Being normal - The media presents it like its a good thing

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SkipNip
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16 Sep 2011, 6:09 am

I've noticed that in movies and TV shows they always make it out like being normal is a desirable thing. Its not just people with negative differences that wanna be normal, I saw an episode of Smallville, I think it was the 1st episode or something, the main character was superhuman but at one point he says "I'd give anything to be normal" and throughout the episode they made it out like he was haunted by his differences and didn't want to be superhuman, instead he wanted to be normal. What kinda idiot would opt for being normal over superhuman? I just watched the new X-Men film and most of the mutants wanna be normal and make it out like its a curse being mutants. They're extreme examples, I've seen this theme in movies and shows for years. The characters want to be normal and they make it out like its something desirable. I have HFA and I look normal and the way I talk, walk and am in general makes it obvious that I'm different. Before I was diagnosed this used to bother me cuz I was trying to blend in and be normal but it was like the more I tried the more obvious it became that I was abnormal. I dunno if its inherently human to assume that anyone whos different must have something wrong with them but I know the media is helping fuel this idea. At the same time they give contradictory messages, they'll also make it out like being normal is boring and that rebels with the balls to be different are cool. I don't know what to make of all this.



CockneyRebel
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16 Sep 2011, 6:36 am

Because the media are a bunch of idiots. I'd like to see a TV show about somebody who is proud of their differences and who doesn't want to be normal.


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CrazyOldBat
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16 Sep 2011, 8:39 am

To be honest, I think Aspergers, etc might one day become the "normal," at least in some parts of the world. I have a hypothesis that it's actually an evolutionary adaptation. I've never gone into detail on it publicly because I know the trouble that kind of thinking can get one in! For now, I bend computers to my will and consider Aspergers my superpower.



vermontsavant
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16 Sep 2011, 9:32 am

CrazyOldBat wrote:
To be honest, I think Aspergers, etc might one day become the "normal," at least in some parts of the world. I have a hypothesis that it's actually an evolutionary adaptation. I've never gone into detail on it publicly because I know the trouble that kind of thinking can get one in! For now, I bend computers to my will and consider Aspergers my superpower.
probably true,the world is getting more introverted.this theory is actuay emraced by doctors as well.i first heard that at an aspen conference in new haven,ct


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CrazyOldBat
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16 Sep 2011, 9:49 am

True enough! Just went and googled and found some other articles about it. I really ought to read more and write code less...



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16 Sep 2011, 11:04 am

That's probably because most people are "normal", but keep asking yourself, do you want to be "normal"? I don't.


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vermontsavant
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16 Sep 2011, 11:19 am

TenPencePiece wrote:
That's probably because most people are "normal", but keep asking yourself, do you want to be "normal"? I don't.
very nice website,very profesional i will probably join sum day


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TenPencePiece
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16 Sep 2011, 1:50 pm

^ Well, thank you very much!
Perhaps I will engage in media myself some day, and set these stereotypes straight, but hey, that's a different matter altogether.


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CrazyOldBat
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16 Sep 2011, 2:23 pm

Nah, don't engage in media. Been there, done that. No fun.



Gedrene
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16 Sep 2011, 3:41 pm

CrazyOldBat wrote:
Nah, don't engage in media. Been there, done that. No fun.

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TenPencePiece
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16 Sep 2011, 4:30 pm

With respect, CrazyOldBat, how else are we supposed to convey the messages we want to get across to as many people as possible?


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CrazyOldBat
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16 Sep 2011, 6:06 pm

To be honest, I don't know. I'll leave that to younger minds that aren't quite as jaded. :)



aspie48
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16 Sep 2011, 7:32 pm

CockneyRebel wrote:
Because the media are a bunch of idiots. I'd like to see a TV show about somebody who is proud of their differences and who doesn't want to be normal.

i would make a show like that. and a side note on media. they portray that you have to be constantly stimulated to have fun. disney movies always portray withdrawn or nerdy people as being bad. particularly in the movie the incredibles. like i swear that was a smear campaign against autistic people.



Burzum
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16 Sep 2011, 9:08 pm

CrazyOldBat wrote:
To be honest, I think Aspergers, etc might one day become the "normal," at least in some parts of the world. I have a hypothesis that it's actually an evolutionary adaptation. I've never gone into detail on it publicly because I know the trouble that kind of thinking can get one in! For now, I bend computers to my will and consider Aspergers my superpower.

Just so you know, there's been a million people before you that have come up with this hypothesis on this site.



CrazyOldBat
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17 Sep 2011, 8:04 am

Cool! Then it must be good idea, because the ones I come up with on my own are just plain loopy! :D



IDontGetIt
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17 Sep 2011, 8:20 am

Anybody wanting to be "normal" probably feels that way because they are sick of being treated differently, they just want to blend in. It's not really a comment on themselves and being unhappy with who they are, but the tedium of the unimaginative majority.