Had some thoughts I had to write down… Feel free to comment with your own opinion or thoughts…

The frequent occurrence of an object or situation would seem like a fairly accurate definition of “normal.” You’re defining normalcy by the greater quantity of occurrences as compared to similar objects or situations. If something happens more often, it is the most likely outcome and therefore must be the normal outcome, correct? However, following this rigid and limiting definition you fail to take into account the ever-increasing “normal abnormalities”.

The diverse culture and customs of global society require a lot of varying normal situations for each of these types of people. What is normal for some, obviously, is abnormal for others. The question is whose normal is the right normal? One could argue that cannibalism is normal, as some tribes in Indonesia still partake in this act. To any modernized society, which I must assume you would be as you’re reading this via the Internet, this act is gruesome, unforgivable and something from horror movies. If you were brought up in a society that accepted it, practiced it and you had no outside influence of its global social ramifications then how would you ever consider it even abnormal let alone morally wrong? The problem is they don’t know the world outside of their village. Frequency does not mean that it is the right normalcy.

On their basic foundation, isn’t it true that all wars, arguments, and global conflict can come back to one side’s normalcy versus the other? In the Middle East, children are taught and raised in a society torn by violence. They see bombs, explosions, people killed in the streets; This is all a normal occurrence for them in their lives. What would motivate change? What would make an adult, who has lived his or her entire lives in fear of being killed by a type of ethnicity, suddenly want to make peace with their “enemy”? Each side sees Good vs Evil, with the roles switching depending upon which side you’re on. There are no individuals of the enemy, it is one blanket, stereotyped normalcy of hate and fear.

The only way, in my opinion, to break this cycle is to destroy their normalcy. People argue that’s what bringing democracy to the area will do, however the message is skewed and lost in a sea of violence, smoke and anger. We need to bring the people to the democracy. New generations must be taught a global view of the world, not just the biased history of their own culture. Let them see the big picture and make choices in their own lives rather then being taught: “This is how it is.” Both sides of conflicts should be taught together by 3rd party professors who have no stake in their disagreements. The children should be started young and shown that peace, understanding and compassion is the true normalcy while violence and unfiltered hatred for a faceless mass of culture serves no purpose and holds no hope for betterment.

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Marketing and Repetitive Normalcy
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Studies on repetitive behavior indicate that the frequency of an occurrence, such as a bell or buzzer, followed by a reward, food/water, to dogs would eventually lead to the buzzer creating the same effect as the presence of food/water (e.g. mouth watering). This appears to back up the theory of repetition leads to normalcy. After the buzzer, it is frequent/normal to receive food gratification. Therefore, why wouldn’t the dog eventually grow into the assumption that it would occur? You think that humans aren’t susceptible?

The entire concept of marketing play off the same concept of repetitive normalcy. You hear a theme song from your favorite TV show and you’re immediately reminded of your entire history with the program; You see a yellow “M” often referred to as the “golden arches” and think of McDonalds. The idea of simplifying an entire corporation, idea or message into a short, easy to remember quip is the primary method for getting through to the customer. The more frequently they think about your product, the greater “normalcy” it becomes in their life. A regular part of someone’s life would make them that much more likely to reach for that product when it’s time to choose between it and a competitor.

So are we not just all dogs with the advertising industry holding their finger on the buzzer?