What does "normal people" mean, literally? [closed]

Solution 1:

Not sure using normal is an issue, many will not interpret it in the way you did. In the first sentence, I agree that the use of normal can be seen as somewhat ambiguous and problematic. In fact I don't see the point of the question and the answer.

In sentences 2 and 3, normal is not the antonym of abnormal. It just means not having the particular characteristics that makes the other category stand out (respectively celebrities and therapists). Sentence 4 would need more context. But here I would see normal as meaning most:

Most people don't react that way.

Communication has become over sensitive nowadays, so if you want to avoid parting humanity into a good and bad category of people, you could use the adjective average which means:

typical and usual:

• The average person on the street is a lot better off than they were 40 years ago. (Cambridge)

The more obvious antonym of average would be above average/atypical. And you could argue that in certain aspects a celebrity is not your average person, as well as a specialised therapist.

Instead of I am just a normal person, I also thought of the American expression

I am just a regular guy

but it has connotations that your sentence does not.