The Law of Average Joes

[Halffull]

I call it The Law of Average Joes:

On average, you are average.

You may have a very discintive nose, or a distinctive thought process, or a distinctive emotional pattern... but on average, you're just like everybody else.

On first glance, this can seem rather offputting... almost insulting. In a culture where individuality is prized above all else, the notion that there are more similarities than differences between us can seem like an attack.

[magi13]

Um, may I request the gist of what you're trying to say? Do you mean being common is a bad thing or a good thing? I do believe in some cases, we try to be just like everybody else and not standout, in some cases we wish to stand out.

[Otenka]

You elaborated a theory but it's a theory explaining what? And what are it's implications/applications?

[Ralph]

It kind of makes sense because no matter how special you are, your 'specialness' fits into the global statictics. So we're all inside the statistical norms. In this sense we are average.

Is that what you meant Halffull?

[ProLifestyler]

Post is kind of ambiguous Halffull and doesn't make much sense without a context

We are all unique actually, and we probably more unique than similar, but in a bigger scheme of things we are all humans and therefore similar in a way

Discussion doesn't make sense

[Parthon]

It's a new mind set that frees you of the need to be different. You are human, you have eyes, nose, mouth, ears, legs, arms, hair, skin, fingers, toes, body, nipples, just like everyone else.

Certainly, you may be slightly better at somethings, and much better at other things, but on the whole you are just like everyone else.

If people would stop concentrating on what makes them different and seperate from each other and starting realising that we are all humans and we are all in this together, people would stop fighting and actually start having compassion to each other.

You are average, you aren't special, you aren't different and you certainly aren't unique. Express yourself, but never stomp on other people's self expression, you are no more important than they are. Cherish others for being them, and love that you are part of the greater humanity. What we can do together far outweights what we can do seperately.

[davkendrick]

I just think everybody is different and unique and even special in their very own way.

There is nothing wrong with differences..

David

[ferrariguy]

I'd like to take the opposite approach and say that nobody is 'average'.

Average doesn't exist. Everyone is different.

You might find some people that are pretty close to whatever your idea of average is, but I'll put myself out there and say I think most people have some quirks that nobody would consider average.

Enjoy and embrace who you are!


Peace and Love.


(Oh and hi guys, long time lurker and Pavlina reader... first time poster!)

[Halffull]

Haha, whoops, the whole article got cut off... sorry about that guys.

» The Law of Average Joes Life of Matt

[ProbableReality]

It depends who you are talking to about this.

If you are speaking to a hardcore physicalist living in a world of lack, he will hear that we are very average and will experience a similar death of our small meaningless lives.

If you are speaking to someone who believes they are connected to a larger non-physical self, they will probably not care much because they do not compare themselves to other people.

[Halffull]

Originally Posted by ProbableReality

It depends who you are talking to about this.

If you are speaking to a hardcore physicalist living in a world of lack, he will hear that we are very average and will experience a similar death of our small meaningless lives.

If you are speaking to someone who believes they are connected to a larger non-physical self, they will probably not care much because they do not compare themselves to other people.

Seems like they both have the same answer... we're very similar.

Now, if you're talking to an individualist, the conversation can start to get interesting .

[Keith]

Originally Posted by ProLifestyler

Post is kind of ambiguous Halffull and doesn't make much sense without a context

I think that's probably the point. It's intended to provoke thought rather than make a specific case.

We are each unique and beautiful snowflakes. And don't snowflakes have more similarities than differences too?

[Parthon]

Keith: Exactly.

Strangely enough, those that are confused or confronted by the "Law of Average Joes" are still heavily buried in their own sense of self. The more you are confronted, the more self centered you are.

We are brought up believing in our uniqueness, we are taught to strive to be better than everyone else. It's a huge fat lie. It's not enough for the human spirit to beat others. It's not a good thing to be seperate and alone, all the while being in conflict in others. It will kill you and drain the life out of you. You can see the proof of this in modern western society.

True life power comes from creating value and being of service to others, not from being in direct competition. We are in this together, and are more connected than we are seperate. When everyone finally drops the ideas of competition and seperateness then we can start to move to the next level of achievement: Cooperative creation. It will be awesome when we finally do that.

ps. There are some competitive endeavours that I consider mostly worthwhile: like sports and the olympics. Often though, this is something that's an inspiration to others and creates value through that. It's also why they consider good sportsmanship to be winning/losing gracefully and just enjoying the game.