Writer's Block: Taking It Personally

[rocknload]

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Short answer: I think those tests are bullshit, and me saying hey, I'm an ENTP! is about as useful as saying hey, I'm a Leo/Virgo cusp! In fact, in my case the astrological sign is closer to describing my personality, but it's not like it's saying a lot anyway. The profiles are always filled with phrases like: "They tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate." Or: "Sometimes they exaggerate problems and overreact to stumbling blocks, but generally they are positive and their natural pride and stubborn streak keeps them from giving up." Those sound awfully specific, don't they? But honestly, how many people wouldn't identify with those statements?

Pop psychology usually pisses me off, though.

Comments

[ex-monarchy375.livejournal.com]

LMAO ALL OF THAT STUFF IS WORDED SO CAREFULLY. I really think that if you look hard enough, you can find something in anything that you can relate to yourself.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

That's the idea, I'm pretty sure!

And they're never negative, either. I mean, what about the people I've met who are the black holes on the galaxy of personalities, sucking in all that is good from everything in sight and warping space and time so that everything revolves around them? That's definitely a personality type, but where does it that fall on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator?

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

Actually, they can be pretty negative. :P

Not that I'm LEAPING TO THE DEFENSE of personality typing, of course. God I hate defending pop psychology.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Are they? I don't think I've ever seen one that didn't seem to me to be spinning even glaring flaws into something positive, quirky, and unique. Like the whole word is populated with Mary Sues or something, I don't know.

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

This page does: http://www.personalitypage.com/relationships.html

But you're kind of right about some descriptions, and how most people tend to treat the concept of typing. There are so many people bragging that their type is "the most rare." GAH. Both sides of "I'm a special snowflake!" really really bug me. >:[

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Now, that site does seem to list a good number of my flaws in a non-flattering light! But randomly clicking on other personality profiles gives me the same reaction: "Hey, that could be me!"

Yeah, that's another thing I don't like about them. But I do have a reflexive irritation directed at things that remind me that I'm a narcissist just like everybody else.