*Offers cuddles?*

One of the reasons why I rarely if ever say the word 'normal' and when I do, I always emphasize that I use it very loosely cause while there is a definition for it, it really cannot be defined. Plus I grew up in a time when a few things tried to teach to embrace differences rather then averages / normalnesses / being the 'same' as everything else. Something that we sadly do not teach today.

I get so sick and tired of hearing 'Why not be like everyone else?'... A favorite line I use to hear from my own family (Not online one anyway). And now they wonder why I live 1600 miles away from them.... I hear it from some people but not many online or in RL. Those people, aren't my friends...

I don't worry about what is considered "normal" or "weird" anymore

Right but what I'm getting at is can there be a clear definition of the word.

I don't think so, normal has different meanings to different people

The same here.

Normal, for what it's worth, is the trait shared by the majority that is most often experienced in the group being considered. It's also the line perpendicular to the tangent of a surface, but I digress.

If you go to a gay bar, seeing same-sex couples displaying affection is normal.
If you go to a typical southern baptist church in the US, that would be abominable.

In this sense, there is no one true normal.. there are many normals. As usual, the problem is when two groups with differing 'normals' have to coexist.

Each group wants to preserve what they're used to - their normal. And each group either feels put up on for having some other group's normal injected into theirs... or feels alienated because their normal is considered unacceptable. It's worse when you're in a group which is still trying to figure out exactly *what* their normal is.

By definition, any time two different groups with different ideas of normal try to interact, there will be tension as everyone tries to settle into a new joint normal. This takes time and there will always be those who just can't adapt to the change.

As someone who fits into literally none of the 'normals'... my boss actually said to me last week - and I'm quoting: 'You don't think like most people...' - it's both exhausting and lonely... but in a way, also liberating because you really don't need to fit in.

In the end, be yourself. Everyone else is taken.

Depending on the context of what your boss meant, that could be considered a complement. But yes I agree with you, there is no absolute normal and never will be.

Others have stated it already. But to restate and to a certain extent rephrase(in an attempt to bring greater clarity):

'Normal is the shared behaviors of the group' or to put it another way, as defined here and elsewhere, normal is a statistical anomaly.

The majority of ducks in the main park of Layton may have green heads, but does this make the brown, black, or white headed ducks abnormal?

A number of reality tv chefs are often quiet irritated when first dealing with a new restaurant. Does this make happy chefs abnormal?

Personal experience has led me to believe that 'Normal' is alive, breathing, and eating. Sleep figures into it somewhere, but I've found it somewhat dispensable under certain circumstances.

But what is absolute normal

Normal is an idea invented by a scared and confused animal in order to cope with the meaningless and uncaring void that is our universe.

Normal is whatever doesn't get you shunned, killed or incarcerated.

Plush r still legal

"Normal" is the name of the town I live in.

As for your original question...that's a loaded question.

Its also a thought experiment