I’ve never been able to figure out just what “normal” means. Maybe it’s a label that people apply to themselves, I’ve been thinking.
So, do you consider yourself “normal”? Why or why not?
I consider myself not “normal.” I don’t watch TV, I don’t follow a lot of pop culture, I’m bad at communicating with people, I’m mentally ill, and I have an unhealthy obsession with music. (Not that all of these are always bad things. 
)
That could describe me, although while feeling very depressed at times, I am currently not seeking treatment due to lack of health insurance and have been diagnosed with a myriad of things, so I’m not sure how correct the diagnoses are.
I don’t think there’s such thing as an “unhealthy” obsession with music. Music is wonderful. And contemporary pop culture generally sucks.
As long as you’re happy I think it’s ok.
“There is no such thing in life as normal.”- Morrissey
I don’t find that I have tastes, interests, concerns in common with most people. My wife understands me, but that’s a one in a million shot. I think normal is a like, dislike, interest that well over 50% of the population shares.
I find it almost impossible to have your typical water cooler conversation because I can’t find common ground. I’ve always felt isolated and alone. I’ve been unofficially diagnosed (by therapist, not doctor) with Aspberger’s. Lots of social constructs don’t make sense to me. I never have felt normal, at times I’ve tried to fit in but by now, it’s exhausting trying to fit in that round hole and I’ve learned to accept who I am.
I’m not average, but I’d consider myself normal in that I am able to lead an adult life without requiring assistance.
No, don’t feel normal. Never have. I’ve always felt like an alien.
I like some pretty weird things, but I feel abnormal mostly because of the things I don’t have any feelings towards or that I dislike intensely. They are the kind of things that make people people. So I bump around not feeling very human, but faking a lot.
I have the diagnoses you’d expect a good old fashioned weirdo to carry. Receiving them wasn’t the god-awful thing one might expect. It’s not like you get a certificate in the mail or have to be registered with the Special People Police or anything. I steadfastly refuse to wear a dorky t-shirt, though. Or join a support group. I guess I’m not the loud and proud type.
Normal. Most of the time, anyway.
I get along with most people and have usual and typical hobbies and interests. Yeah, I’m pretty vanilla.
I am my definition of “normal”. Which leads to many, many of y’all being horrendous freaks. Sorry.
It’s not so much that I feel “normal” so much as I consider everyone else to be abnormal to varying degrees.
So, I guess my answer is no.
Not normal. Though I spent a goodly amount of my youth desperately trying to be. I could not, no matter how hard I tried, be motivated by what seemed to drive my peers. I didn’t want what they wanted and I could not figure out why.
I could not force myself to work some regular, good, ‘real’ job. And I could never cotton to spending my 20’s and 30’s doing anything but having adventure and traveling the world. I was never going to wait till I was old and retired to have freedom.
When I stopped trying to force my square self into a round hole, life got a lot better and I never looked back.
In my world normal is just a setting on my washing machine!
I sometimes (And I’m not entirely kidding here) think the whole entire planet has gone insane. Then I realize the only people who actually think that are insane.
Other things that make me feel crazy:
I’m way too comfortable at home. I haven’t gone out and done anything in months. I’ll occasionally go and hang out with some neighbors of mine but that’s about it. I just really love being at home!
I currently have NO interest in a romantic relationship.
I drink alone and like it.
A lot of people consider me to be weird, but I would define myself as “within normal limits.” There’s a pretty wide range of ways to be normal, in my opinion. Aren’t most people weird in some way?
[QUOTE=George Thorogood]
Yeah, you know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself
[/QUOTE]
I hear ya.
I grew up knowing something was wrong with me, my family reinforced this idea regularly. I never seemed to fit in with people that it was assumed I would/should. Forty years of on & off therapy for major depression has made me feel even less normal. And almost no one seems to understand my desire to end my life.
I don’t usually consider myself normal, but it seems everywhere I go to do ANYthing, there are lots of people there doing the same thing.
I have my quirks, sure, but overall, I’m pretty “normal.”
Some years back, one of the largest mental health hospitals in Toronto had several billboards around town saying that 1 in 4 people are diagnosed with mental disorders. Perhaps they were just trying to drum up business, or, perhaps, not normal is more normal than many imagine it to be.
My friends call me quirky, I assume that is a nice way of saying weird.
I do what I want that makes me happy, I don’t try to fit the mold. I figure as long as I’m minding my own business and not hurting anybody it shouldn’t matter.
I’m probably more normal than I like to admit though.
Can’t remember where I read it
‘the whole world is crazy but for thee and me and sometimes I wonder about thee’
or something to that effect.
I don’t think it’s crazy to not want to be in a relationship.
I think it’s crazy to constantly want to be in one, to the point that you hook up with whoever is available to keep from being alone. Or you put up with all kinds of shit/abuse because you are afraid of being alone. Or you stay in a relationship because you don’t want people to think that you are gay or something is wrong with you. I look at people who can’t be alone and think what the hell is wrong with them?
Doing something you don’t want to do (or not doing something you want to do) because you are afraid of what other people might think or society expects it of you? That is crazy.
If what you are doing (or not doing) isn’t hurting you or anybody else shouldn’t matter to anybody.
IMO the ones who worry about what other people do and judge them for not fitting the mold are the ones who need help.
“Other.” It’s (potentially) a trick question. There’s no right answer. There’s no clear definition of the term “normal person” nor any objective scale by which such a vague concept as “normal person” can be measured or evaluated. Scientifically, it’s a poorly-formed question to which any answer is unfalsifiable.
From my sister: “But my washing machine doesn’t have that setting!” True, as it happened. She was taken far too soon and I miss her a lot.
Me: it varies, and I suspect that I’m no crazier than anyone else - worrisome, sure.