It is Good to be Normal, if it is Normal to be Good.

[@riuphane]

This dichotomy is the reason society struggles to find balance and cycles between unity, splintering polarity, and conflict back to unity. When we feel too diverse, especially with strong convictions on morality/politics/religion (or other world view), we tend to take sides as tensions escalate, and after a conflict we're unified in our stance, but then we don't want to be grouped/labeled and want to be unique, finding ways to be different and challenge "what is normal" only to create friction with differing opinions. As humans we are wired to make snap decisions and judgement, leading to stereotyping, which furthers the "us vs them" divide. Over enjoyed watching research and conversion around this and how acceptance and the introduction of multiple views points (to reduce the polarity from seemingly 2 options) affects this cycle and the conduct around those involved. Trying to recognize that "good" is fundamentally subjective, despite our options on what can be considered absolute, and trying to foster acceptance and understanding seems to me the fastest way to harmony and reduced conflict, which hopefully also encourage thought, reflection, and personal growth. Random rambling, but hopefully this sparks research, thought, and more in others as it has for me...

[@sandmann7777]

Nice, good thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

[@GoodandBasic]

Thanks for watching!

[@jameter21]

Monkey see, monkey do. (describes the learning process) If monkey jumps off a cliff, you don't need to follow him. (describes the need to take personal responsiblity for your learning) Is the outcome good? How do we decide? "Meets expectations" as a definition of normal implies that we have remained within the boundaries of current knowledge. Where is the room for enlightenment? Is that part of what it means to be good?

[@flingshotlife]

Hunt the Good.

[@jamesdoesstuff7173]

i realize i also avoid the normal as if its plague

[@brad5392]

Interesting, the ancient cynics sought the Dao. They dropped out of society without leaving.

[@jeffcook8501]

What is normal or not is a personal opinion. What is normal to one person could be considered wierd or abnormal to another and vice versa. Doesn't necessarily mean either is good or bad. It makes me think about common sense. I am generation X and i believe this is the last generation that the majority had common sense. I do believe alot of people think because they have learned something that most people have also learned this. Seems to be less the case now a days. Common sense has now become uncommon and i have started assuming it is more likely you dont understand how to do something i know and think of as common sense.

[@mojorn8837]

That’s by definition incorrect. Normal is the average. It is subject to the time and place in question along with how the individual relates to their environment, but for all circumstances there is an objective normal which you can conform to or deviate from.

[@jeffcook8501]

@mojorn8837 I would disagree. Again normal is a personal benefit. Now you may agree with others on a believe and all agree but that doesn't make your activity normal. So you have a bunch of joggers. Some think it is normal to jog in the morning. Others think it is normal to jog at night. So who is right. They both aren't right because the morning joggers find it strange and abnormal to jog at night and same with the night joggers they think your crazy to get up that early in the morning let alone go jogging. So who is right what the morning people have 1 more person that thinks it is normal to jog in the morning so they are right. I don't think so.

[@stampycaunthe1950]

​@mojorn8837 i think you proved that "normal" is not an absolute truth by stating "It is subject to the time and place in question..." therefore normal is in fact an opinion. For example, different cultures have different normals, different groups in said cultures also have varying normals, and even the ones that "deviate" make their own normals. Some people think it's normal to put ketchup in/on mashed potatoes. Does that make it fact that it's normal? No. What about considering something strange/out of the ordinary, like ketchup on mashed potatoes? Just because some people consider it strange, doesn't make that fact either. Considering something normal or strange is a personal preference influenced by your environment and those around you

[@mojorn8837]

@@stampycaunthe1950 I was very intentional to caveat my definition. Normal is a relative term. A claim that something is or is not normal needs to be made in reference to a specific context, either implied or explicitly. There is a world of difference between saying that normal can be whatever you decide it is and acknowledging that normal is relative to the data set in question.

[@stampycaunthe1950]

@mojorn8837 No one said normal is whatever you decide, and it must be in reference to something as the same thing, we're simply stating that it's relative, even amongst individuals. You flat out said he's wrong. Even though normal is relative to creatures, cultures, groups, and individuals. Not just groups. Kinda like how it's normal for us to have 2 legs and 2 arms.