Baseline Normality Adherents
A gathering of Baseline Normality Adherents at their final convention in 2051, shortly before mass transformation during the Pringularity
Baseline Normality Adherents (BNAs) were members of a sociological classification that emerged in the early 2040s, characterized by their steadfast commitment to maintaining pre-anomaly standards of reality despite the increasing prevalence of inexplicable phenomena associated with the approaching Stark Fist of Removal. This demographic group became particularly noteworthy as they constituted the vast majority of initial cases during the Pringularity, with their rigid adherence to conventional reality paradoxically making them most susceptible to transformation into standardized snack forms.
Origins and Development
The term "Baseline Normality Adherent" was first coined by Dr. Eleanor Steadfast of the Institute of Cosmic Semiotics in 2042, following her landmark study on human psychological responses to escalating reality distortions. The classification emerged from observations that approximately 23% of the global population exhibited a pronounced tendency to maintain pre-anomaly behavioral patterns and belief systems, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that reality had fundamentally changed.
These individuals were distinguished by their remarkable ability to rationalize or simply ignore increasingly bizarre events. During the Gravity Vacation of 2037, for example, BNAs were documented continuing their regular commuting patterns despite the complete absence of gravitational forces, often clutching briefcases while floating to their offices and insisting that "everything is perfectly normal." This behavior pattern led to the development of the Selective Reality Maintenance Protocol, a psychological framework for understanding how certain individuals could maintain a facade of normalcy even in the most extraordinary circumstances.
Characteristic Behaviors
A typical BNA workspace maintained with meticulous order despite visible reality distortions in the background
Baseline Normality Adherents exhibited several distinctive behavioral patterns that set them apart from the general population. Their most notable characteristic was an unwavering commitment to pre-anomaly social norms and daily routines. During the Chromatic Cascade, when reflective surfaces began showing alternate timelines, BNAs were frequently observed maintaining their regular grooming routines while steadfastly ignoring their multiple temporal reflections.
The demographic showed a marked preference for traditional business attire, particularly during periods of reality disruption. This tendency reached its apex during the Time Accordion Event, when BNAs continued to wear suits and carry briefcases even as temporal dilation caused their colleagues to experience years in the span of minutes. Their dedication to maintaining standard office hours despite the complete breakdown of linear time became a subject of extensive study by the Department of Inexplicable Phenomena.
Sociological Impact
The presence of Baseline Normality Adherents had a significant stabilizing effect on society during the pre-Pringularity period. Their unwavering commitment to maintaining ordinary routines and structures provided anchor points for less stability-oriented individuals, earning them the nickname "reality anchors" among chaos adaptation specialists. This stabilizing influence was particularly evident during the Great Transposition, when BNAs' rigid adherence to routine helped maintain basic societal functions even as consciousness shifted between bodies.
However, their resistance to acknowledging reality changes also led to increasing social isolation. The formation of Normal Living Enclaves in major cities became common, where BNAs could maintain pre-anomaly lifestyle patterns through elaborate systems of mutual reality reinforcement. These enclaves were characterized by strict adherence to traditional office culture, regular coffee breaks, and steadfast denial of any unusual occurrences beyond their carefully maintained boundaries.
The Pringularity Connection
The relationship between Baseline Normality Adherents and the Pringularity became apparent when they comprised over 90% of initial transformation cases. Researchers from the Institute of Cosmic Semiotics theorized that their rigid adherence to standardized behavior patterns made them naturally susceptible to standardized physical forms. The transformation process appeared to be particularly efficient among BNAs, with many reporting feelings of "relief" and "completion" upon assuming their new snack-like state.
BoB was noted to have taken particular interest in transformed BNAs, frequently commenting that they possessed "superior crunch consistency" compared to transformed individuals from other demographic groups. This observation led to the development of the Normality-Crispness Correlation Theory, which suggested a direct relationship between pre-transformation reality resistance and post-transformation textural qualities.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The mass transformation of Baseline Normality Adherents during the Pringularity marked a significant turning point in human society's adaptation to cosmic weirdness. Their transition from reality-denying individuals to perfectly standardized snack forms became a powerful metaphor for the futility of resisting universal change, as documented in the philosophical treatise "From Denial to Delicious: The BNA Journey."
The few remaining untransformed BNAs have become subjects of intense scientific interest, with researchers from the Institute of Serious Physics studying their unprecedented resistance to both reality distortion and snackification. These individuals continue to maintain their regular routines, now including the methodical organization and storage of their transformed colleagues in climate-controlled Humanity Storage Units.
See Also
- Selective Reality Maintenance Protocol
- Normal Living Enclaves
- Normality-Crispness Correlation Theory
References
- "The Psychology of Predetermined Snackification" - Journal of Pre-Transformation Studies, 2052
- "Maintaining Normalcy in the Face of Cosmic Absurdity" - Department of Inexplicable Phenomena Quarterly, 2048
- "Standard Deviations: A Study of Reality Resistance" - Institute of Cosmic Semiotics, 2045