Are you normal ?...

Paddy20

All my life I have wondered what normal really means. As I am not a follower of the pack. I tend to do my own thing which can be considered by some as abnormal .

I therefore do not believe that the word normal should even be in the dictionary.

Do you consider yourself to be normal. If you do, what do you mean ?....

P. :ninja: :dunno:

Seraphina

" i fear that i am ordinary just like everyone...."

Barbie_666

"you mock me, for I am different,
I pity you, as you are all the same"


lol

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

Drazhar

Normal....HELL NO, christ, i talk to my self, im severely paranoid, but im havin a whale of a time doing it all!!!

You should see it when i start thinkin that im conspiring against myself HA HAH!!

Normal in society is viewed as 9-5 rat race, married by 27, 2.4 children, Ford Focus in the driveway, Ikea furniture, bollox.

If you want inspiration on how to live life, watch the following, in no particular order: Fightclub, Dirty Sanchez (any Episode), Dogma

Barbie_666

lol

mike65

No such thing as normal only "whats expected".

Mike.

meatball

Wow! Thinking you understand life because you sat through Fight Club! That's not normal at all!

embee

Normal (adj). : Conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type; typical


Don't we all do this on some level?

po0k

"Am I normal?"

Under my definition of "normal", nope.

Still growing up, still finding myself, have a very abnormal sense of humour.
Most of my mates from school wuouldn't understand why I laugh at certain stuff/would probably call me a sick bastard.

po0k

Originally posted by Drazhar
Normal....HELL NO, christ, i talk to my self, im severely paranoid, but im havin a whale of a time doing it all!!!

You should see it when i start thinkin that im conspiring against myself HA HAH!!

Normal in society is viewed as 9-5 rat race, married by 27, 2.4 children, Ford Focus in the driveway, Ikea furniture, bollox.

If you want inspiration on how to live life, watch the following, in no particular order: Fightclub, Dirty Sanchez (any Episode), Dogma

Add to that Donnie Darko, Gattaca and Requiem For A Dream. Not really guides to life, more like good films.

Beruthiel

Originally posted by Mercury_Tilt
Did any of you just feel stabbing pains in your face?

you got the knives already!!??


normally PI is for an actual problem!

off to Humanities
B

The Corinthian

Originally posted by Paddy20
As I am not a follower of the pack. I tend to do my own thing which can be considered by some as abnormal .

Yes, you're an individual. Just like everybody else...

Imposter

I don't know anybody with 2.4 children.

The Corinthian

Originally posted by Imposter
I don't know anybody with 2.4 children.

Marc Dutroux?

Zombrex

Paddy the only way you can define yourself as not following the pack is to know what the pack is ... so you need "normal" to know what ain't "normal"

On the other hand, not following the pack is soooo last years fashion trend ... it is much cooler to conform these days.

uberwolf

Marc Dutroux?

did he limit himself to that?

I always figured the .4 refered to a pet. I'm normal to those I'd deem abnormal(sounds too strong) but I'm probably not normal to those who lead even more boring lives.

twinQuins

In trying to be different people often come full circle.....

Zulu

I am normal

Paddy20

Wicknight,

What I mean is I am a non-conformist. Who has been doing and thinking in my own particular fashion for nearly 58 years, so "last years fashion trend"! was never of any interest to me.

I was always my own person. I hated working for an employer therefore at the age of 18 I was self employed and was soon employing others. Never looked back, and made real money. Despite leaving education on my fifteenth birthday and jumping on a boat to England on my own.

That was when my real education began. The education system in Donegal in the fifties was total rubbish and I even refused too learn Irish or take any exams. With no regrets.

In conclusion, the word :-

"normal" is not part of my general vocabulary.

P. :ninja:

echomadman

Yes, you're an individual. Just like everybody else...

Look. You've got it all wrong.

You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals!

ixoy

Originally posted by echomadman

Look. You've got it all wrong.

You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals!

Yes! We are all individuals!

User45701

I am not normel i never have been.
I consider people who want to be "cool" to be a inferior form of life.

Our population is probbley over 70% made up of primtives (scumbags) and miscs (ppl who only want to be kool they say and do what is kool so they will have friends)

I hate both of them and would be quite happy if all the normel ppl and all the scumbags are draged out and tortured for a few hours and then shot.

mr_angry

I'm sure to many people who don't know me, and just pass me in the street, I seem very normal. Then to my close friends, and myself I seem quite unique. Its all a case of perspective really. I'm sure if I walked past Paddy20 in the street and I was feeling depressed I might find myself thinking "I wish I could be normal - like that bloke going about his business" - yet Paddy20 considers himself very unique.

The Corinthian

Originally posted by User45701
I am not normel i never have been.

Yes. You're special.

Our population is probbley over 70% made up of primtives (scumbags) and miscs (ppl who only want to be kool they say and do what is kool so they will have friends)

What about the other 30% who can't spell?

dr_manhattan

Damn you corinthian! I was just about to make that smart remark... and Beruthiel, cheers for dumping another crap thread on humanities, hahaha (just kidding before anyone gets all sensitive)

To be honest, the term 'normal' or 'normal people' is not really used that much these days: I think the last time I heard it was in 80s 'nonconformist' movies like the breakfast club (yawn)

These days the norm is to be nonconformist, i guess: as the marketing types would put it, the maverick demographic is all encompassing, haha.

Generally speaking, the concept of 'normality', as far as I've ever seen it, is just used to make people feel superior. When people who consider themselves normal spit on those who they think are not, and likewise in exactly the same way, when people who see themselves as individuals use it to spit on those they consider to be conformist.

There is no norm: but in exactly the same way, there are no individuals: that's my two cents.

And as for the list of viewing designed to inform people about life.... Fight Club is one thing (though a bit daft) but Dirty Sanchez?

The only thing i've learned from that programme is that 'Jackass' is not the most stupid programme in the world, and that the people who make jackass actually do have some talent... Dirty sanchez isn't even original... bunch of welsh losers...

Buut anyways: just mentioned that cos I find the idea of "learning about individuality" kinda funny, especially from cinema or TV

User45701

I disagree that it is the norm to be non-conformest.

Lets take school as a example. 6th year leaving and all that stuff. Normel people do all studying while some people lazy people just dont bother. In that scenario it is the norm to study and the non-conformest not to study.

Lets take young school. It is the norm to like that english leage football and euro leauge foodball (u know all that stuff on skysports) While when people are younger it is also norm to be outside doing sports and crap. It is non-conformest to spend all your free time watching TV/computer when you are younger.

KlodaX

can a human be described as normal?

what length is red?

Zulu

Originally posted by User45701
I am not normel i never have been.

Good for you...

Originally posted by User45701
I hate both of them and would be quite happy if all the normel ppl and all the scumbags are draged out and tortured for a few hours and then shot.

Whatever about the scumbags, what’s your problem with normal people?
I'm normal, I mind my own business, I enjoy my life.
Why does that bother you?

You should try and get over that chip on your shoulder ...no wait, then you'd be becoming more normal, I think I see your predicament now. -tough one that!

The Corinthian

Originally posted by User45701
I disagree that it is the norm to be non-conformest.

Lets take school as a example. 6th year leaving and all that stuff. Normel people do all studying while some people lazy people just dont bother. In that scenario it is the norm to study and the non-conformest not to study.

Lets take young school. It is the norm to like that english leage football and euro leauge foodball (u know all that stuff on skysports) While when people are younger it is also norm to be outside doing sports and crap. It is non-conformest to spend all your free time watching TV/computer when you are younger.

Not really. Spending all your free time watching TV/computer or not bothering to study is just conforming to another norm - In short you’re just another sheep, in another, smaller flock.

dr_manhattan

Hmmm... strange reply user

"Lets take school as a example. 6th year leaving and all that stuff. Normel people do all studying while some people lazy people just dont bother. In that scenario it is the norm to study and the non-conformest not to study."

And your point is...? So lazy people are not "normal"? Last time I checked, everyone was lazy. Last time I checked, the whole reason school was so strict was BECAUSE everyone was lazy, and wouldn't work unless they were made to: but when was the last time that someone in school was thought of as "cool" because they got all their study done?

I've got an idea: Let's not take school as an example. lets' just take life in the western world. Every ad, whether it be for jeans, cars, perfume, or cutlery, emphasises "your own personal choice" - car ads speak of "defying convention", jeans ads tell you that you'll "stand out from the crowd"

In short, every piece of advertising plays on our own idea that we're the real deal, that we're somehow different, somehow our own person, separate from anyone else. Like this thread, for example ;-)

Therefore, the "norm", as in, what appeals to everyone, is the idea of being a "nonconformist", i.e. not influenced by others. If you doubt me, look at how many people have responded to this thread saying that they are "not normal, no way"

"Lets take young school."

Naw let's not: to be honest I don't consider school to have any meaning as regards what is and what isn't acceptable in society: in school, peer pressure, social pressure and pressure from parents and teachers means that nobody is doing what they want to anyways: I remember it well, and it's a ****ing nightmare (those people that tell you school is the best days of your life? HA! losers)

But one thing I recall from school was that the kids who did bad stuff were respected: i.e., the nonconformists. To such a degree that now, even the most normal of people try and affect a nonconformist, maverick approach to things. From Bill Gates to P.Diddy, nobody wants to be the normal guy: people always have some exceptional quality that makes them different, and that's the norm.

As Zulu says, I think you have a problem with being normal - which proves my point: like everyone, you want to be nonconformist.

User45701

I Take great offence to that.
I am myself
Although i will agree that us computer net user/gamer types are our own
flock i will point out that even amoung groups of ppl that form on the net there is a norm. - take a look at the cs comunity i could never act like most of them do they all act weird and stuff. There are also intollernt of views that dont conform to theres. Its the norm to hate UK2 aprenetly if u go to there servers you are not "kool" or "with it" - lol.
New people get strange welcomes to there cs forum i wasent the only 1 who got it.

Its the same with all online comunitys there is always a norm. i am never the "norm" I find that on the sci/fi/star trek forum i am not that differnt to the others there so mabe i am normel when it comes to sci-fi hmm i never thought of that.

I still cant stand to be normel to conform to the large flocks. Mabe thats why i dont like music - but thats another story

McGinty

Interesting thread, and my two cents to anyone is 1) What is normal and how would you define 'normal'?

2) You are you, unique, different, just you. As I am me, there is only one of us. To use snow flakes as an analogy, we are each like a snowflake, we are unique in our design, but make up the whole of humanity. A snowflake is unique in design, but combined makes up snow.

Are we normal, no I don't think so, just different, but we may like a similar thing or share an idea but disagree on another idea.

seaghdhas

Or is it that people want to appear knowledgeable. And the best way to do that is to create their own little niche to be knowledgeable about. Nothing feels as good as being god of your world of one person. And being accepted by yourself as the sole custodian of you. I'll bet anyone 50 euros everyone needs to eat, sleep and converse.

User45701

I am most happy when im with friends at a pub and on my own playing a single player game or watching movies.

Both are my faverate things to do. When i got SWKOTR i didnt see or talk to another person for over 5 days (unlesss u include 1 fone call saying HELP my grafix card messed up)

I like to "hang" and i like to invite ppl to my house. But i am Just as happy when i am on my own with my own thoughts with no other people

seaghdhas

Sorry, I'll bet anyone except User 50 euros everyone needs to eat, sleep and move out of their box either bit by bit or all in one big go.

The Corinthian

Originally posted by User45701
I am most happy when im with friends at a pub and on my own playing a single player game or watching movies.

Unfortunately, that all doesn’t make you different, special or non-conformist. It just makes you anti-social and maladjusted - a misanthrope.

BrianD3

What is normal

Impossible to define properly, but I'll have a stab at it. How normal a person is is dependent on their experiences, interests, values and attitudes. A person is normal if their experiences, interests, values and attitudes are broadly similar to those of their peers.

I consider myself somewhat abnormal. I don't have much in common with most of the people that I meet (in real life) I'm not better or worse than them - just different.

Some quick examples of my "abnormality"

1) I don't drink and I don't like pub culture. I don't consider going out on a Saturday night and getting hammered to be fun. This makes me abnormal because the majority of people in my peer group do drink, do enjoy going to the pub and do consider getting drunk to be a form of recreation. If I am in a group of 20 of my peers, at a rough guess only 1 or 2 will have similar attitudes to me when it comes to drinking and socialising.

2) I am part of the "computer net user/gamer" group which was discussed earlier in this thread. However I would be considered abnormal by most gamers as the most modern game I play on my PC is Doom II. It is somewhat abnormal to be playing this game in the year 2004. I enjoy this game more than the modern games which is the reason I play it. When I have downloaded and played all the custom .wad files that are on the net for this game then perhaps I wil l move on to another game (Quake I maybe )

3) A third example of how I am slightly abnormal is that unlike many of my peers, I attach little importance to dates in a calender. For me, my birthday, Christmas Day, St. Patrick's Day, Valentines Day etc. are just dates in the calender and the same as any other day. I honestly don't see why people get so excited about dates in a calender. Just because convention dictates that I should behave/think in a certain way on a certain date, doesn't mean that I will.

BrianD3

Specky

Odd how keen people are in general to insist on how unique they are, Everyone has stories to support just how zany and bonkers they are but the sad fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people lead what others would consider to be drab, uninteresting lives that are only zany and bonkers to the people participating in them.

I'm not being all down and miserable here by the way. It's the very fact that people are (to a greater or lesser extent) individuals that this is the case. If we weren't all individuals then the same things would appeal to us all and we'd all end up doing the same things and being the same people. Boring.

I think this desperation to let everyone know how wackey you are is also explained by people's fear of their own insignificance. None of us, not a single one of us really matters (in the grand scheme of things). Not even the greatest scientists, the most outstanding statesmen or the most victorious generals actually make any difference to the outcome of things. We arrive on the planet, we do some stuff, we shuffle off again. Once we're gone some people might remember us for a while...if we're really really famous...say....erm....Jesus, they may remember who you are for a few thousand years but that'd be an exception.

Maybe you have a few offspring, so you'll exist in somebody's gene pool but really your influence on the planet is completely insignificant (and don't even start to consider your influence on the universe, I don't want to be responsible for any suicides....not tonight anyway...).

So my highly dubious and probably faulty prognosis is that people desperately want to be unique because it gives them a sense that the world will remember them....however it will not. Sorry.

...one interesting paradox that's always got me though is the style/fashion thing. If you're fashionable that must mean you're the same as everyone else...why does that then mean you're stylish??

Oh I love a good speculate on a wednesday

Catsmokinpot

some could pose the question

"what is normal" or "how do you define normal" trying to be smart, well there is a normal! but only in the confines of this country.

in other countries/cultures/social groups what we do or say is not normal, so their is different types of normal, but each is normal in its own right.

their is normal everywhere you go as also their is abnormal but the abnormal is normal somewhere else

to answer your question no i dont think im normal:dunno:

Specky

"what is normal" or "how do you define normal" trying to be smart, well there is a normal! but only in the confines of this country.

Oh no, it's much smaller than that. Normal is defined by every individual.

meatball

Originally posted by The Corinthian
Marc Dutroux?

LOL

Auburn

Originally posted by Specky
None of us, not a single one of us really matters (in the grand scheme of things). Not even the greatest scientists

I don't agree with this bit. How can you say that society has not been affected by scientists? Inventions, discoveries, etc can change the whole course of how people live their lives. Therefore, opening up possibilities that wouldn't have existed otherwise.

As for normal being defined by every individual, I agree with you there. Normality is very subjective. What I consider normal and someone living in Afghanistan considers normal, for example, would be totally different, likewise for two completely different people living next door to each other. However, human beings are social by nature and we create little groups (sanctuaries) where we define what is the"normal" behaviour. We have a need to feel that we "fit in" somewhere.

We are all the same but not the same. As someone mentioned earlier, the idea of snowflakes. Each snowflake is the same and serves the same purpose as another, but examine them closely and they are totally different in their own little ways.

BrianD3

in other countries/cultures/social groups what we do or say is not normal, so their is different types of normal, but each is normal in its own right

That's very true. And age comes into it as well. Something that is normal for people in their sixties coudl be considered totally abnormal and weird for people in their twenties. That's the reason I used the term "peer group" when attempting to define what is and isn't normal.

Odd how keen people are in general to insist on how unique they are

Well, as the cliche goes, actions speak louder than words. I actually think that it's almost impossible to be "abnormal" and not to experience some difficulty in your life. My take on this is that if you are even slightly abnormal, you can very easily end up shunned by your peers and regarded as a freak or weirdo. You can end up as a outcast on the fringes of society.

BrianD3

User45701

Originally posted by The Corinthian
Unfortunately, that all doesn’t make you different, special or non-conformist. It just makes you anti-social and maladjusted - a misanthrope.

It does make me non-conformist

Specky

However, human beings are social by nature and we create little groups (sanctuaries) where we define what is the"normal" behaviour. We have a need to feel that we "fit in" somewhere.

Yes, but in a way that was what I was getting at. There's a paradoxical desperation to be different and yet to be the same.

Look at nationalism/patriotism. You happen, through circumstances way beyond your control, to have been born on or around the same patch of ground as a bunch of other people....so this makes you all the same. OK in Ireland or the UK or somewhere else that has some easily identifiable border you can see why you might think you're unique as a group because you can see where you come from, but somewhere like Luxemburg...or...I dunno....Kuwait? What makes you what you are so proud to be is some artifical line in the sand (actually or metaphorically depending on which of those two examples you choose).

It's very interesting that people are desperate within their own group to be alike, but at the same time they are (as a group) desperate to claim they are different.

Is the fundamental energy that holds the universe together paranoia?

Specky

I don't agree with this bit. How can you say that society has not been affected by scientists?

Society continues with or without those inventions. How it continues, how big it is, how healthy it is, what colour its trousers are etc may change but society remains.

The thread of humanity meanders on in its own way. Inventions and breakthroughs may change its course every now and then but really things just plod along.

What do you think would have happened if noone would have discovered peniciline? Would we have been wiped out as a race? I doubt it.

Do you think that the transistor has resulted in any greater longevity of the human race? I don't see why it has...in fact I think it will probably contribute more to our demize than our salvation.

The individuality of people disappears into the story of human existance pretty rapidly, like a bubble in a pan of soup.

The Corinthian

Originally posted by User45701
It does make me non-conformist

Actually, if you read what I posted, no, it doesn't.

BrianD3

I think everyone posting to this thread is somewhat abnormal. Why? Because actually discussing the topic "what is normal" on boards.ie is abnormal in itself

For proof of this, take a random person off the street. First of all, ask them if they have ever heard of boards.ie. Chances are they won't have. Even if they have heard of it, it's unlikely they'll be members or regular posters. Even if they are members, it's unlikely they'd have an interest in discussing this particular topic.

BrianD3

Specky

actually discussing the topic "what is normal" on boards.ie is abnormal in itself

True, we're like some sort of sect....or cult (check the spelling). We are an enclave of our own particular brand of normality, and oh how boring we probably seem to all those outside of the enclave.

Zulu

Again, I state -

I am normal