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anyafaerie
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Joined: 21 Mar 2012
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 If you are normal and/or sane
Debate!
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After viewing a conversation between two members on another of my threads, I decided to voice my feelings on the ironic lie most of us hide behind.
This is my OPINION, please try not to take it personally.
Almost every one of us is abnormal or insane.
I mean no offense in singling out any kin as an example so bear with me for a moment here.
It's completely normal for cats to attack unseen prey, to use a litterbox, to hunt and devour live mice or leave the bloody mess on masters doorstep, to get high on catnip, to lust after shiny bits of dangly things, and to purr in pleasure and pain.
If you are a cat who does not do these things, then by nature and logic, you are not normal. If you to defy these "normal" behaviors to appear normal, it means that you have an identity crisis, or have adapted to survive. An identity crisis is a mental disorder.
This line of thought could be applied to almost any kin type. We can either accept the fact that we all act abnormally to survive, or consider that fact that we might all be crazy.
We all exist in human bodies and are bound by human rules and laws. Human bodies do affect our mental state. If you move your spiritual arm and the human arm moves with it, you're connected to it and it affects you as much as you affect it. It's the human body making you feel abnormal, so it's affecting your mood and mental state.
That being said, look for a logical real world human reason why before blaming your problems on your kin side.
You have free will; you have a choice and only you can be held accountable for your decisions. Sure, it's instinct for the cat to scratch, but with a human body you also have the gift of higher reasoning. You have the power to keep yourself out of jail or a padded cell.
I openly invite POLITE debate on this topic.
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 Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:25 pm
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Seraphyna
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I tend to concur. "Normal" humans identify with being human, right? Thus by the very identifying with some core aspects of ourselves as not human we are "abnormal". Not saying any of that is wrong, or needs to be fixed, or isn't a valid identity...just that it's not "normal".
To clarify, I think there's a definite difference between "abnormal" and mentally ill. You can be abnormal and still function just fine in society...thus you're not mentally ill.
Personally, I identify as psychologically otherkin...not spiritually. I am well aware that my brain is "abrnomal" and my person theory on that is that a combination of "abrnomal" brain chemistry/wiring and psychological adaptation to traumas from a young age created this polymorphic aspect of myself. However, I still function just fine in society. I have friends, a job, an education, etc. So being psychologically "not normal" doesn't mean I have a mental illness...same goes for anyone else.
Could there be overlap between psychologically "not normal" and mental illness? Definitely, but the two by definition do not go hand in hand. If you suffer from mental illness, you're psychologically abnormal, but the reverse is not necessarly true.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:51 pm
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My site: http://seraphyna.ucoz.com/
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Wildkyss
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Are we invoking absolutism for this discussion? Because I must say that will be hardly fruitful in this case.
Edit: I thought I would mention what is considered "natural" is still a hot topic among philosophers.
So what are we discussing so I can minimize my misinterpretations and/or representations in the discussion. I don't mean this as a challenge either as I am not a qualified expert on these subjects.
Also I am making the assumption that by normal we are referring to what is currently acceptable under the thesis statement of naturalism.
On the subject of morality... that is a very messy discussion. So if we are arguing from a relative point of view we must invoke clear meanings to the best of our abilities so we may have a discussion.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 3:52 am
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"If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle."
-- Rita Mae Brown
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Branethen
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I don't think I can be of use. I don't really have any troubles to blame on a kin side.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 5:50 am
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Understand that things I post are just things I personally believe. That way I can type less redundantly.
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kytanos
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Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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Identity: Raven
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I believe one must always own ones actions unless acting under some kind of outside influence. I am Ravenkin, and admittedly I am a little bit of a stereotype. I am cynical, sarcastic, a little dismissive of some social norms, intelligent, pragmatic, and I also prefer to dress like a goth. However I own up to who I am, I admit that I don't socialize as much as I should and have a level of social awkwardness and lack a certain grace. I admit that I have a tendency to disregard some of those graces in the first place, I like speaking my mind and if that hurts someones feelings I feel they should grow a pair. When this comes off the wrong way, or offends someone I didn't mean to offend. I take ownership of these actions. I never use my kin as a shield to dismiss the wrongs I have done. I am a Raven yes, but I am not some conceptual spirit bound to it's portfolio and purpose. I am intelligent, free thinking being, as are we all.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:08 am
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There is magic in the world, even if it's only what we imagine it to be.
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GryffGradon
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I have never claimed to be normal, I can tell you that much. I've got no shortage of psychological weirdness, but for me I don't think it's related to my kin-ness (something I think we discussed elsewhere). As far as the community at large is concerned, we're all weird. Why fight it? 
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:12 am
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A crazy centaur with too much to say
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Moondial
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| GryffGradon wrote: |
| I have never claimed to be normal, I can tell you that much. I've got no shortage of psychological weirdness, but for me I don't think it's related to my kin-ness (something I think we discussed elsewhere). As far as the community at large is concerned, we're all weird. Why fight it? |
As an addition to this, we're all unique and as individual as they come.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 8:17 am
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~ Moondial ~
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anyafaerie
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Normal, IMO is any action or function that is necessary to sustaining life that you cannot avoid until your life ends. The need for food, shelter, and warmth, and the occurrence of bodily functions are all "normal". But I meant to use normal synonymously with "typical" here, and I meant in regards to kin type, not human life.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 1:05 pm
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Wildkyss
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So the meaning of normal, under your terms is considered a forced act? As in, there is no alternative decision and it is not a matter of choice? Just wondering if I'm understanding that correctly. If so, I see no reason to debate with that. But I am having a difficult time understanding what follows.
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:59 pm
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"If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle."
-- Rita Mae Brown
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anyafaerie
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| Wildkyss wrote: |
| So the meaning of normal, under your terms is considered a forced act? As in, there is no alternative decision and it is not a matter of choice? Just wondering if I'm understanding that correctly. If so, I see no reason to debate with that. But I am having a difficult time understanding what follows. |
I was saying that I think normal is an inaccurate term since we are all unique and different. Name something that EVERYONE does on a regular basis that do not contribute to sustaining life. We all eat, because it keeps us alive, thus eating is normal, but also necessary and cannot be ignored. I'm talking about typical behaviors that everyone does not necessary to life. Like it's typical human behavior to smile or laugh when something is funny, but that reaction does not keep you alive.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 2:23 am
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ChopstickFox
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Everyone out there is going to vary in some sort of way. It's just part of being human. We're not an army of clones (and even if we were we'd probably still have all of our own quirks based off factors other than genes). It's just a natural thing and diversity helps ensure the future of our species. Order and conformity go along with the ability to survive as a species. We're to the point that we can literally screw conformity and still physically live. No lion is going to jump out and eat us (unless you're rather unlucky). So yeah... it's not a big deal now, but there will always be people who feel that it does matter too. Not much different than animals. We just don't have something higher in the food chain for us to give a damn.
Back to the point, there is a definite difference between insanity and being different. There is no harm in having different beliefs. That is what this is in some eyes. Different opinions and beliefs. Sure, someone can call me insane for a number of reasons. I have dreams where I have traveled out of my body, I believe in a spirit guide, and I feel phantom limbs. Crazy, right? But do I hurt anyone? Is my guide telling me to kill everyone I see? No, so what's the big deal? My mind is balanced and I contribute well enough to society... I'm a good person. Isn't that what matters here? Scratch the opinionated stereotypes. If I'm insane, at least I'm being sane about it.
By the way, I don't attribute my actions based off my kintype or whatever... If I had no knowledge of it, I feel I would be the same way. Who knows. I don't lose sleep over it.
All in all... Once you stick the word "normal" or "typical" on a human, it becomes moot. We're all going to be different, kin or not.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 2:46 am
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Happiness is the pleasantest of emotions; because of this, it is the most dangerous. Having once felt happiness, one will do anything to maintain it, and losing it, one will grieve.
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Wildkyss
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I'm still confused, sorry. Are we talking about actions that we just do without thinking/habit on any normal circumstances or saying there is a difference between actions that we do to sustain life vs anything else? Btw I agree that it's very difficult to define "normal" without talking about hardly anything. So I'm just wondering if we're using science to talk about normal because we have been referencing that. Normal as in chemicals all there/everything in an average range?
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 2:57 am
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"If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle."
-- Rita Mae Brown
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Foxlight
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Am I normal? Hmm, an excellent question; but then what is normal? Would that not depend on your world view, enviroment and frame of reference within which you operate? Normal means so many things to so many people; with what is considered normal for one being perceived as being abnormal by another.
That said then; I believe it is fair to say that within my own world view and frame of reference I would have to say that I am normal; though another may well disagree with me. Therefore normality can be seen as a highly subjective term.
Am I insane? Well, again that could be a very subjective term also; certainly it could be argued that I have sufficient sanity to move through life without my mental state being questioned; though there are those who would question it if they found out that I perceive myself as being otherkin.
Okay I'm off for a lie down in my dark corner because after thinking about stuff like that my head hurts 
Blessings of my Lady Nyx
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Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 9:23 pm
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"Darkness does not always equate to evil; just as light does not always bring good"
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Wildkyss
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I like Foxlight's response. 
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 3:40 pm
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"If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle."
-- Rita Mae Brown
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Foxlight
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You do? Why thank you; says she blushing to her hair roots!
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:34 pm
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"Darkness does not always equate to evil; just as light does not always bring good"
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