccentric ways, and I enjoy not being like everyone else. Sometimes I sing loudly in the car when driving alone - like opera loud. And sometimes I enjoy just wandering outside in the middle of the night to have a look at things like asphalt, flowers, grass, etc. (not so much after having children, though). Sometimes I lose all ability to communicate with people, and then I just have to go home and look at funny pictures on the internet.

There are many little things that are not very normal, but I'm still not alone in doing them.

But defining a whole person as "normal" is a futile exercise, as there will always be features of a person that differenciates from the norm. Be it eccentricities, illness, appearance, speech or whatever. I have a suspicion that the most visible signs of not being "normal" are more expressed in rich, western countries due to the increase of individualism. I think it's more accepted to find your own path now, and that also makes being "not normal" a way of being "normal". So having more or less unique features is part of being normal.

But worrying how normal one is, that is not helping anyone. You are all quite normal. Even if you have a bulbous head, no legs or schizophrenia.

So don't worry about normal. Normal takes care of itself. The important thing is to enjoy life as much as you can with the opportunities you have at hand.

[MiM]

It cannot be normal to call yourself normal

[normal]

It cannot be normal to call yourself normal

Well, some alarm bells SHOULD ring if someone loudly proclaims how normal they are

When I was young and worked at the supermarket, there was an old woman who started chatting with me over the counter. She proudly told me that she had just come home from a trip to Tromsø, and now she had papers to prove that she wasn't crazy. She was really, REALLY normal, and she had the EVIDENCE to prove it.

Maybe I should get some papers to prove that I'm normal

[mistermack]

There is a simple test for Ratz Normalcy. Look at a teapot for several minutes - if you have homicidal feelings towards it, you are Normal.

What if you want to fuck it? Is that so wrong?

[Tyrannical]

You can debate what exactly constitutes normal endlessly, but the attributes I'm most concerned with involve being gainfully employed and not plotting mass murder.

[mistermack]

You can debate what exactly constitutes normal endlessly, but the attributes I'm most concerned with involve being gainfully employed and not plotting mass murder.

Plotting mass murder IS gainful employment in some circles....


like the US air force.

[Tyrannical]

You can debate what exactly constitutes normal endlessly, but the attributes I'm most concerned with involve being gainfully employed and not plotting mass murder.

Plotting mass murder IS gainful employment in some circles....


like the US air force.

That would be a narrow job category. I like to look at the big picture, not every individual tree.

[hadespussercats]

Ok, guys. I have a confession to make. As my name suggests I'm normal. But when all is said and done I'm not entirely normal.

I have my little eccentric ways, and I enjoy not being like everyone else. Sometimes I sing loudly in the car when driving alone - like opera loud. And sometimes I enjoy just wandering outside in the middle of the night to have a look at things like asphalt, flowers, grass, etc. (not so much after having children, though). Sometimes I lose all ability to communicate with people, and then I just have to go home and look at funny pictures on the internet.

There are many little things that are not very normal, but I'm still not alone in doing them.

But defining a whole person as "normal" is a futile exercise, as there will always be features of a person that differenciates from the norm. Be it eccentricities, illness, appearance, speech or whatever. I have a suspicion that the most visible signs of not being "normal" are more expressed in rich, western countries due to the increase of individualism. I think it's more accepted to find your own path now, and that also makes being "not normal" a way of being "normal". So having more or less unique features is part of being normal.

But worrying how normal one is, that is not helping anyone. You are all quite normal. Even if you have a bulbous head, no legs or schizophrenia.

So don't worry about normal. Normal takes care of itself. The important thing is to enjoy life as much as you can with the opportunities you have at hand.

The normal abides...



[I've seen your reaction to teapots now, so I know you mean what you say. ]

[mistermack]

You can debate what exactly constitutes normal endlessly, but the attributes I'm most concerned with involve being gainfully employed and not plotting mass murder.

Plotting mass murder IS gainful employment in some circles....


like the US air force.

That would be a narrow job category. I like to look at the big picture, not every individual tree.

That's what Hitler said. And the end justifies the means.

[Ronja]

.

[charlou]

"Normal, what is it?"

The question here ... the more I read dissenting views and despite any (or none) initial objection find interest ... and it doesn't matter if I agree or not ... just interest .... and this seems to have happened over and over ... members like tails ... monf ... blondie ... meeky ... baa ... now Exi5 ... oh and fucking chuck, how could I forget him ... and those barely hanging in here ... gawd and sandi ...

I've read the arguments from those who dislike all these contributors ... their rationalisations for why it's good they've gone or are otherwise treated with marginalisation .. stuff amounting to what is normative and acceptable under some undefined moralistic rationale ... an if it pokes me make it stop kneejerk response to disagreement.

In terms of what most deem normal, even here, I'm not normal. This may be apparent to some of you ... for the more astute it was apparent even before this forum came about ... to me, it's becoming more apparent as time goes on.

[mistermack]

You can't define normal as a positive. Only by a long list of negatives.

Normal is :

1) Not a genius
2) Not subnormal
3) Not disabled
4) Not endowed with super powers
5) Not stunningly attractive
6) Not repulsive
7) Not over loud
8) Not over quiet
9) Not excessively tall
10) Not a midget etc etc
...........
...........

You get the picture..........

I suggest extending that list to 100 in order of importance, and then you can score your normality by what number you get to before being abnormal in something.