What is normal?

  I am frequently troubled with the classification of “normal” The dictionary defines this as “conforming to the standard or common type”, in Psychology as “approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment”. I believe we are all products of our environment; in that case not one of us could conform to a standard, being that every environment is different. We see the best example of this in the world’s different cultures. What is normal cuisine in some parts of the world is socially unacceptable here, and the consumption of beef here is not acceptable to certain religions elsewhere.

   The other place we see a difference is in the pronunciation of words in our own language. There are a couple of people I work with that come from other states, one from the south and one from Boston. The words they use are the same as the ones I use, but are pronounced very differently, you know exactly what I'm talking about. What is “normal” here is not always “normal” there. Who is to say what is “normal”? it would be better to say what is socially acceptable for your time and place.

  As time goes, there was a time when girls were married off as young as 14, to men twice their age, that is not the accepted practice today, so again, what really is “normal”? The way we behave socially, what we wear publicly, how and what we say, the way things are around the world, to the way things were years ago; who, if anyone has the right to say what is “normal”? I really dislike the classification of “normal”; I for one am not conforming to the accepted average, and refuse to be part of the blind masses. I do and wear “old world” things, if that makes me abnormal, or like your grandfather, so be it.

  What really is “normal”?

People these days

People these days
First wrote 30 January 2012




   It was commented this morning that who smokes a pipe anymore? I thought, wait I do, and so did some of the greatest minds in history. That took me to the question of where are today’s “great minds” and what do we consider as such? Are they the people that make a lot of money, or are they the ones who create what the masses think they want? Right now they want the gadgets that allow them to socialize without real contact. While I myself enjoy life away from big crowds and such, the younger generation is losing the most basic form of communication, speech. While writing is also good, it wasn’t long ago that the lower classes couldn’t read. Today proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar, has taken a back seat to speed and ease of use. That brings me back to the original question, who smokes a pipe anymore? I would have to say that we are the ones who refuse to let go of time-honored tradition, and replace it with speed and ease of use. I find it a time to slow down, my mind is racing with thoughts constantly, most of which I can never grasp, does this make any sense? I think as a civilization we also need to slow down, enjoy all of the wonderful natural things life has to offer, enjoy some tradition, and not take the quick and easy way.
  I like the fact that I have a connection to some of the great minds in history, no matter how small it is. I am writing on paper, with a pen made more than 60 years ago, and in a form that is no longer being stressed in most schools, all without the help of today’s technology. Today's technology is nice, and I do use it, I could still live without most of it. Some people watch television and watch movies, I listen to radio and read books, does that make me nostalgic, or eccentric? Like someone said, “Life is a journey, not a destination” I want to sit back, slow down, and enjoy my pipe, my classical music, my books, and small connection to the past, and the great-minded pipe smokers. Regardless of my intelligence, or my influence toward others, I am going to enjoy what I like, because I cant take it with me.