What exactly is "normal" and why?

[Relambrien]

Originally Posted by devonin

The only remotely reasonable definition of "normal" as it applies to humans is "The particular behavior/habit/belief which is held by the majority of the people" but as a definition it is one that I consider pretty useless and that "normal" is a pretty idiotic term to apply to people at all.

Devonin wins the thread. "Normal" can pretty much -only- be defined as the standard, and the standard is set by the majority.

Though all-too-often, the majority changes without realizing it, and the old definition of "normal" is retained until society realizes that the standard has changed, necessitating a change in the definition of "normal." Take for instance, the old "world is flat" belief. This was the normal, the standard. It took years for the majority to change to the "world is round" belief, and now that is considered normal.

"Normal" is a very volatile (as in unstable) term that only applies to the majority at a certain point in time.