Why normal isn't a word

[Blabster]

Lately I've been noticing more and more, how people use the word 'normal' quite often. Even I have. Then I started to think about what normal exactly means. How do we define it? How do we measure it? Is it objective or subjective?

The word normal is described as 1. Conforming to the standard or the common type; usual, not abnormal; regular; natural. 2.serving to establish a standard.

Especially the first one really got me thinking. It also made me quite upset or annoyed when I thought about it long and hard. So many people are made fun of because they are 'weird' for liking or doing certain things. Are they not normal? Just because a large amount of people are doing something, doesn't make something else abnormal. Normal doesn't exist.

We could say people with pigment are normal and albino's aren't, but thats not true either. They might look different from most people, but eventually, everyone is different and unique. Normal can't be measured because there is no standard. at least with humans there isnn't. For objects you could say that a default in manufacturing isn't normal.

We can't say something is or isn't normal because it's all based upon opinions. No facts or guidelines can be used to define something as normal. I believe it's just what people are used to and what is common. That's why I like the word 'common' way more. Because we are basically making normal a synonym of common. It is NOT. Nor will it ever be. We should all be ourself and not let society decide what we should or should'nt be to fit the mold. Everyone is different. Everyone is normal being themselves. 7 billion people=7 billion types of normal.

[lumos]

"We can't say something is or isn't normal because it's all based upon opinions. No facts or guidelines can be used to define something as normal."
Uuuuhhh. Actually statistics can very well define scientific averages based on the data given. So no, it's not just "based on opinions" or what people are used to. A lot of the things that are defined as "normal" is based on polls, statistics and scientific data. For instance, it's normal, or the norm, to be heterosexual. Most people are heterosexual, it's a scientific fact. Therefore it's what's normal. Being gay is abnormal. Does this mean it's bad to be gay? Of course not. It's just not the norm.
Should we let ourselves be defined or feel scrutinized because of what people deem as normal and abnormal? No. But that doesn't invalidate the existence of normality.

[Berethor]

Many things that are normal are not only common but they are also better and healthier.

[Blabster]

I get what you're saying, and it probably is true in most cases, but do you think that for exanple the modeling industry is healthy? I dont. And its normal to be 30 pounds underweight

[Berethor]

How many 30 pounds underweight you know in real life? I don't think that modeling industry represent normal look, most people don't look like models, for better and worse. Male models are looking healthy for the most part, while female models are less so. Anyway I know that which weight is better is not an easy topic. Sometimes something that is not normal might be better then normal, but in most cases something that is not normal is worse then normal, and also there is some cases that it's really don't matter much. Yes not all people are the same but it's don't means that there is no normal, it's only means that many people have something that is not normal in their body and/or their personality, for better and worse.

[takumii]

Sure, the dictionary must be wrong then.