He’s maybe a little bit (OK, maybe a lot) overly paranoid to be “normal”, but for someone who works for A-Sig, being paranoid might just save your life.
What most people think is “normal” is almost always just regional. The things that make you “different” are almost certainly way more common than you realize, once you look beyond your local circumstances. The problem is mostly one of people having narrow worldviews, but thinking that’s how everything is everywhere.
The exceptions, of course, are things that are universal. Everyone needs to eat, everyone need to use the bathroom, et cetera. And while the details of -how- we do those things might be different from person to person, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re all way more alike than we could ever be different.
Everyone and everything is “normal”, and people need to stop getting so caught up in the ideas of wanting to be normal, or wanting to NOT be normal. It’s such a ridiculous thing to base your entire identity around. There’s no such thing as being a rebel nor fitting in. You’re always both and neither at all times.
Fairly chipper and positive, I rather thought. Arguing against artificial barriers, trying to get people to realize our differences or similarities shouldn’t rule our lives… seems hopeful to me.
The idea of a mad scientist with imposter syndrome is such an amazing idea.
“I made a bunch of jack russel terriers with jack Nicholson’s face. What was I thinking? No one is going to take this seriously. They are all going to laugh at me and they’ll be right to do so. I’m the fool!””
It would be impressive to see someone put an animated character’s face on a dog. (Granted, it would be impressive to see someone put a human’s face on a dog, but still…)
I’m surprised that Tip, an experimental psychologist, would use “normal” and “unstable” as alternatives (especially when talking with someone in a lab coat.)
I’d expect him to define “normal” as referring to the statistical mean, median, or mode (depending on the nature of the measurement) of a sample or population.
Even using popular terminology, “normal” (healthy/well-adapted) vs. “unstable” (sick/dysfunctional) does not work well, since a limited and stable response repertoire is only effective in an unchanging, unchallenging environment. (Which Anasigma does not tend to provide.)
In general, the ability to quickly assess the situation and effectively choose responses from a wide behavioral repertoire is a sign of health and correlated with survival. (…And probably why Tip scored so well on the testing that placed him in Skin Horse. His “ahem…social skills” facilitate rapid bonding/communication, and could help stir up the gene pool for enhanced species survival. At times, he presents as egocentric to the point of narcissism/sociopathy, yet, when the chips are down, his decisions are informed by a strong moral compass, and he will consistently place the “greater good” ahead of personal considerations.)
One of my favorite quotes (although I don’t know where it originated) is “Normal is a setting on a washing machine.” It seems to pop up in all sorts of literature (and T-shirts!)
They must be wrong with some persistence,
They must have found a way.
Sneaking with sneakers with great insistence,
One schizophrenic day.
They think I believe in craziness and laziness
And ideas in shades of gray.
And all they can do is laugh at me,
Doesn’t anybody see how they play?
Paranoia! Take off your blinder shades.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my!
Paranoia! Listen to my quirky tirades.
Paranoia! Hey, can’t you see my way?
Step to the side, you’re acting like I’m crazy-nutzo mental ward wild.
Start your complaint and you’d see I’m mentally straight.
Paranoia! Break out your robo-blues.
Paranoia! Hey, can’t you see my way?
Follow along my truth and justice,
I’ll be your guide today.
I’ll be your mental mentor,
You’ll be my protégé.
You think I’m a case of craziness and laziness
And wasting my life away.
But I will be teaching you to look behind you,
Anything that’s not blasé.
Paranoia! Take off your blinder shades.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my!
Paranoia! Listen to my quirky tirades.
Paranoia! Hey can’t you see my way?
Paranoia! Break out your robo-blues.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my…
—from “Arizona,” written by Kenny Young, sung by Mark Lindsay.
He’s maybe a little bit (OK, maybe a lot) overly paranoid to be “normal”, but for someone who works for A-Sig, being paranoid might just save your life.
Just for the record, I dislike being called “normal”, too.
“Never be normal!” – The Ron Stoppable Motto
When I was in 6th grade, a girl came up to me and said, “you’re weird.” I just looked her in the eye and replied, “thank you.”
My standard reply is “Yeah, but I’m good at it.”
There’s no such thing as normal.
What most people think is “normal” is almost always just regional. The things that make you “different” are almost certainly way more common than you realize, once you look beyond your local circumstances. The problem is mostly one of people having narrow worldviews, but thinking that’s how everything is everywhere.
The exceptions, of course, are things that are universal. Everyone needs to eat, everyone need to use the bathroom, et cetera. And while the details of -how- we do those things might be different from person to person, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re all way more alike than we could ever be different.
Everyone and everything is “normal”, and people need to stop getting so caught up in the ideas of wanting to be normal, or wanting to NOT be normal. It’s such a ridiculous thing to base your entire identity around. There’s no such thing as being a rebel nor fitting in. You’re always both and neither at all times.
Wow. Serious much?
…no?
Fairly chipper and positive, I rather thought. Arguing against artificial barriers, trying to get people to realize our differences or similarities shouldn’t rule our lives… seems hopeful to me.
Just seems a bit over-dramatic for the comments section of a comic strip.
Paranoid? Who says I’m paranoid! It’s not paranoia if you know they’re out there!
It’s not that bad…
Given the environment he works in, that does seem pretty normal.
Normal, maybe not. Healthy, you bet.
Normal is relative. He’s certainly not “normal” compared to the average American, but for the average person at the Institute?
not my relatives 😉
He seems relatively average for someone who has a long term career in Anasigma.
“Don’t worry, Dr. Taintor. I’m sure they’re only plotting *nice* things about you!”. ^_~
Heh, heh, heh!
Paranoid, or a mad scientist suffering from Impostor Syndrome? (“Sooner or later, they’re going to realize I’m not Mad enough for the job!”)
The idea of a mad scientist with imposter syndrome is such an amazing idea.
“I made a bunch of jack russel terriers with jack Nicholson’s face. What was I thinking? No one is going to take this seriously. They are all going to laugh at me and they’ll be right to do so. I’m the fool!””
Well, of course they’re going to laugh at you. To take you seriously, your Jack Russell terriers would need to have Jack Russell‘s face on them.
Or maybe Jack Russell.
It would be impressive to see someone put an animated character’s face on a dog. (Granted, it would be impressive to see someone put a human’s face on a dog, but still…)
I know they put a human ear on a mouse once. I suppose “impressive” would be one word for it.
It’s always fun seeing to whom characters’ names may allude.
What’s so not normal about raging paranoia?
I wonder how soon we can get a full body shot of tip. I want to see his full outfit.
I wonder if, after seeing Bitey in the drone footage, he spec’d kevlar for his cap.
“Wait. Why’d you withdraw your question? Are you one of Them too?!”
Heheh. 🙂
Normal’s just a town in Illinois…
I’m surprised that Tip, an experimental psychologist, would use “normal” and “unstable” as alternatives (especially when talking with someone in a lab coat.)
I’d expect him to define “normal” as referring to the statistical mean, median, or mode (depending on the nature of the measurement) of a sample or population.
Even using popular terminology, “normal” (healthy/well-adapted) vs. “unstable” (sick/dysfunctional) does not work well, since a limited and stable response repertoire is only effective in an unchanging, unchallenging environment. (Which Anasigma does not tend to provide.)
In general, the ability to quickly assess the situation and effectively choose responses from a wide behavioral repertoire is a sign of health and correlated with survival. (…And probably why Tip scored so well on the testing that placed him in Skin Horse. His “ahem…social skills” facilitate rapid bonding/communication, and could help stir up the gene pool for enhanced species survival. At times, he presents as egocentric to the point of narcissism/sociopathy, yet, when the chips are down, his decisions are informed by a strong moral compass, and he will consistently place the “greater good” ahead of personal considerations.)
If the doctors on medical dramas can take a two-digit-decimal precision temperature reading, and call it out as “normal”, I”m sure Tip can get a pass
in mega-Kelvin maybe
Abby… someone.
It doesn’t get any more normal than that!
One of my favorite quotes (although I don’t know where it originated) is “Normal is a setting on a washing machine.” It seems to pop up in all sorts of literature (and T-shirts!)
They must be wrong with some persistence,
They must have found a way.
Sneaking with sneakers with great insistence,
One schizophrenic day.
They think I believe in craziness and laziness
And ideas in shades of gray.
And all they can do is laugh at me,
Doesn’t anybody see how they play?
Paranoia! Take off your blinder shades.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my!
Paranoia! Listen to my quirky tirades.
Paranoia! Hey, can’t you see my way?
Step to the side, you’re acting like I’m crazy-nutzo mental ward wild.
Start your complaint and you’d see I’m mentally straight.
Paranoia! Break out your robo-blues.
Paranoia! Hey, can’t you see my way?
Follow along my truth and justice,
I’ll be your guide today.
I’ll be your mental mentor,
You’ll be my protégé.
You think I’m a case of craziness and laziness
And wasting my life away.
But I will be teaching you to look behind you,
Anything that’s not blasé.
Paranoia! Take off your blinder shades.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my!
Paranoia! Listen to my quirky tirades.
Paranoia! Hey can’t you see my way?
Paranoia! Break out your robo-blues.
Paranoia! See all the sinister world, my my…
—from “Arizona,” written by Kenny Young, sung by Mark Lindsay.
Nicely done, Robert Nowall, nicely done!
Thought afterwards I should’a worked in the phrase “they’re all against me” somewhere.
Possibly a replacement for the final line of the first verse?