Below is a roundup of some five-dozen-plus status updates from Twitter over the past year, using the #whatisnormal hashtag – these do not include some of the many hashtags surrounding The Art of Being Normal book. Many of these tweets, you can imagine, are boring – they’re just tweets, like Twitter all day everyday, filled with the random thoughts and effusion of words from a connected population who think someone is listening. But there are sub-threads through them all: mental health, don’t-give-a-fuck-ness, the return after the sojourn, etc.
To be extraordinary, you have to leave the normal. Have the courage to make the change!! #YesWeCan #ChangeIsComing #whatisnormal
— Jawatha S. Forrest (@Jawatha) May 10, 2016
(I really like this one for the phrase “leave the normal” – never thought of it like that before.)
Q for #IanDuncanSmith. Is normal a mean, an aspiration (not easy if you're prevented from reaching it) or a social construct? #WhatIsNormal?
— John Taylor (@JohnUnworded) September 10, 2015
Today is the 1st morning in a long time that I feel 'normal' :-) #WhatIsNormal #FeelsGood ★
— Nikki! (@Xnikki1976X) January 3, 2016
Sometimes I wish I was normal but then what is normal? #lifequestion #whatisnormal
— Mel Chater (@ChaterMel) October 22, 2015
(Double shot, what is normal, neat.)
https://twitter.com/VictoriaLZito/status/742101159968546816
https://twitter.com/Sjarlottek/status/692099066138877960
That awkward moment when you don't know someone that well but they upset you and you just have to be normal #whatisnormal
— Zara D. (@ZaraD_24) May 24, 2016
Normal to annoying in 4 seconds #random #normal #whatisnormal #annoying https://t.co/Ba9sHYh11a
— Belinda (@Belinda_Renae) January 13, 2016
Can we fast forward to when my body isn't jet lagged? K thanks. ✈ #WhatIsNormal
— Danny Joseph (@Dannyjjo) May 13, 2016
(#humblebrag!)
Think they should remove the word normal from the dictionary because it no longer has a definition #whatisnormal
— Claire Flatley (@ClaireFlatley1) January 31, 2016
2 settings always troll me. On/Off #DaylightSavingTime and Normal/Inverted vertical. #WhatIsNormal #ShoveYourNormal also #PopularIsOverrated
— Tarmin Slamero (@Tarmin_Slamero) November 2, 2015
"Hannah doesn't like anything that's normal." –@MarlieBarnes #whatisnormal
— Hannah Zafuta (@hannahzafuta) June 10, 2016
Tonight was a little too eventful. *checks for hidden cameras* It felt like I was in a ridiculous comedy. #whatisnormal
— Maiden Ink (@AngelaMCaldwell) July 17, 2016
@Laulaubird I fell in it Saturday…all day! So much pressure to just feel & be normal. #WhatIsNormal
— Nicole4CupCakes☕️ (@N_KINLAW) April 26, 2016
Just received this book and giggled when read the title. #WhatIsNormal #nevertoolate #BeBrave #forgiveness #letgo pic.twitter.com/QeIvOvH0Y5
— Simone Writer (@SimoneWriter) October 15, 2015
Parents, Please Don't Let The Media Teach Your Children To Be 'Normal'#WhatIsNormal
— OGUZ | Oguche Idakwo (@Oguzmon) December 19, 2015
@StuForward And obviously when I say normal I mean potentially staid, mainstream and all too common. #WhatIsNormal :)
— John Bailey (@JEBsfm) April 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/amylfarquhar/status/732688745049264129
#blue for #AutismDay2016 The word 'normal' should be banned. #WhatIsNormal pic.twitter.com/Q7NlHVDAYv
— Kristine Green (@krispygreen84) April 2, 2016
#TMITuesday: I take some offense to being told that i'm not socially normal. #whatISnormal
— BURREXIT cereal (MP) (@4tb) June 28, 2016
Normal is so far from being familiar lately #whatisnormal
— M o n a è (@Monaelewis) February 17, 2016
@thedailybeast Unless you were white and raised in the ghetto, then @newtgingrich would just be a cracker without a clue. #whatisnormal?
— Anthony Budz (@AnthonyBudwizer) July 8, 2016
Every feel as though sometimes the life youre living cant possibly be normal? Something is wrong, but what? #whatisnormal? #needcuddles.
— Samantha Otte (@thehippie524) July 4, 2016
Be fabulous instead! Inspiration is all around us #laurarochelle #inspiration #fashion #fabulous #whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/9uuOzZTPFm
— Laura Rochelle (@llaurarochelle) September 8, 2015
(supposedly this one is a popular iPhone wallpaper)
Even a teacher today mentioned #normal people and I asked him what he meant by that. He couldn't answer. #normalpeople #whatisnormal ?
— MapleBrit (@MapleBrit) February 1, 2016
y'all i'm in my 20's so why do i still feel like a hormonal teenager during #finalsweek… is this normal #whatisnormal
— Tawn (@KazakhByBirth) May 11, 2016
Normal is just advertising. Normal is a sales pitch. Normal is fiction. It's not real. @Anne_Frasier #whatisnormal #normal #beyourself
— Chelsie (@thereal_chelsie) April 3, 2016
Things can never just be normal… dammit #whatisnormal #thatslife
— Derek Genco (@DerekGenco) June 22, 2016
Soo happy that @Kristileenews is back on the @bobandtom! Mornings are back to normal. So to speak. #hieverybody #whatisnormal
— Shelly Griffin (@shellygr8) July 18, 2016
My phone autocorrects normal to Norma and I'm always like who! Is! She! #whoisnorma #whatisnormal
— I'm Too Precious . (@smirkbaby) May 16, 2016
Here I am dressed "normal". Then here I am as @WWEBrayWyatt I enjoy being Bray more. #WhatIsNormal #BrayIsBetter pic.twitter.com/z8sZleneDu
— Carlie Nye (@WWESpongefan) March 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/luckyjordan17/status/656979032261586945
Our reaction when people tell us to act normal. #whatisnormal @DatKidBorii28 pic.twitter.com/1ncAutLd0r
— Princess✨ (@xEasilyJudged) June 19, 2016
"When a Girl Asked If I Ever Wished My Brother Were ‘Normal" #whatisnormal #disabilityawareness #differentisbeautiful #acceptance…
— Habilitation Center (@habcenterboca) September 15, 2015
You should read "Why Be Normal?" on #Wattpad #asexual #dailylife #weird #whatisnormal http://t.co/3Hv4ZRMtpr pic.twitter.com/R0oC4vjsP4
— Emma Provencal (@Emma_Twitch) July 12, 2015
Went to my Dr today… Everything checked out well!! He's said I'm normal….#whatisnormal https://t.co/R3tsAHADLh
— Jesse Sink (@jessesink) June 3, 2016
#whatisnormal El arte de ser normal ~
LO CHERO *-*— Marina -n- (@FairyVampier) April 1, 2016
Women asks tran/atheist activist Callie Wright what can "normal" people do to help. #wordsmatter #whatisnormal
— Amanda Knief (@amandaknief) October 3, 2015
Bio 20s BP/HR/breathing rate #whatisnormal? pic.twitter.com/1UY0lraKTh
— Salisbury Composite (@SalComp) April 13, 2016
Time to get back to normal tomorrow.. #whatisnormal
— Rhiannon Lewis (@RhiannonLewis95) April 13, 2016
@shartown It's completely normal that I'm baking a cake and blasting @Metallica while in a church. #WhatIsNormal @RyanPaevey @MonieLaLa
— Led Zeppelin Rocks (@ItsADarcyThing) February 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/habetinkovatt/status/724628711933399040
Let's face it. Most of us are crazy, and that's ok. #WhatIsNormal pic.twitter.com/U27NWKYmI4
— Billy Soden (@Luckystrummer) July 8, 2016
Is any childhood normal nowadays. Our cultures and persinal beliefs are so deep and different it begs the question, #WhatIsNormal?
— DtW Fans (@Darin_Southwind) July 21, 2015
I can't tell if you're a very masculine lookin female or a very effeminate lookin male but your androgyny is sexy #whatisnormal
— Edweirdo (@Me_Gallegos) December 22, 2015
I'm glad I ain't normal. If people don't like it or can't deal they can get the fuck outta here. #whatisnormal
— Jimmy One Glove (@JimmyOneGlove) October 7, 2015
A really nice birthday week. Now back to normal. Normal?#WhatIsNormal
— Michelle (@kaemicha) January 31, 2016
"Being myself doesn't make me feel more normal." – #Supergirl #whatisnormal
— T-Bos (@traceybostick) December 1, 2015
#mentalhealth #tofeelnormalagain #whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/JmuOsqAf2d
— joanne moss (@joannelmoss) March 25, 2016
@MidwivesRCM we are questioning RCMs definition of 'normal birth' in class.IOL not normal?Epidural is? #whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/i4RuvdzmgK
— Heather M (@Heatherjane0) December 4, 2015
Anything that happens in my head is either overthinking or oversharing. #whatisnormal
— Tirza S. (@ChicaTirza) April 28, 2016
There is often one normal one in a dysfunctional sociopathic family. Symbiotic relationships abound. #BlackSheep #WhatIsNormal @velotimbo
— Cerulean Man (@Cerulean_Man) April 6, 2016
coming home for holidays and feeling kind of strssed about that #normal #life #whatisnormal
— helena koruza (@ficusalfolium) December 23, 2015
My friend just told me I'm not normal. Ok tell me something I don't know lol #whatisnormal
— Jess (@Jessica03203) January 22, 2016
https://t.co/YludijpW6z That's right @officialjaden Tell these confused people that gender norms don't really exist. #whatisnormal
— BLACK & PROUD (@Hoodie_Junkie) March 15, 2016
(thank GOD for celebrities helping us to define ourselves!)
#WhatIsNormal Everyone is normal and nobody is normal. You are 'normal' if you want to be classed as so. Be unique, that's the real normal!
— Stephen R Sullivan (@Stevey_Casanova) May 6, 2016
Ok..so maybe it does. #BeBold . Love who you are. Even if it doesn't constitute 'normal' #whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/erYi06sdFU
— Heidelsle (@Heidelsle1) March 7, 2016
Is it normal to hate putting the toilet seat down so much you ask your parents for a separate girls bathroom? #cleanfreak #whatisnormal
— Lydia Diers (@fangirl_life000) January 27, 2016
I thought all I wanted was a normal life. Took a while to comprehend I had no concept of what normal was…#WhatIsNormal #LiveLifeAsItIs
— WritingHard (@WordsOfWicked) April 9, 2016
For others I cannot even figure out the relationship between the tweet and the hashtag:
Just came back from a jazz concert and it was great #whatisnormal
— Fly Guy (@thatflyguy25) May 15, 2016
#whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/wd5QePUt7A
— Sherrie Lynn (@6baf392db7f44d0) May 16, 2016
Beyond calls to ban assault rifles outside of a well-regulated militia, we should also be calling for more men kissing on TV. #WhatIsNormal
— Chris Snyder 〽 (@0x2764) June 12, 2016
When it rains it pours. #whatisnormal #hoteltonight
— Michelle Songer (@reds_madre) July 7, 2016
Just spitefully shoved a banana down my pants. #whatisnormal
— CJ (@OrangeMoon94) June 6, 2016
my brother makes a bird sound and my response "we don't need no education" #whatisnormal
— Jhoana Michelle (@jamezkoa) June 17, 2016
What is normal i have never heard of it #Whatisnormal
— Kyara Lynn Andrews (@DISNEYBITCH97) March 23, 2016
For some people the desire is expressed to want to be normal:
When you try really hard to be normal but love geeky stuff too much #bumblebee #transformers #whatisnormal pic.twitter.com/zm5hllolrJ
— natashiie (@callmecoyote) May 7, 2016
I really like these next two, from two random users that came one day after the other, one asking, the other stating:
Why am I so weird? >_< #Iamashyturtle #icantcontainmyself #whatisnormal
— Victoria (@BookNerdTori) September 18, 2015
Embrace the weird. #WhatIsNormal
— Jules Kapoor (@saucy_indeed) September 19, 2015
And this one wins points for being the sole haiku of the feed:
weirdo here i come
surprise me with your problems
but not too many#whatisnormal #haiku— narcosolo (@narcosolo) May 18, 2016
