Personality Test

[thalberg]

Here's how it works:

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

You have to give 3 animals and 3 personality-based reasons for each.

For example:

1. Eagle
-beautiful
-fly really high
-majestic

2. dog
-they love people
-they're happy
-they're fun

3. giant squid
-live in deep places no one else goes to
-mysterious
-powerful

Once we get about 10 replies, I will tell you the rules for interpreting the results.

[lau]

1. spider
-crafty
-secretive
-quiet

2. sloth
-relaxed
-not rushed
-mellow

3. monkey
-spontaneous
-interesting
-cute 

[counterpoint]

turtle 
- slow
- unhectic
- patient

hedgehog
- peaceful
- but willing to defend his position
- likes to sleep long

firefly
- mysterious
- silent
- unpredictable appearing/disappearing

[m1469]

1.  Grizzly Bear
-- protective
-- elusive
-- gnarly

2.  Red Fox
-- sly
-- crafty
-- beautiful

3.  Siberian Tigress
-- fierce
-- all business
-- sneaky

[spaciiey]

owl
-wise
-nocturnal
-hunter

ant
-blind
-small
-underestimated

horse
-understanding
-intuitive
-flighty

[Bob]

1. Hawk
- searching
- high flying, soaring
- sees wide view, big picture, overview

2. Big Dog
- loyal
- hard working
- fun

3. Hampster
- messy
- half-asleep somtimes
- running somewhere, busy other times

[elspeth]

Polar bear
- inquisitive
- in control
- hibernates

Owl
- graceful
- wise
- noctural

Shark
- single minded
- efficient
- streamlined

[thalberg]

Okay that's 6, four more to go!! Then I unveil what the results mean.

[goldentone]

Lion
-strong
-fierce
-a king

Rod
-mysterious
-recondite
-existence questioned

Eagle
-stately
-free
-inspiring

[ted]

Sloth
- Doesn't do anything very quickly
- Has virtually no predators unless on the ground having a bowel motion, which isn't very often
- Its mating behaviour has very rarely been observed

Footnote: I thought it had never been observed but it seems this is incorrect. The female lets out an unholy shriek and males from miles around approach at the rate of two hundred metres per day. A sloth copulates about once a year and usually does it hanging upside-down in the trees.

Domestic cat
- Independent
- In control of humans through manipulation
- Sleeps a lot

Galapagos tortoise
- Doesn't do anything very quickly
- Has virtually no predators
- Seems content and contemplative

[lau]

Once we get about 10 replies, I will tell you the rules for interpreting the results.

this is the 10th reply

[counterpoint]

I begin to realize...













We're a big zoo here... 

[jlh]

Wildcat
-Curious
-Independant
-Likes to travel

Swan
-Sophisticated
-Serene
-Sexy

Sea Lion
-Smooth
-Loves the spotlight
-Sucker for flattery

[pianistimo]

do we pick as many as we want?

i pick ant.  i am stronger than i look.  i have a thin bone structure and yet i can move a lot of weight and also i work very hard and fast.  people sometimes think i am unable to do this or that - but then look again and it's done.  i like surprising people. 

also, when i get bursts of energy i cannot sit down.  it's like being driven to do this or that.  only rarely i feel 'serene' in the sense that all i have to do is read a book and drink some tea.  in those brief fleeting moments - i am a swan. 

[thalberg]

Lion
-strong
-fierce
-a king

Rod
-mysterious
-recondite
-existence questioned

Eagle
-stately
-free
-inspiring

Okay, time to interpret results.  I'll use goldentone as an example.

The first animal is how other people see you.  Other people see goldentone as a strong, fierce king.  The second animal is how you see yourself.  Goldentone sees him/herself as mysterious, recondite, and perhaps non-existent.  The third animal is what you really, truly are.  Goldentone is stately, free, and inspiring.

[mcgillcomposer]

Wow...sounds as hokey as much of that Adam and Eve thread.

[ted]

Thalberg:

Yes, probably very close to correct on all three counts ! The one point of divergence is that I see myself as a manipulator. I do not, although who can be sure what is going on at the unconscious level ? It also has to be clarified that contemplation, as I undertake it, is a highly active mental state and not vegetative dozing.

Of particular interest is the virtual identity of my first and third sets of characteristics. If the test is accurate this pleases me very much as I have no desire to appear other than as I am. With me, what you see is indeed what you get.

[counterpoint]

I can say for sure, that many people think, I have the temperament of a turtle   

[thalberg]

Wow...sounds as hokey as much of that Adam and Eve thread.

It is not hokey!!  Introduce this game to people at parties and you will be an instant hit.  I promise.

You know, my aunt had some fascinating ones.  She said "unicorn" because they are imaginary, and "amoeba" because no one knows they're there be they're extremely powerful.

[thalberg]

My friend did this test on pianist John Perry.  His three animals were Lion, Tiger, and Shark.  So other people see him as scary, he sees himself as scary, and he really is scary.

[elspeth]

I'm quite scared. Mine's truer that I really want to admit!

[Bob]

I am really a hampster.   Dang....

[goldentone]

That was interesting, Thalberg.

Hmm.  If this is legitimate, I think you could say all three points of view are true.  Three different perspectives of ourselves.

I'm a guy by the way.

[goldentone]

To delve a bit deeper, this would mean that somehow,

1.  We know others' perceptions of us down deep
2.  We know what are the truest qualities of ourselves DESPITE what we believe ourselves to be.

It seems we can't escape truth. . . .

[thalberg]

Thalberg:

Yes, probably very close to correct on all three counts ! The one point of divergence is that I see myself as a manipulator. I do not, although who can be sure what is going on at the unconscious level ? It also has to be clarified that contemplation, as I undertake it, is a highly active mental state and not vegetative dozing.

Of particular interest is the virtual identity of my first and third sets of characteristics. If the test is accurate this pleases me very much as I have no desire to appear other than as I am. With me, what you see is indeed what you get.

I noticed the similarities between your first and third.  That's really cool!  Good qualities.

So you don't see yourself as manipulative........well, you did get to choose the word, and you knew it was about you, so there must be something to it......may I speculate?

Cats can manipulate humans because they know their cute lovablenss makes their owners want to do things for them.  Does your cuteness and lovableness make people want to do things for you?   

[thalberg]

To delve a bit deeper, this would mean that somehow,

1.  We know others' perceptions of us down deep
2.  We know what are the truest qualities of ourselves DESPITE what we believe ourselves to be.

It seems we can't escape truth. . . .

Very intriguing!!

I like this line of thought.

I found that when the original question was asked of me, the first two answers came extremely quickly, but the third answer took a lot longer.  It was like my soul was bringing up something from very deep down.

Let's pose another possibility:  The more times we ask a person who they are, the more genuine the answer.....what do you think?  I don't know, it's just a thought.

[pianistimo]

why did say 'irish bloodhound' third.  well, their voices are supposed to be melodious and contoured - whatever that means.  but i don't like the droopy lower eyelid part.  and, btw, mine don't droop yet.  i just meant that if there is some information that one cannot find - i think i can find it out.

but, perhaps 'firefly' is my final answer.  retaining a bit of mystery.  only appearing when they want to.

[ahinton]

but, perhaps 'firefly' is my final answer.  retaining a bit of mystery.  only appearing when they want to.

That's 10,357 appearances here, at last count; not a whole lot of mystery there, methinks...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

i happen to love fireflies in and of themselves.  it think begin able to turn on a little light is very cool.  if there are enough of them - they can light up the bike path pretty well.  perhaps christians do so some kind of firefly lighting up of the path to Jesus Christ.  i heard on trinity broadcasting a kind of 'lite-up' moment message.  this guy looks in confucious tomb and the body is still dead and buried,  then, in budda's - but finally in Jesus Christ's.  there is no body.  realizing that Jesus Christ is the ONLY true God and because of it - He could overcome death makes Him stand out above the rest.  there is a verse in the bible that says because He lives - we also can live.  eternally.

none of the other gods even claimed to 'overcome' death.  it was not viewed as evil and a result of sin.   if one is reincarnated over and over - it means that belief is from the devil who said to adam and eve 'you shall not surely die.'

[ahinton]

i happen to love fireflies in and of themselves.  it think begin able to turn on a little light is very cool.  if there are enough of them - they can light up the bike path pretty well.  perhaps christians do so some kind of firefly lighting up of the path to Jesus Christ.  i heard on trinity broadcasting a kind of 'lite-up' moment message.  this guy looks in confucious tomb and the body is still dead and buried,  then, in budda's - but finally in Jesus Christ's.  there is no body.  realizing that Jesus Christ is the ONLY true God and because of it - He could overcome death makes Him stand out above the rest.  there is a verse in the bible that says because He lives - we also can live.  eternally.

none of the other gods even claimed to 'overcome' death.  it was not viewed as evil and a result of sin.   if one is reincarnated over and over - it means that belief is from the devil who said to adam and eve 'you shall not surely die.'

There you go again! This is a thread about a certain kind of "personality test" and, irrespective of its possible worth or validity as such, you have to ue your own reference to fireflies as yet another excuse among a seemingly interminable series of excuses for more of this kind of stuff, ending in this case with an allusion to Adam and Eve who, as I have gently reminded you before, already have their own thread in this sector of the forum.

I've nothing against your self-confessed affection for fireflies, of course, but may I ask you once more why it is that you persist in throwing this stuff into so many arenas where it is neither pertinent nor usefully informative?

To return briefly to Adam and Eve (with aplogies in advance for briefly digressing from the thread topic), what evidence do you have that "the devil" (whoever he/she may be/have been) ever said this or anything else to Adam and Eve (if they existed) and, if you do have any, why do you suppose that this so-called "devil" said this to them rather than asking them questions about navels and belly-buttons like any respectable pianoforum devil?

Best,

Alistair

P.S...and I warn you that, if you start calling me "ahinton" again because of this and any other hopefully not impolite but gently admonitory post, I might just start referring to you as "s******"...

[pianistimo]

but, will you not agree that i am simply explaining my truest self?  who i am.

[ahinton]

but, will you not agree that i am simply explaining my truest self?  who i am.

The thread is specifically about a certain particular type of personality test; it is not therefore intended as an excuse to explain what you call your "truest self" (unless the thread originator corrects my understanding of this) and, in any case, you have surely traversed these paths of stony ground over and over again at immense length elsewhere on this forum well beyond the point at which anyone here could possible harbour a shred of doubt about your thoughts on such matters...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

soo.... alistair, what are your three? 

[ahinton]

soo.... alistair, what are your three? 

I haven't the faintest idea, frankly - although at the same time I take leave to doubt that this signifies that I have no personality. Anyway, I thought that just ten were being sought before some kind of conclusion was to be attempted based upon those ten items of data...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

i'd say wildcat, polar bear, hawk.  just a wild guess.  the wildcat likes to travel - that's why i picked that one.  the polar bear was a bit reclusive at times and hibernates - so i was thinking perhaps that is what you do when involved in composition.  and, the hawk has a good 'overview' of things - which i think you do especially with music. 

probably never gave these animals a second thought -did you?  now, you have to speak for yourself.  do you agree with these selections - or do you think they are misplaced?

[ahinton]

i'd say wildcat, polar bear, hawk.  just a wild guess.  the wildcat likes to travel - that's why i picked that one.  the polar bear was a bit reclusive at times and hibernates - so i was thinking perhaps that is what you do when involved in composition.  and, the hawk has a good 'overview' of things - which i think you do especially with music. 

probably never gave these animals a second thought -did you?  now, you have to speak for yourself.  do you agree with these selections - or do you think they are misplaced?

I simply don't have an opinion on it all, one way or another. Even if the rationale behind your choices were to hold good (and I'm keeping my own counsel over that), many other species like to travel besides wildcats, polar bears don't possess exclusive rights to reclusivity (still less hibernation) and other creatures besides hawks have such overviews (hawks are also predatory, but I note that you neatly avoided reference to that!).

Best,

Alistair

[ted]

Thalberg:

Thank you for your kind and tactful suggestion of how I may avoid the dilemma. Unfortunately, after ruminating on it, I think the implication might hold some truth. But perceiving a fault is, after all, the first step toward eliminating it. Had you not posted the test I may never have been aware of it; it isn't the sort of thing people are going to voice explicitly to me is it ! So thanks for that.

[thalberg]

Thalberg:

Thank you for your kind and tactful suggestion of how I may avoid the dilemma. Unfortunately, after ruminating on it, I think the implication might hold some truth. But perceiving a fault is, after all, the first step toward eliminating it. Had you not posted the test I may never have been aware of it; it isn't the sort of thing people are going to voice explicitly to me is it ! So thanks for that.

Wow!! Awesome personal growth.  I know exactly what you mean.  I'm always grateful when I run across a situation that shows me things about myself others wouldn't mention.