Since when did "not normal" become a synonym for bad?

[conuly]

Y'know, people who argue for equal rights for gay people will point out that it's "perfectly normal" to be gay. And it's "perfectly normal" to be a lefty, right? And it's "perfectly normal" to, say, not want kids.

Yeah. Except that when you're in a minority, you're kinda, by definition, not normal. It's not perfectly normal.

And that's okay!

I don't have to be normal. I mean, what would that say about us, any of us, that our big goal in life is to be normal. How boring! I'm NOT NORMAL in many respects - most visibly, I'm a lefty, and I wear glasses. That's not normal. It's a boring way of not being normal, but that's fine - I don't have to go around declaring how "normal" I am to gather together the shreds of my self-worth, or to convince the sillies that I'm not a threat because of my sinister lefty ways.

You're gay? Great. Sure, that's normal for you, but it's not normal for the population that's not gay - and that's good. If you're reading my journal, you're probably my friend, which means you're a cool person who isn't normal. You're really interested in some obscure author nobody's ever heard of but you? *coughs* Okay, that's me - and it's not normal, and that's great! Hilari Bell rocks, even if I'm all alone in saying that.

Stop talking about how normal things are, unless they really *are* normal. There's nothing *wrong* with not being normal, and you already know that (I hope and assume), so why skirt around the issue?

*checks clock*

Yeah, I'm drunk on tiredness. Night all. Djusk' a.

Comments

[xmorningxrosex.livejournal.com]

that reminds me of a sweatshirt I used to have.

It had a bunch of different turtles on it of all different colors and shell patterns.

At the botton it said, "Everybody is unique"

I think "normal" is used to generalize people a lot. Like, "Oh that guy is just a normal jock," implying they fit into the stereotypes. Of course, since I hate stereotypes and generalizing, it bugs me. What is "normal" anyway?

[worldmage.livejournal.com]

Methinks you're a bit fuzzy on the definition of "normal" they're using.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you're using the word "normal" to mean, "in the majority". That isn't the definition used by sociologists, psychologists, and the like. See, they define "normal" as the range surrounding the apex of the bell curve, not just the apex itself. Homosexuality, left-handedness, and wearing glasses are all generally considered normal human variations because, while not in the majority, are common enough they fall inside the range considered normal while such things as macrophilia and ataxia aren't common enough, regardless of whether they're good or bad.

Unfortunately, "not normal" has been a synonym for "bad" at least since the beginning of recorded history, and probably longer. Fear of what we don't understand seems to be embedded rather deeply into the human psyche, and most people let it affect how they interact with others. It's stupid and petty, but it's one of the things you have to deal with if you're going to try to affect public opinion.

I understand your feelings, though. I feel that way about having to talk about being gay as though we had it shoved down our throats because any talk of any part of it being a choice "jeopardizes the movement". No, being attracted to men was not a product of my willful volition, but that's really neither here nor there. It's not immoral whether or not it was a choice. To even argue the issue of choice you have to proceed from the assumption that it's immoral; if it was either moral or non-moral then it wouldn't matter whether we chose it or not, would it?

[davidkevin.livejournal.com]

As someone once said on the old "Coming Out of Hiding" program on KDHX-FM (http://www.kdhx.org) here in St. Louis, "Heterosexuality isn't normal, it's just common."

[pne.livejournal.com]

Then there's also the definition of "normal" that's more like "normative" -- that is, something like "corresponding to a norm, to something considered ideal".

Which is, as I understand it, one reason why some people use NT (neurotypical) rather than "normal", because they consider NT people not to be normative, even if they're typical/common/a majority.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

I thought wearing glasses was normal, actually. Isn't bad eyesight a dominant gene? Both my parents and my sister wear glasses, all of my in-laws do, all of my co-workers [in an office of six people] do, three of my four ex-boyfriends do, of the six closest friends I could think of off the top of my head, four do ...

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

You do not exhibit less than plus or minus twenty-five per cent deviation from the mean when evaluated for conformity with variable x.

Freak.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you watch Queer as Folk, but in the final episode Mike made a speech about gay rights, in which he said that he'd been encouraged to show straight people that gay and lesbian people are "just like you." And he said, "But we're not just like you. We're different. And that's okay."

[conuly]

1. Yeah, I know our definitions of normal are diverging ever-so-greatly, but, dammit, mine is right! WHINE! WHINE!!!

It's actually like the word "pride". People talk about, among other things, gay pride, but it's not something you're proud of like you accomplished it (You should get a trophy!), just something you have no reason to be ashamed of. But the word pride means both things, and... argh.

2. To even argue the issue of choice you have to proceed from the assumption that it's immoral; if it was either moral or non-moral then it wouldn't matter whether we chose it or not, would it?

Agreed. And it's not like the sillies listen to "it's not a choice, you asshats" anyway.

[conuly]

Heard it. Never gets old, though :P

[conuly]

Being a dominant gene doesn't make something normal, generally. Most people I see outside my family use contacts instead of glasses, I think.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Funny, in my mind "normal" is pretty much associated with "people I don't know how to talk to".

[conuly]

*snickers*

Oh wait. Don't know how. I thought that said don't want. It's still snickery.

[snale.livejournal.com]

For the most part, "don't want" would work just as well. :)

[xmorningxrosex.livejournal.com]

that reminds me of a sweatshirt I used to have.

It had a bunch of different turtles on it of all different colors and shell patterns.

At the botton it said, "Everybody is unique"

I think "normal" is used to generalize people a lot. Like, "Oh that guy is just a normal jock," implying they fit into the stereotypes. Of course, since I hate stereotypes and generalizing, it bugs me. What is "normal" anyway?

[worldmage.livejournal.com]

Methinks you're a bit fuzzy on the definition of "normal" they're using.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you're using the word "normal" to mean, "in the majority". That isn't the definition used by sociologists, psychologists, and the like. See, they define "normal" as the range surrounding the apex of the bell curve, not just the apex itself. Homosexuality, left-handedness, and wearing glasses are all generally considered normal human variations because, while not in the majority, are common enough they fall inside the range considered normal while such things as macrophilia and ataxia aren't common enough, regardless of whether they're good or bad.

Unfortunately, "not normal" has been a synonym for "bad" at least since the beginning of recorded history, and probably longer. Fear of what we don't understand seems to be embedded rather deeply into the human psyche, and most people let it affect how they interact with others. It's stupid and petty, but it's one of the things you have to deal with if you're going to try to affect public opinion.

I understand your feelings, though. I feel that way about having to talk about being gay as though we had it shoved down our throats because any talk of any part of it being a choice "jeopardizes the movement". No, being attracted to men was not a product of my willful volition, but that's really neither here nor there. It's not immoral whether or not it was a choice. To even argue the issue of choice you have to proceed from the assumption that it's immoral; if it was either moral or non-moral then it wouldn't matter whether we chose it or not, would it?

[davidkevin.livejournal.com]

As someone once said on the old "Coming Out of Hiding" program on KDHX-FM (http://www.kdhx.org) here in St. Louis, "Heterosexuality isn't normal, it's just common."

[pne.livejournal.com]

Then there's also the definition of "normal" that's more like "normative" -- that is, something like "corresponding to a norm, to something considered ideal".

Which is, as I understand it, one reason why some people use NT (neurotypical) rather than "normal", because they consider NT people not to be normative, even if they're typical/common/a majority.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

I thought wearing glasses was normal, actually. Isn't bad eyesight a dominant gene? Both my parents and my sister wear glasses, all of my in-laws do, all of my co-workers [in an office of six people] do, three of my four ex-boyfriends do, of the six closest friends I could think of off the top of my head, four do ...

[dkmnow.livejournal.com]

You do not exhibit less than plus or minus twenty-five per cent deviation from the mean when evaluated for conformity with variable x.

Freak.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you watch Queer as Folk, but in the final episode Mike made a speech about gay rights, in which he said that he'd been encouraged to show straight people that gay and lesbian people are "just like you." And he said, "But we're not just like you. We're different. And that's okay."

[conuly]

1. Yeah, I know our definitions of normal are diverging ever-so-greatly, but, dammit, mine is right! WHINE! WHINE!!!

It's actually like the word "pride". People talk about, among other things, gay pride, but it's not something you're proud of like you accomplished it (You should get a trophy!), just something you have no reason to be ashamed of. But the word pride means both things, and... argh.

2. To even argue the issue of choice you have to proceed from the assumption that it's immoral; if it was either moral or non-moral then it wouldn't matter whether we chose it or not, would it?

Agreed. And it's not like the sillies listen to "it's not a choice, you asshats" anyway.

[conuly]

Heard it. Never gets old, though :P

[conuly]

Being a dominant gene doesn't make something normal, generally. Most people I see outside my family use contacts instead of glasses, I think.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Funny, in my mind "normal" is pretty much associated with "people I don't know how to talk to".

[conuly]

*snickers*

Oh wait. Don't know how. I thought that said don't want. It's still snickery.

[snale.livejournal.com]

For the most part, "don't want" would work just as well. :)