Erin The Great
Leave your inhibitions at the door

Erin The Great

Social Norms Project

August 7th, 2007 . by Erin

I was taking a walk one day, and a thought came to me. ‘Who came up with what our society deems as socially normal?’ I look around and I see various degrees of ‘social normality’ but when does it become socially abnormal?

This is a question I’m determined to get to the bottom of. I will be conducting an experiment over the course of a week and a half, in which I will attempt to answer the following questions;

*What really is normal in society today?
*What is normal?
*Does being ‘normal’ make someone happy or miserable?
*Do people look at you strangely because they think what you’re doing is
rude, weird, or dangerous… or are they secretly jealous that a.) They
didn’t think of it first or b.) They wish they had the guts do go through
with what ever stunt you’re pulling.
*Is being ‘yourself’ a social abnormality?
*Why when you talk honestly, most people get REALLY uncomfortable?
*In these certain ‘normal’ instances, is anyone really being themselves?

I have more theories that I could expound on, but I’ll address those as they become relevant.

For the next week and a half I will try to live outside the spectrum of social normality with the exception of work. I don’t know about you but I really don’t want to be fired for wearing weird clothing or saying things…things that my magic 8 ball makes me say…

2 Responses to “Social Norms Project”

  1. comment number 1 by: Coogan

    We’re a little different here. I love to blend in. I hate assumption, presumption, attention and presentation. Sure, like any kid in High School, I probably thought I was special by going against one trend or fashion. But people, like the kids we always are, are too weak to “rebel” against one style without conforming to another. So I’d much rather blend into the mass and avoid hypocrisy. Like the master miniaturists in “My Name is Red”, any indication of “individuality” “personality” or “character” on my part is merely my failing as a human being.


  2. […] the first day of my experiments, I observed. The first thing I observed was the reaction to my bumper stickers. I have several semi-political […]

Leave a Reply

Name

Mail (never published)

Website