Scenario 2: What Is Normal?
Thousands, probably even millions, of people in this world are affected by disorders. We continually say that if we could identify cures for disorders like Down Syndrome, Autism, or Tourettes, then affected people could live normal lives.
Do you know anyone with a genetic disorder? Do they live a "normal" life? How do you define normal?
posted by Cara S. at 9:34 AM
41 Comments:
I don't know anyone with a genetic disorder, but I am pretty sure they lead "normal" lives. I'm not sure there is a definition for the word "normal", because who can define it? Are we normal just because we weren't born with more chromosomes? Everyone has their own unique quirks and aspects that some may call "abnormal", so even those that do not have a disorder and could be categorized as "normal" really aren't. I know that I am not completely normal, so who am I to call others "weird" or "abnormal"?
3:08 PM
How does one discribe normal. There is no normal. Everyone has one characteristic that makes them abnormal for example alergies. They might be a big thing but not everyone has them. The people that do have alergies are abnormal. In short there is no normal. Everyone has something abnormal about them.
3:28 PM
My sister has diabetes. People are still debating if that is caused by genes or not, but from my point of view it is a genetic disorder. I mean she is fairly normal as far as I can tell. I mean she has friends, gets good grades, is just like every other middleschooler I know The only differences is that she tests her blood alot and gets some shots (more than the average person), not to mention the occational mood swing because her blood sugar is out of wack. I guess it depends on the person and the disorder, but as far as my sister she is pretty "normal".
I agree with christina and analisa who said that there really is no definition for normal so its hard to tell. But how I define it, is can they learn? Can they make friends? Can they live life and be happy?
3:57 PM
I dont know anyone with a genetic disorder but I'm almost positive they can live "normal" lives just as others do. There is no definition for "normal". It's what our own idea of "normal" is. I'm sure there is a definition of it in the dictionary, but does that mean that it's the right answer? People have different thoughts about the word "normal" and different views on it. There isn't one set answer for the definition of "normal". There never will be. For the people with a disorder, they dont have to be like how the society wants them to be these days. It seems that there is a set way of life and how to look "normal" to be accepted now. That's not fair to anyone. We are all different and not one of us are alike. That's how it was meant to be. If everyone on this planet were "normal" and all the same, that would get a little boring. Who's to say that a person with a genetic disorder can't live a "normal" life? There is no set definition for "normal", so can't they have their own defintion of their "normal" life and how they live it? If the person is happy then why isn't their life "normal"? Does the genetic disorder automatically make their life abnormal? No, that's not true. Someone with a genetic disorder may even have a happier and more "normal" life than others do. No one can say what's "normal" and what's not.
4:30 PM
I know a few people with genetic disorders, but it is hard to say if they live normal lives. Normal is really in the eye of the beholder, what one views as normal another may view as totally abnormal. None the less, I know that the people I know of with genetic disorders live happy lives and work just as hard as I do at things. I'm not really sure of how their disorders may affect them emotionally for this isn't always apparent. They have their bad days just like everyone else, but as far as self esteem goes, I can't really give an accurate answer. If I were in their position, I would probably feel a little more down at times and wonder why I had to have a genetic disorder, but there are a lot of other people with them also! In fact, there are so many others with similar or worse disorders that I should probably feel lucky to even be alive. Genetic disorders affect different people in different ways, so there is no right or wrong way to feel about them. There is also definitely no right or wrong definition of normal, because this determined by our individual beliefs.
7:32 PM
I do not know anyone with a genitic disorder, but I bet they can lead a normal life. To me, a normal life means that you can have the same oppourtunities as everyone else. It may be harder for someone with a genetic disorder to do certain things, like when it comes to school, but that certainly does not mean that they can't have a happy life. I think when people "throw" around the term "normal", I think that they mean to say a healthy life. In my opinion, just because someone has a disorder, dosn't mean that they cannot have a normal and happy life.
7:42 PM
Like I said before, it depends on someones perspective of normal. An autistic (not sure if thats spelled right) kid lives up the street from me and he leads what you I guess you can call a normal life: He goes to school, he does chores just like his other brothers and sisters, he takes care of his dog like any "normal" kid would, but he learns a little bit slower and it takes him a couple more seconds to comprehend but does that make him abnormal? I don't think so.
7:31 AM
I know a kid that has Tourretes, ADD and/ or ADHD, and many other things wrong with him. He is one of the most happy and energetic kids I know. Every morning he has to take a ton of pills and vitamins to keep them under control but his parents and doctors are slowly taking him off of the meds and hopefully he will be able to lead a normal life where he doesn't have to swallow probably 250 pills and vitamins a month.
10:47 AM
Personally I do not any anyone with a genetic disorder that I know of. However, how can you define normal? A normal life for a student in the upper case wouldn't be a normal life for a middleclass student. Normal is what we are using to therefore, and what makes us happy. People with genetics disorders still have the same opportunity to be normal, but their sense of normal would differ greatly than yours. It's more of an opinion of what being normal consists of not a definition. People shouldn't define people as "abnormal" because to them their just being normal. Everyone is normal in there own way, everyone is unique and different.
12:39 PM
I don't know anyone with a genetic disorder personally, and I'm sure they don't lead "normal" lives just like everyone else. No one leads the same life as another. "Normal" is usualy thought of as what the majority of people do or look like. But it contradicts with the saying "everyone is unique." If everyone is so different, how can there be a normal? There isn't one. So there is no such thing as a "normal" lifestyle.
3:47 PM
I personally don't know anyone that has a genetic disorder, but I can say (and to agree with most others above me) that there really is no definition of "normal" in our society. Everyone has something that makes you, YOU and this is what makes everyone special. But I am also pretty sure that even people that do have a genetic disorder live their life to be normal, just like everyone else.
4:41 PM
I know an 11 yr. old boy and a 5 yr. old girl, both with Downs Syndrome. They look directly into your eyes without any pretenses or hidden agendas. Their lives may be considered very simple but I have observed that they are able to touch the hearts of the most scholarly and sophisticated. Many of us who are very educated and bathed in worldly knowledge could learn from the genuine love that these children offer. I have observed that they enrich the lives of their family members.
10:08 PM
During the summer as I hung around at the pool I noticed a child around the age of four with Down Sydrome. He would always come over to try and splash me with water. This seems like a typical four year old acting his/her own age. He wasn't aware that he was different because he was just enjoying the wonderful life he was gifted with. I always thought to myself that he isn't different than any of the other children playing in the baby pool, he just looks different. His mom was a normal mom and loved him just as equally as any other mom would of their child. She would talk to him and he was completely aware of her and listened (even if it took a while, as would most four year olds.) As taylors said that everyone is unique in their own way and that defeats the purpose of being normal I totally agree with her. The aspect of "Normal" is so self absorbed and segregated that there is no "Normal" way of life. We are all living our own lives on this world and there is no need to make yourself seem better than anyone, even people with genetic diseases. Why are people so arrogant?
5:57 PM
define normal. there is no normal. normal is abnormal. there can not be a normall because everyone is different even twins are different. they may look the same but they have been effected in different ways by different events in their life no one is normal because no one is the same as anyone.
8:30 PM
From what other people have said in their blogs, I have noticed that most of them think that being "normal" is what other people think is normal (like the aspect of being normal is decided by their peers). In my opinion, being "normal" is what you decide to be normal. Some people might have a habbit that they always do. So to other people that might seem abnormal, but to you it seems totally normal because you've been doing it your whole life. For example, say you were one religion and you've been sticking with it your whole life. When you meet someone who is a different religion, they dont think your normal because you don't share the same beliefs. But in return, YOU might think that THEY are the abnormal ones. So all in all, being "normal" can only be defined for yourself and every definition of "normal" is different for each person. In the dictionary, the word "normal" is defined as average, or something that is usual. So in my opinion, what ever is usual or average to YOU, that is normal.
8:31 PM
I do not know anyone with any kind of disablility in my family. I know a few at AHS though. Most live a normal life, just a few things are tougher than others they know very well. Normal is quite an unleading word, becuase some people may comsider normal as being crazy, and living a crazy life, while other may think that a normal life is quiet and not that fun. People don't need to be labeled "normal" or "abnormal."
9:27 PM
What is normal? Normal to me is what you make normal. Or in a simpler form, an everday reoccurance of what you like to do, or must do. For example: going to school is normal for me because I do this every Monday-Friday. I know a few people with downsyndrome, and everday they must go through therapry and certain classes and such. And for them this is normal they do this everyday.
11:18 AM
I agree with Morgan M. My Uncle is a manic depressive person. I wouldn't consider him normal because many people have a hard time dealing with him. Also, because of the depression, he goes into hyper stages and extremely depressive stages. Some people might say that that's just part of his personality, but my point of view is different. I believe that everyone judges people on their own scale.
11:24 AM
I do not know anyone that has a disorder. But, I would find it hard to believe that they live a “normal” life. They have to be stronger than an average person. They have to be able to take all of the stares and laughs that other people give them. I do not agree with people who do this, but there are some people out there who do this. People with disorders can play sports, go to school, and do extra curricular activities, but they are generally slower than the average person. Some of them cannot learn at the same rate as other students, and some of them cannot play as hard as other children.
The dictionary defines normal as “of the usual standard or type; regular; usual.” This is saying that being normal means that you are like everybody else and you blend in with everybody else. I define normal as being the same in your own way. This means that each different person in this world, normal or abnormal, has a different opinion of normal. What is normal to someone else may be abnormal to me. It all depends on the person.
5:03 PM
I'm not sure that i know very many people with any kind of genetic disorder, but i have met severl. In my opinion, they do not live any kind of a "normal" life. They are treated differently, maybe because some people feel bad for them, but it is mainly because that is how they need to be treated because of their special needs. Normal, I am not really sure what normal exists in my life because no one is normal. For me to call someone else "strange" or "weird" would be out of my league because I could have the same image upon them.
5:02 PM
my cousin was born with sickle cell disease, a very rare genetic disorder affecting oxygen to the red blood cells. He leads a normal life but everydays has to take between 50 to 100 pills. Can you call that normal? I don't know the answer to that.
5:17 PM
If diabetes is a genetic disorder then yes, I do know someone with a genetic disorder. He's my neighbor, and I would say that he lives a very normal life. He can do everything that other people do and can eat everything he wants to because he has a pump that he can set to give him insulin when he needs it. Or whatever it does, I'm not quite sure. But that's not the point. The point is that he lives just as normally as any of us do, except the fact that every once in a while he has to "bolus" for whatever he eats. I would say that living a normal life is living without something that is in th way of doing things or messes up your daily schedule.
6:00 PM
I know someone with a genetic disorder my cousin, and she lives a happy life also my neighbor has a disorder and he seems to be happy. I think that when we say lead a "normal" life we should be careful because you can't define it. I don't think anyone really wants to have a "normal" life they want to live a happy and fulfillling life.
3:19 PM
I know and have known many people with Downs Syndrome. I believe these people do not have a normal life. I believe having a normal life is being independent and not needing help from parents after a certain age.These people I know need constant care and watching over by adults. They cannot be independent because of their disability, therefore they cannot have a normal life.
4:00 PM
I can't say that I know anyone close enough to me with a disorder but i can imagine their lives are different then the average human. In my opinion the word normal when used in descrbing a lifestyle would mean some one who does what the average or majority of humans do. Also, I believe that normal means that you don't have to do anything too extra to have a consistantly healthy day. But I'm not trying to say that it's wrong not to be normalbecause one persons normal is another persons abnormal. Although i do think given the choice, a parent or child would choose to live as healthy and best they could or in some peoples eyes as normal as possible.
Nick Earley
8:37 PM
i do know people with genetic disorders but to define the word normal is hard because to certain people we aren't normal its impossible to define normal its like yeah u play football so your normal but then to some people thats not normal and in the definetion for the dictonaionary it dosen't say if u play football then your normal but the person i know does live a " normal " life and tries and thats what important
9:09 PM
I personally know a couple people with disorders and they lead perfectly normal lives. Several disorders you can't even notice very much, unless you look for the symptoms.
Personally, I think we are all normal, because, if you think about it, everyone is defferent. Since EVERYONE is defferent, everyone is normal in that we are all unique. So, by this definition, if someone is "normal" by today's standards, then they are weird. If that makes any sense.
9:14 AM
I believe that "normal" is quite relative, however, when speaking about health and body condition, "normal" is varied. The issue of disorders among people seriously change up their lives and the lives of those around them. I have a second cousin who is autistic. He is around 35 and lives with his parents, working at the local grocery store during the day. Having a child with a disorder is certainly a challenge for parents, as I can imagine the worries and time put into the well-being of their child. As much as possible, I believe my second cousin lives a normal lifestyle, but, as it is inevitable with having any disorder, it is far from the normal most people live in.
3:24 PM
I know a little boy who was born with tourettes and I think he lives a normal life.I don't think there is a exact answer to what normal is.I believe that people who live with disabilites/disorders can still live a normal healthy life. Sure they may not be able to do some stuff but if you look at it...some people just can't/aren't good at everything.
5:11 PM
People define the term 'normal life' diffrently.
Honestly i belive that there lives can be just as fullfilling as a person w/ no disorders can be. Somtimes fuller, because the are grateful, for all they do have.
5:20 PM
I believe they live a normal life because they don't know what's adnormal. No one is normal, if we were all normal we would all be the same and that would just be boring. I believe they are just like us so you can't call them nor us normal.
3:51 PM
Normal may be considered anything in a local culture that you take part it. Or possibly having a nuclear family, and might not have disorders. It's all in the eye of the beholder. Those who have a disorder say it's a normal life style they live simply because they are used to growing up that way.
5:06 PM
I know to twins that were born prematurely and unfortunately are handicapped, but that's all. I would define normal as somebody with friends, participates in extracuricular activities, and has a lot of homework.
7:11 PM
i dont really know anyone who has a genetic disorder, but if i did i know that they would live a normal life. they would have friends and have a good family but they would never get to enjoy sports or anything like that, but i dont think that would matter to them casue they are with the people they love and the people who love them. normal is something that makes someones life happy.
6:17 AM
I do know someone with a genetic disorder, my cousin has autism and for the most part they live a normal life. His autism isn't severe and he is a normal teenager. There really is no normal because everyone sees things differently. So normal for some people may be weird to other people. Society has a certain view of normallaty which is basically just follow what everyone else is doing, which really isnt the definition of normal.
8:20 AM
My cusin has downsyndom.She is about 25 and much shorter then me. Yesshelooksalittledifferent form therest of us but sheis the sweetest person you willever meet. Shes smart and funny.She even works ataclothing storeand helpsout with childeren. She dose needalot of help form her mother nad her sister. But really she is just likeother person...you can talk to her just like you wouldmabey someone alittleyounger then you. She a great person and just loves being alive and healthy.
8:26 AM
My uncle has serible paulsy or however its spelled... he lives a very normal life. i know other people with that dissorder that cannot live normal lives and need constant attention. he has addapted very well and is a very nice person. I cannot define normal because i dont think there is such a thing. everybodys different and they decide whats normal for them.
8:28 AM
i dont know many people that personally that face a disorder however when i was in elementary school i knew quite a few special needs kids and they seemed actually happier than normal people. i understand they must face a lot of stress at times however they still recieve a good amount of love and care and i dont know anyone who has made fun of someone for having down syndrome.
8:29 AM
I know kids who have tourettes and down syndrome and they live like all the other teenagers out there in the world. With the exception of never being able to run to fast without getting a seisure or being able to drive or being able to walk with both legs without a cane. Its still an everyday life.
9:22 AM
Normal, I guess is being able to do the necessary things in order to live. People that have disorders can live normal live, even though it just takes a little more. There are some disorders that completely prevent you from fully apreciating life, but if the person and their friends and family, are willing to help them, then I would consider that a happy and healthy life.
9:49 AM
I do know someone with a genetic disorder. She is one of the sweetest people I know and she is incredibly capable for her condition. She is not able to do a lot of the things that other people do but always has a smile on her face. I think normal could be defined as capable of doing anything they want to and she is not able to do that. She is not able to get along on a daily basis without help from others.
7:41 AM
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