How much effort do you put into being "normal"?

[chowderface]

Normal is defined by the people around you.

Most of my peers are artists.

Ergo, I am normal with absolutely zero effort.

 

[Vetinarii]

I have no qualms with myself.

My friends often have called me a sociopath, I act like a dick to them on a continuous basis. I purposefully say things that are most likely to upset people.

BUT the only time I have ever provoked a rise from anyone I feel was unfounded was by saying that I hate whoever left food on the floor. (Oh my God you can't say you hate someone). Well I also upset people by deleting them off facebook but I can kind of see where they are coming from that.

I also have a ridiculous amount of friends. No technical Best friends as I would have to include half of my friends in that category.

 

[gazumped]

For me, a big one is talking to myself. Not like a schizophrenic talks to themselves, like there's another person inside their head (though the association with mental illness seems to be why it's such a cultural taboo). Most of the time, I'm either trying to work through some problem in my head and talking myself through it, or I'm imagining myself in some type of social situation and rehearsing what I would say out loud. Sometimes, it's just muttering a song to myself while I'm running errands. I try to avoid doing it as much as possible, but sometimes I wonder if more people don't do it when they think nobody's looking.

Um, I'm pretty sure this isn't weird. Most people talk to themselves out loud when no one's around, it's a way of stopping yourself from feeling lonely for one thing. Having conversations with yourself is just a way to work through problems logically. Seriously, you think it's weird to sing to yourself? Relax, man!

And in answer to your question, I guess I have to resist a lot of childlike urges. If it were up to me I'd be swinging on the bars on public transport and running down the road like I'm an aeroplane... okay, okay, I DO do those things sometimes, but less than I'd like.

 

[mikeybuthge]

Well, I tend to keep.... deep(?) Personal feelings to myself. But can't seem to stop myself from making rude jokes and being a douche, whatever though, girls laugh and give me these dangerous smiles, and I've got a fairly large circle of friends, so why change? I'm happy and accepted

 

[JoJo]

OT: Absolutely no effort whatsoever. I actually try my best not to fit in. Who in their right mind would want to become one with the herd? Wouldn't you want to be your own, unique person?

To be fair there's a balancing act between being your own person and being too different not to fit into society or get along with other people. I personally do what I want most of time whether or not it's "normal" but that doesn't mean I avoid simple courtesy or basic hygiene and I never do things solely to be different.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Not a lot, even when not doing so gets me into trouble. It just feels horribly wrong.

 

[Crazy]

I put zero effort in being normal, because I don't have a paper that tells me whats normal and not normal.

 

[thePyro_13]

None, the people I enjoy hanging out with most are because they are unique and individual.

As I say, if everyone were the same, their wouldn't be any point talking to any them.

So I just be myself and do what I want, so long as my actions aren't hurting anyone or making their lives harder.

Though the things I do don't usually attract weird looks. So maybe I'd feel different about it if I always copped strange stares.

 

[sergnb]

I tried to be "normal" for many years while in highschool. It didn't work.

Now I accept I'm kind of weird, and I'm ok with it, and people around me seem to be more comfortable about that matter if I adress it.

Moral of the story: be yourself

 

[efAston]

Talking to yourself is not only not idiosyncratic, it's actually so universal that it's more a linguistic activity than a psychological one.

I love getting caught doing embarrassing things, once when the microwave was going, I pretended I was casting a spell on it, until my girlfriend (at the time) walked in on me.

Once I was listening to music, so I had headphones in, which could have been playing something funny (they weren't, but anyway), I thought of a joke and started laughing uproariously to myself, and an elderly woman coming the other way shielded a little girl from me, as if she sincerely thought I was a raving loony. I see so much humour in it that I adore that it happened.

Of course though "you think you're so clever and classless and free", in reality appearances have a huge effect on me (and a bigger effect on anyone than you'll hear most proclaim), but most of it's under the surface.

 

[DSK-]

I'm not 'normal'. What I normally do is just try and hold myself back. It's pretty hard to explain, but my mine is pretty much orbiting the Earth 20 times a second, so it's all over the place.

 

[Floggo]

None I've accepted the fact that I'm socially retarded.

 

[A.A.K]

I don't care for normal.
I've never cared. I probably never will.

So I put zero effort into being normal, because I really don't want to be. haha

 

[babinro]

I don't wear jogging pants in public 7 days a week despite the fact they are far more comfortable then any other pants I wear. I don't say everything that comes to mind when talking to people so as to not offend them and maintain respect.

By holding back on natural urges like those above I'd say I put an effort into conforming to social norms. No more than the average person would though.

I don't hold back on my opinions when asked...nor do I try and hide my hobbies and who I am from people. I try to maintain a genuine honesty and stay true to myself as much as possible without deliberately offending or embarrassing others.

 

[AngloDoom]

None. I find that it's actually what makes people like me all the more.

A good example is I recently went to a café with a friend. When I arrived I knew exactly what I wanted, but when I went to speak I just went ahead and forgot the whole thing. I stood there gawking at the sign for a moment before I just pretty much yelled "I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WANT, BUT IT HAS CHOCOLATE IN IT!"

The person serving me had a laugh, was making me a mocha, and when my friend went to order a coffee without falling to pieces I told him he was a traitor for "Swaggering in and knowing exactly what you want, and looking like a suave gentleman after I fell to pieces." We all had a bit of a laugh, person serving me waved goodbye as we later left and I think I made a friend. Win-win.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I suppose my clothing is relatively innocuous, but that's more of effort to be inconspicuous as opposed to normal. Other than that I don't do anything to try and assimilate myself with the masses, no. I'm not normal and I'm going to try or pretend to be.

 

[Dethenger]

I don't, really, but I also don't do anything that might draw attention. I'm quiet around most people.

 

[Doclector]

And by that I mean, how much effort do you put into covering up your little idiosyncrasies and personality quirks to fit in with your peers, not get funny looks at the grocery store, get along with your parents, etc.

Spoiler: My Example

For me, a big one is talking to myself. Not like a schizophrenic talks to themselves, like there's another person inside their head (though the association with mental illness seems to be why it's such a cultural taboo). Most of the time, I'm either trying to work through some problem in my head and talking myself through it, or I'm imagining myself in some type of social situation and rehearsing what I would say out loud. Sometimes, it's just muttering a song to myself while I'm running errands. I try to avoid doing it as much as possible, but sometimes I wonder if more people don't do it when they think nobody's looking.

I do that an awful lot. Things just make more sense when you say them out loud.

I don't make much effort to be normal because there's simply not much point, I'm far too wierd to (live much too rare to die)be able to cover it up.

And besides, normal people tend to have rather boring ideas, and seeing as I want to work in film, I may want to stray as far from normal as possible.

 

[Arrogancy]

Almost certainly too much. At least initially around people. As I get to know people better I steadily let them see more of the nerdy me.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well there isn't much work as it's a standard routine, pretty much have a private / public / work / Father John personality split.

At work I am the epitome of serious, as far as my bosses are concerned my vocabulary does not contain the word shenanigans... I know, these corporate charades we play are hilarious.

And in private I am a complete child, I like to run around the house naked, play games, play with toys, build stupid stuff every time I get a new idea, sing like an ass, eat the worst possible food, watch silly cartoons,... and if anyone ever asks me about it I have no clue what you are on about, you can't handle the truth!

Public life (friends, family, partners,...) is about a 50/50 mix of the above, some like shenanigans and others can't handle it so it's mix and match for the appropriate occasion.