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I’m Bringing Normal Back! (Once I figure out what it is)

JackieP

First thing, I want to give a big Thank You! to the Hookster for giving me the idea for this post. Thanks again Hookster! You can read his funny blog about life as a bellman here! (and check out his book!)

courtesy of mimiandeunice.com
courtesy of mimiandeunice.com

We had a short discussion on me bringing ‘normal’ back. A lot of the blogs I read are authored by some really funny, sarcastic, creative people. I mean these people are just awesome. They are not what I consider ‘normal’. Now me on the other hand, I’m not funny, nor sarcastic, and I don’t take great photos. I’m really not very creative on my blog. I just write stories, either fiction or from my life. I’m normal. I think.

After my conversation with the Hookster I decided to try to find out what normal is. To see if I am truly normal, or if it’s another figment of my imagination.

The definition of normal via Dictionary.com is this:

nor·mal

[nawr-muhl]

adjective

1. conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

2. serving to establish a standard.

3. Psychology .

a.

approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.

 

b. free from any mental disorder; sane.

 

So according to the dictionary, yeah I’m pretty normal, except for the ‘sane’ part maybe. After all I am a blogger. Now, let’s go see what the Urban Dictionary has to say.

 

A word made up by this corrupt society so they could single out and attack those who are different or

 

a statistic based upon a majority or

 

An idealistic state of being that remains as such. Because the idea of such a state varies from being to being and any set standard is nonetheless someone elses idea of what it is this condition warrants satisfactory confirmation of being amongst the confirmed members of such class, by the individuals code

 

Okay, maybe I’m normal, maybe I’m not. Depends on the majority I guess. Oh man, am I screwed. 😉

 

Let’s have some fun with this normal thing! I will add my very first poll. Then you can all vote if I’m normal or not! It’s anonymous, so don’t be afraid. Be honest! I’m trying to bring the sexy back to normal. (if it was ever there). Did I succeed?

 

normal

29 thoughts on “I’m Bringing Normal Back! (Once I figure out what it is)”

  1. Jackie,
    What a great topic… Define normal, define crazy… An idea withheld by a majority, they say, right? And what’s wrong with a little eccentricity if you are happy? This will be a good comment thread to follow.
    Le Not-So-Normal Clown

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    1. Hello Le Clown!

      thank you for reading and commenting. When I was talking to The Hookster (my name for him) I thought it was a pretty good idea. As you say what is crazy what isn’t? I thought I would try to find out. As for Le Clown how could he be normal? His name alone says it all! The unique Le clown!

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  2. I think any writer who holds themselves up as being anything but normal (or some shade of normal) is failing their obligation to writing and they are just using a forum to promote their own sense of self-importance.

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    1. Maybe you are right Seb, but what is normal? Everyone is different so wouldn’t that make normal fluid then? I have never been told I was normal. Average yes. Normal no. Or is it the same? As for being a writer, a good writer then they still have to be normal? I mean, was Poe normal? I’m just trying to understand your reasoning. Hell I’m just trying to figure out what is normal and when it stopped being ok to BE normal. Or maybe I just need to lay down for a while.

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      1. Normal is a much broader spectrum than most people believe. Think about – how many of the people you know who claim to be weird are actually even half as weird as they would like to think they are? Not many. It’s an affectation, an excuse to not bother with civilized behaviour or to mitigate some failure at a societal level. People who genuinely aren’t normal shoot up theatres during Batman movies.

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      2. Poe was mentally ill – but as a writer, his ability to use empathy to invoke a wide range of normal human emotions meant that he understood normal well enough

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        1. Good point on Poe. Maybe that was a poor example but I believe you got my point, as you are a smart man. True also on the people believing they are not normal when in fact they are, and pretending to be weird does not count. I have to admit I have met some people who I would not put in the ‘normal’ category. Unless like I said earlier normal is fluid. What may not be normal for me would be perfectly normal for someone else. Is there anyone you would consider NOT normal Seb. Besides having a mental defect?

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          1. Yes, but most of them don;t consider themselves abnormal. My comment is more centred around the vast numbe rof people who simply say I’m not normal to cover a wide rnage of social defects which in fact we all have and are perfectly normal and they just feel insecure about and want to create a smokescreen to hide behind, And writers are a particularly not uncommon subset of that group. What makes a writer a writer is that they can relate to what we all go through (the normal) and express it terms that we can all understand (the normal). Writers are nothing special in and of themselves. they just have a craft they have practised (to varying degrees) like a carpenter, a bus driver or a pest exterminator. Only they don’t get paid as well!

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          2. Well damn it Seb! How can I bring back the sexy in normal if we are all normal! I guess I’ll stick with my little stories and get better at my craft. I’ll get to be a better something one day. 😉

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  3. I believe that classifying people as normal or not is another form of prejudice. So many are looking to compare themselves to others hoping to see themselves as better than their peers, coworkers etc. Lately, there are way too many labels and I try to avoid them all.

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    1. well on the whole I try to avoid them also. Mostly my post is a tongue in cheek kind of thing. I thought it would be fun. I think I failed miserably. ha!

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        1. Well I have seemed to spark a conversation for sure. I guess in that I was a success! Thanks my friend.

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  5. That’s right, Normal compared to what? What you do here is authentically you and as long as you write and give and relate and blog from that place that is uniquely you I say that is your normal is yours and the other folks can have anxious conversations with little round things with long floppy ears, no bodies and short skinny legs.

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    1. Thank you Karen. I am thinking that normal is whatever is right for each individual. It’s fluid. It changes. Thanks for commenting.

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    1. I am beginning to agree with you Miss. That was my quest today, to see if I could find out what normal is.

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  7. i voted for bat shit crazy. lol. and look at you with this super long list of commenters i have to scroll past to get to get to talk to you!

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    1. I am bat shit crazy! This is not the normal girl. hahaha! did you see what I did there? not normal. Oh man, sometimes I wished I drank. 😉

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  9. You are unique. You are not average. We are all the sum parts of our lives, and yours has been incredibly diverse. Your life has not been “normal.” Some people have crazy, funny blogs, others have photography blogs. Are the photography blogs normal? Are the recipe blogs normal? … I think we are all unique. You have two blogs. Each focuses on a different theme. I like that you bring these two things to the mix of blogs I follow. I look forward to both. Just be you! 🙂

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      1. haha. That I do. Thank you my friend. I appreciate all the kind things you say. Yeah, I am me, there is no one like me. As there is no one like you. 🙂

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  10. While I will argue that there is no such thing as normal – because we are all unique – that would also mean that everyone is normal because in being unique we are all the same. However, you said you don’t take great photos, or have funny posts, or write with sarcasm – right? But, you do write stories, and some amazing stories at that, and that is something a lot of people would say they can’t do. So, you’ve got that going for you! Besides, why would you want to be normal anyway. 😉

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    1. I have to admit, most people would not consider me normal by any stretch. Thank you for thinking I write good stories, coming from you I take that as a great compliment. I just wondered what people thought was normal. I got some really great responses including yours. Thank you again! 🙂

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