Is there a such thing as normal when comparing people?

[RightIsWrong]

So as to not derail another thread, I thought that I would start a new one altogether.

It's a pretty simple question with (to me anyway) a very complex answer. Is there such a thing as normal when comparing people?

I can agree that there are traits found in a majority of people but is the presence or lack of those traits based simply on quantity/prevalence what makes a person "normal"?

Normal: adj

Definition:

1. usual: conforming to the usual standard, type, or custom

2. healthy: physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy

3. occurring naturally: maintained or occurring in a natural state

4. chemistry unbranched: describes aliphatic hydrocarbons with unbranched chains of carbon atoms

5. chemistry containing one gram per liter: describes a chemical solution containing an equivalent weight of solute in grams per liter of solution ( dated )

6. mathematics
Same as perpendicularadj (sense 1)

noun (plural nor·mals)
Definition:

1. usual standard: the usual standard, type, or custom

2. mathematics perpendicular line or plane: a line or plane that is perpendicular to another line or plane

[15th century. Directly or via French< Latin normalis "made according to the square" < norma "carpenter's square"]

nor·mal·ly adverb

Now, the question is, does a simple majority == normal such as is presented in the first definition?

If so, then does being anything but Chinese == being abnormal?? Or does being anything but Islamic == abnormal? After all, those are the most prevalent races & religions.

If not, then does the second definition then exclude a lot of people from being "abnormal"? After all, there are a lot of people that are born physically, mentally and emotionally healthy but their behavior or thought processing is not indicative of the majority's. Does that put them in the abnormal category or just the minority category?

I'm sure that some will flame me for this but then....that is the normal thing here. I hope that at least a few others will take the time to think about it and add their thoughts whether they be in agreement or in conflict with mine.

 

[SillyOReilly]

I think you got it backwards. What most people think is wrong is right.

 

[Atheus]

As I get older I increasingly find that most people are fucked up in some way. Fucked up is normal.