More people who confuse "normal" with "right"

[conuly]

Unfortunately, in this country, it's not normal for one year olds to still be nursing. Tabloids are infamous for lying, of course, and should be commended for this rare occasion of truth.

"How could something natural be not normal?"

Very simply. Clothing? Unnatural. But going naked is not normal. Shoes? Unnatural. Being barefoot is better for (most people's) feet anyway. But it's also, in most cases, not normal. Our infant mortality rate? A VERY GOOD THING. Normal. But not natural at all. The natural infant mortality rate was much higher.

*sighs*

English, people, if it's your native language, please treat it with respect.

*grins* Reminds me of a book I read when I was younger... One More River. Remember that? Girl emigrates to Israel, lives on a kibbutz? Yeah. At one point, another girl calls a guy "just not normal" to mean that she thinks he's hot.

Comments

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I get so sick of that arguement. "But it's NATURAL!"

So is defecation, but you don't do that in the middle of the damned street either.

Usually "natural" as I'm objecting to it is advanced as a reason for not disciplining or addressing some childish misbehavior. Yes, it's "natural" for a toddler to grab at things, even other people's things. It is neither polite nor desirable, though.

[conuly]

Actually, I think it's perfectly reasonable to breastfeed in public. It does not cause anybody harm. My complaint is the faulty connection between natural and normal.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I wasn't comparing breastfeeding to public defecation, don't get me wrong. (I wrote the comment before clicking on the link.)

But I've seen all kinds of rudenesses and misbehavior excused because they're "natural", and it just grates.

Go a bit further down the rabbit hole and you find people who actually equate "natural=GOOD".

[conuly]

1. Oh, okay :)
2. Now, is that more or less annoying than equating normal with good?

[priyatelka.livejournal.com]

Eep...that's a tough one! :)