Be Normal in Any Culture
Normality is different among different cultures, for something that is normal in one culture is abnormal in a different culture. Thus, one may attempt to become normal in only one culture or learn normality in multiple cultures. The central goal of one attempting to be normal per mins ought to be to approach solidarity within a certain cultural framework. That is, he or she should live within a culture and fully adapt to it in order to be normal within that culture's intersubjective frame of reference. In the statistical sense, one should have the least possible standard deviance on a hypothetical Gaussian distribution that qualitatively describes cultural solidarity. Then you will be all set.
Contents
Steps
- Reside in some place that you feel you will sincerely assimilate into, which is most probably your native land unless you were somehow brainwashed. Otherwise, no matter how hard you attempt to convince yourself of your fitting in with the culture, you will subconsciously reject it, and your deviance will be detected by other natural members of that culture. You will thereby be ostracized.
- Understand that attempts to respect other cultures may be appreciated despite your expected bias towards your own culture. Such forms of cultural inclusivism or even pluralism are noted by many philosophers of religion as a suitable global goal. Their positions, of course, are controversial, just as exclusivism is.
- Observe others within that culture with subtle interest while not hinting them of your association with any other cultures, such as your previously adopted one. The best strategy for this learning--or "re-learning"--step is to quietly watch this world around you not as an outsider who is evaluating new cultural elements from the perspective of his or her previous culture but as a bona fide prospective member of this new culture who had no previous associations.
- Actively participate in activities of that culture particularly if all your neighbors do the same.
Tips
- Be an observer who is careful not to apply old perspectives to the culture in which you are attempting to become normal.
- Do not be frustrated and resume your old ways if you initially fail to assimilate.
- Try to find an understanding friend who seems a bit more tolerant of deviance; beware though, because someone too tolerant of abnormalities may not be even be a true member of that culture.
- Be yourself!
Warnings
- Warning: Normal does not exist, so stop trying for it!
- Do not attempt to assimilate and become normal in a culture that seems widely beyond your grasp due to natural limitations.
- Be aware that "normal", is a statistical term. When you think about it, there is no real "normal".
- Do not attempt to become normal in "all" cultures as some sort of life-long goal, because truly becoming normal in a single culture entails becoming abnormal in all other cultures.
- Do not wait for a single moment at which you are "officially" normal, because you should naturally blend into the culture if you play your figurative cards correctly.
- Insincere attempts to assimilate in a culture can be easily detected and will be rightly seen as forms of mockery. Therefore, do not attempt to mock a culture or you may meet extreme bodily harm or some other form of punishment. Borat is not a fitting example of such a consequence because he never left the Western culture that he represents in order to mock Kazakhstan.
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- Feel Normal if You're from a Different Race
- Overcome Racism
- Learn About Other Cultures
