Are you an "Ordinary American"?

Nothing about me is ordinary.

Ordinary? No. Average? Yes.

It’s something created by politicians to hide behind.

I’d consider myself quite ordinary. That has nothing to do with “obediently conforming”. I simply don’t see myself as being at all special or exceptional.

@thorninmud Ah, but you are! We are each one exceptional.

Sure, I’m ordinary.

But which politicians referred to “ordinary Americans” as too stupid or uninformed? When?

Yammerers on the Internet, the radio and cable TV probably do it. But I don’t think politicians do.

I prefer to be extraordinary.

@marinelife Well, thanks, but in my view we place way too much emphasis on the tiny little variations that distinguish us, and lose sight of our vastly greater commonalities. Our sense of self lies in what distinguishes us as individuals, so we make a big deal out of those differences just to maintain our feeling of self-worth. Those differences have their charms, but sharing the ordinariness of this amazing life with everyone else is plenty good enough for me.

Maybe the word ordinary is being used to appear less clinical than saying average. Either way, I really don’t give much of a ‘meh’. I’m not the American anyone is much interested in. I don’t use credit, I don’t buy crap advertised on TV, I don’t subscribe to cable or have kids. I’m the useless “creeping off the grid” american that panderers feel just takes up space.

I am the total opposite. I am an extraordinary anti american.

I’m neither ordinary or American.

I’m just a dude.

@ragingloli Noted ad nauseum.

I hope not.

@as the discussion between @thorninmud and @marinelife exemplifies: issues of differences and commonalities have to do with the scale of measurement you use. If we look at things at a fine enough level, we are all completely different. If we look at each other at the grossest level, we are all indistinguishable.

So ordinariness is a matter of philosophy as much as anything else. It is a matter of choice and identity. Do I want to distinguish myself from or connect myself to other others?

When a politician appeals to ordinary Americans, that politician is trying to place themselves smack dab in the middle of the electorate. If they can do that, they can win the election.

When a person identifies as ordinary, they are placing themselves smack dab in the middle of the electorate, or rather, they are being hopeful that the electorate is like them. That is to say that the politician they like is the politician who will be elected. So when @thorninmud says he is ordinary, I think he is being hopeful that his views are the ones endorsed by a majority

All I can say is that my candidate for President has been elected a minority of the time. So I am ordinary a minority of the time. On the other hand, my local candidates have be been elected a majority of the time. In my community, I am ordinary. I do not find this surprising.

I am an ordinary American some of the time, but not as often as others are. Not that this says much. But it is a philosophical question, anyway. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if it has much significance or consequence.

I’m an extraordinary Canadian. Politicians are confounded by me.

I suppose I may seem like an ordinary American to many in real life, but I doubt I’d actually be in that category.

I don’t regard myself as being exceptional. And I don’t think “Everybody’s Special” is much more than a gimmick to sell greeting cards and beauty products. Yes, I think I’m an ordinary American.

This doesn’t mean I think I’m average or typical. And it doesn’t mean I’m stupid or malleable, much less “obediently conforming.” It just means that I don’t think I stand out in any particular way, and I don’t feel entitled to special treatment.