Who is to say what is "normal"?

[kentuck]

It is a failure of our media outlets when they attempt to make "normal" that which is not.

Who determines what is "normal"?

For example, Americans, as a society, had come to expect that Presidents would make their tax returns public, when running for the highest office in the land. We, as a people, need to know what business the President is involved with, and who he may be doing business with? That was "normal".

Americans had come to expect that they would know the basic health conditions of their President. A credible medical examiner would file a report. It is important that the President be healthy, both mentally and physically. That has been the "normal".

When the media outlets ignore such "norms", they are failing the public. There is one specific media organization that totally ignored the "norms". All of us know who that is?

[Amishman]

1. Normal is the lie we tell ourselves in order to ignore the fragility of our world

We ignore the risks of terrible but low probability events in order to cling to our false sense of security.

'that never happens around here'
'he'll never win that election'
'i don't need insurance, I never get sick'
'ive used this saw a hundred times, I don't need safety glasses'

[kentuck]

2. +100

Well said!

(Is it "normal" to expect a peaceful and functioning society?)

[Amishman]

3. I would say no, it shouldn't be normal to expect it

Which is why it is so very critical to actively work towards creating and maintaining it. It doesn't happen by chance or own it's own. It is humanity pulling ourselves up and fighting our primitive natures to create something better.

A fair, just, and functional society isn't natural - which is why it is such a challenge. It also makes every little bit of progress we make all the more precious and important to preserve.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Historically, "peaceful and functioning societies" are rare...

Most societies have been authoritarian and brutal, with a veneer of "peaceful and functional" layered over.

Like the good old US of A.

[abqtommy]

5. I may not be able to perfectly define "normal" but I know that tRUMP isn't it...