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Re: Define Normality [message #289530 is a reply to message #289402]

Tue, 09 October 2007 23:51

NukeIt15
Messages: 987
Registered: February 2003
Location: Out to lunch

Karma:

Colonel

"I'm different! Just like everybody else..."

Normality, as most of the human race defines the term, is entirely artificial. This is because the standards of normality for most people are entirely too narrow in scope to apply beyond their own limited familiar group (be it their household, friends, city, country, ethnic group, etc). It is a construct of society, just as society is a construct of sentient beings. It is a means for society as a whole to justify its actions and beliefs through the exclusion of everyone and everything which falls outside that which a majority of the members of that society define as 'normal.' No one is born already indoctrinated into the ways and means of society; they are instructed by members of that society and so pick up the accepted norms of that society- or, if they so choose, reject them.

The only 'true' normality is physical normality, in the sense that the human body is designed and built to operate a certain way and a body that does not is abnormal. However, since social 'normality' is a concept rather than a fact (it is, of course, a concept accepted as fact), it is not something which is inherent. There are norms- the rule of law, as well as certain moral standards (killing is wrong, the provision of care for those who cannot care for themselves, etc) which extend beyond society, and which must be or ought to be applied to humanity as a whole. Lesser standards, such as the use or style of clothing, language, and so forth, cannot be applied universally and therefore cannot be defined as normal.

True normality, therefore, is a set of standards applying to the physical (that would include brain chemistry, as that is in the end a physical thing) design of humanity and to the moral codes which absolutely must be applied to all of humanity to prevent the utter and immediate breakdown of all society- and nothing else besides. If an overwhelming majority of humans cannot be defined as X, then X is not normal- period, ended. Normality to the limit of our understanding is the only normal; anything lesser is merely dependent on region and taste.

As a footnote to that, I would like to add that those characteristics falling under physical abnormality (and again, that includes brain and body chemistry, i.e. mental defects or physical attractions) cannot be judged by the standards of moral normality, since those things are not within the scope of the affected person's control. Moral abnormality is a choice; physical abnormality is not.

The short version- 'normal' as commonly defined is a construct of human societies. The only things which can truly be called 'normal' are those which can be found to apply to an overwhelming majority of the entire species- and even then, there are two different forms of normality which cannot overlap one another.

All subjective, of course.

"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived of the use of them." - Thomas Paine

Remember, kids: illiteracy is cool. If you took the time to read this, you are clearly a loser who will never get laid. You've been warned.

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[Message index]

		Define Normality By: Zion on Tue, 09 October 2007 14:34
		Re: Define Normality By: KIRBY-098 on Tue, 09 October 2007 14:59
		Re: Define Normality By: Jecht on Tue, 09 October 2007 18:30
		Re: Define Normality By: danpaul88 on Tue, 09 October 2007 15:10
		Re: Define Normality By: sadukar09 on Tue, 09 October 2007 15:37
		Re: Define Normality By: Muad Dib15 on Tue, 09 October 2007 16:01
		Re: Define Normality By: BlueThen on Tue, 09 October 2007 16:21
		Re: Define Normality By: nikki6ixx on Tue, 09 October 2007 19:33
		Re: Define Normality By: trooprm02 on Tue, 09 October 2007 19:37
		Re: Define Normality By: Canadacdn on Tue, 09 October 2007 20:29
		Re: Define Normality By: Jecht on Wed, 10 October 2007 01:50
		Re: Define Normality By: nikki6ixx on Wed, 10 October 2007 11:22
		Re: Define Normality By: trooprm02 on Thu, 11 October 2007 13:17
		Re: Define Normality By: nikki6ixx on Thu, 11 October 2007 14:27
		Re: Define Normality By: trooprm02 on Fri, 12 October 2007 09:04
		Re: Define Normality By: Jerad2142 on Tue, 16 October 2007 17:51
		Re: Define Normality By: Starbuzz on Thu, 18 October 2007 22:21
		Re: Define Normality By: Canadacdn on Thu, 11 October 2007 18:17
		Re: Define Normality By: R315r4z0r on Tue, 09 October 2007 21:21
		Re: Define Normality By: NukeIt15 on Tue, 09 October 2007 23:51
		Re: Define Normality By: Blazer on Wed, 10 October 2007 02:03
		Re: Define Normality By: trooprm02 on Wed, 10 October 2007 09:30
		Re: Define Normality By: Aprime on Wed, 10 October 2007 10:53
		Re: Define Normality By: CarrierII on Wed, 10 October 2007 10:58
		Re: Define Normality By: KIRBY-098 on Wed, 10 October 2007 11:46
		Re: Define Normality By: R315r4z0r on Wed, 10 October 2007 16:43
		Re: Define Normality By: nopol10 on Thu, 11 October 2007 03:41
		Re: Define Normality By: CarrierII on Thu, 11 October 2007 13:19
		Re: Define Normality By: GEORGE ZIMMER on Thu, 11 October 2007 20:31
		Re: Define Normality By: DarkDemin on Fri, 12 October 2007 00:21
		Re: Define Normality By: Rocko on Thu, 18 October 2007 22:09

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