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. >:[

[sunsetsred.livejournal.com]

See, the reason I think it's completely different from astrology is that it's not going "LOL YOU'RE THIS RANDOMLY" and overly vague and generic. It's like saying you're left-brained or right-brained, it's an actual "Okay, are you an introvert or extrovert?"

Now, any description that is supposed to define a million people who just happen to share 4 characteristics is going to be a generalization, but it's not that much of a stretch to go "extroverts are more outgoing than introverts".

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

I roll with astrology only because I like being a centaur.

[idgiebay]

Hear hear. *toast*

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

People being left-brained or right-brained is actually totally made up psuedo-scientific bullshit popularized by the media, though! That in particular drives me nuts, in fact, probably because it freaking ignores the fact that people are not logical or creative—they traits are not polar opposites, they actually coincide more often than not, and drawing weird lines like that makes no sense.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Dude, I want to be a goddamn centaur. I am nothing cool.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

What are you?

[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.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

A lion in Western astrology, a freaking ox in the Chinese one.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

Dude, lions are awesome! And ox are cool, at least you're not a rabbit or something.

I'm a dragon

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

I'm so really not a Leo though that it doesn't matter if I'm a lion or not, sadly. However, I'm so hilariously not an ox that my old kung fu teacher actually blanked out trying to stretch the definition to fit me, and finally waved it off with, "Well, there's all sorts of interpretations." But you're right, it could be way worse. I could be a cock.

sou and every other goddamn person man god you all suck.

[unicorn]

I LOVE BEING A CENTAUR.

We are the cool things.

I am also a snake.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

Well, I like you as a Leo, just so's I can say JESUS CHRIST YOU'RE A LION GET IN THE CAR.

Hey maybe if you had just been BORN LATER or something

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

The tests can be fun! Sort of like those Which Character From Firefly Are You tests.

[immelmanturn.livejournal.com]

DUDE WE ARE SERIOUSLY TOTALLY AWESOME.

I mean, other people are virgins or water bearers or fish and stuff. Fuck that.

[unicorn]

I tend to take it a little more seriously (though only on my own behalf) mostly because ONE of them fits me perfectly while the rest sound nothing like me and I get it on every single variant of the stupid test that exists. But I am kind of unusual like that, my mom tried to tell me she was four different ones.

Edit: Looking back over it, I think I only tend to trust it because it identifies flaws I've already noticed myself. Heh.

[idgiebay]

Yes, they can be! I enjoy taking them myself, but I harbor no beliefs that they're accurate representations of who I am. XD

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

I only recently learned that when you're born on the day that I was, you're only technically a Leo, but you're really supposed to be more like a Leo/Virgo hybrid, which actually fits me way more. Not that that makes me believe more in astrology or anything, but it is a fun fact!

CARS ARE NOT SAFE FROM ME, I'll

EAT THE TIRES OR SOMETHING

And miss out of the 80s? Pfft, no. Plus, then I wouldn't be the oldest sibling, which is horrifying beyond comprehension.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Just because you two lucked out on the RANDOM ANIMAL ASSIGNMENTS doesn't make these things more valid. ACTUALLY IT MAKES THEM MORE TERRIBLE IN MY EYES.

[unicorn]

I am a centaur with a bow. I can shoot your eyes out. Nothing will convince me this is untrue.

[unicorn]

You'll walk into the side of the car, anyway.