Exactly so. But knowing this sort of thing about one another can help us relate and cooperate in better ways. I think similar analysis should be applied to all world leaders and politicians, frankly. (The real thing, not a four click web quiz, of course.)
As I was reading some of the comments between you and others I was thinking much the same thing. These tests give us a glimpse into what makes the other person tick and can help us get along with them.
One of my local friends got DI and as I read over that result it became clear to me as to why we got along well.
This is interesting (aside from that cute icon, which I still really like) because the three friends that I know are seriously into gaming who have taken this all came out the same. Probably a coincidence and much too small a sample, but still interesting.
Peculiar. I'm not entirely sure that it completely fits me, but it'd be hard to really narrow things down when the choices are very strict THIS or THAT sort of things.
Well, it is merely offering people reassurance for a small fee, telling them they are okay and no need to worry. Done a few of these, and they are a laugh sometimes. But never going to buy that "detailed" report, because it is the short report stretched to 100 pages. I also have noticed they are using blocks of text that they keep attaching to one another in the results page. :P
Well said, but there's something about the whole thing that bothers me. The way society and all cultures deprive people of any sort of awareness by putting restrictions on them (social norms, religions, rules) until these kinds of things seem like something a person needs. To be honest, it irritates me, especially since its for no better reason than making a profit off such gullibility. While I agree all people act out of selfish needs or wants, my question is why go to such lengths to make money when you can do it any way you want: What kind of person thinks the best way to make money off gullible people is by creating "tests" like these? Do they think they're smart for coming up with it? Do they look down on those they take advantage of? Or is it a mater of convenience?
You seem somewhat aware of this, but let me ask you something: you claim you do some of these things for a laugh, but I'm interested to know how you find a compiled test's ability to predict your personality humorous. Mind if I ask why you'd say this?
Not at all. I think it is probably just an assumption as people who are X are often Y and so on. I don't put too much weight on the test results, but it is always interesting to see how close the results are to my current state of mind. I don't believe in personality staying the same all the time, so the tests often keep having variable results.
My sense of humour is sometimes a bit black and twisted, but it is humour in a way.
Well, at least I didn't get a terrible result, as I nornally would. I think these tests have been created to make people feel a bit better about themselves, even if it is just for a few minutes before someone calls tehm gullible fools for believing such crap. :P
People pay money for astrology too. This one is at least based on some scientific research, though they're playing fast and loose with it. Like most of these web personality tests, it is the old Myers-Briggs inventory recast in a more entertaining form. There are sixteen possible combinations, and the real test doesn't just tell you that you are an I(ntrovert) or an E(xtrovert) but puts you on a scale between the two extremes. It does the same for three other sliding scales: S(ensing) vs. i(N)tuitive, (T)hinking vs. (F)eeling, and P(erceiving) vs. (J)udging. It's all described here in Wikipedia.
The original test and the research behind it is actually useful, and is often applied by psychologists and counselors to help students choose careers or to resolve conflicts in the workplace. The thing that is often missed in handing out the results is that everyone's scores vary from day to day and year to year. Sometimes I come up as INTJ and other times as INFP, for instance. Some combinations, such as INFJ, can be a source of internal conflict and it helps people to deal with their own discomforts when they understand where it is coming from.
In any case, this one is just an internet game, and nothing to get upset about.
*grins* I'm not upset about the game... it's a complicated thing- maybe my reply to Soanos will help shed some light on my irritation. I must confess it sounds largley like labelling to me, though.
I'm curious, Alt- this is something I'm going to start asking everyone, you're just the first- but can you tell me why you have an interest in these tests?
They're an entertaining parlor game. They have some scientific basis, though it's badly diluted by shortening them to two or three questions. The real MB has about a hundred true or false questions in it as I recall. (Yes, I've taken it, more than once.)
As for significance, these web based things have little more significance than a newspaper horoscope, but as you can see, they are conversation topics just the same.
Parlor games, eh? *grins & eyes narrow* Makes me want to pick your brain about the relative value of this entertainment... but considering the things I've seen on LJ, you're definitly on target about the conversation topic bit.
Oh well? Seems OK to me. One of the good things about Myers-Briggs type testing is that no result is "bad". They all tell you where you have strong points.
Well, sometimes I just feel they are considered weaknesses in modern life. Sometimes I feel I don't "fit in" the normal parameters. If only I learned how to use hese results now...
Heh, I know about the Rhubarb Triangle, thanks to avon_deer who lives there. Those cruel Brits, making the poor rhubarb grow in the dark...
Did you know that in the US an argument between the baseball umpire and the players is called a "rhubarb"? No, I don't know why.
Rhubarb was actually spread around the world by the French, of course. Illinois has its largest rhubarb festival in Nauvoo, the town originally built by the Mormons before they were run out of the state and headed for Utah. Some French commune idealist group settled there afterwards and started growing rhubarb.
My mother used to feed us rhubarb all the time when I was a little foal. It grew like a weed in the yard and was free. Of course it needs a lot of sugar to be edible, but sugar used to be cheaper too.
Rhubarb is actually from the Greek words for "red beard."
The Low German-speaking settlers and their descendants in Pennsylvania and thereabouts call it "pie plant" because, of course, you make pies out of it. And woe betide the baker who leaves out the sugar. ;p
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
just about right
Date: 2008-06-09 01:11 pm (UTC)Re: just about right
Date: 2008-06-09 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 01:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 03:55 pm (UTC)Strangely enough, I don't think any of my friends have gotten the same result that I did though I have seen several that got DI.
Glad you approve, it's not like I could really change my personality if you didn't approve. ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 04:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 04:08 pm (UTC)As I was reading some of the comments between you and others I was thinking much the same thing. These tests give us a glimpse into what makes the other person tick and can help us get along with them.
One of my local friends got DI and as I read over that result it became clear to me as to why we got along well.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 01:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-11 12:29 am (UTC)Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 01:48 pm (UTC)Do you think that many people are so confused/disoriented they need a computer test to tell them who they are?
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 03:16 pm (UTC)Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 03:51 pm (UTC)You seem somewhat aware of this, but let me ask you something: you claim you do some of these things for a laugh, but I'm interested to know how you find a compiled test's ability to predict your personality humorous. Mind if I ask why you'd say this?
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 11:07 pm (UTC)My sense of humour is sometimes a bit black and twisted, but it is humour in a way.
Well, at least I didn't get a terrible result, as I nornally would. I think these tests have been created to make people feel a bit better about themselves, even if it is just for a few minutes before someone calls tehm gullible fools for believing such crap. :P
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 11:47 pm (UTC)Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 03:41 pm (UTC)The original test and the research behind it is actually useful, and is often applied by psychologists and counselors to help students choose careers or to resolve conflicts in the workplace. The thing that is often missed in handing out the results is that everyone's scores vary from day to day and year to year. Sometimes I come up as INTJ and other times as INFP, for instance. Some combinations, such as INFJ, can be a source of internal conflict and it helps people to deal with their own discomforts when they understand where it is coming from.
In any case, this one is just an internet game, and nothing to get upset about.
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 03:55 pm (UTC)I'm curious, Alt- this is something I'm going to start asking everyone, you're just the first- but can you tell me why you have an interest in these tests?
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 03:59 pm (UTC)As for significance, these web based things have little more significance than a newspaper horoscope, but as you can see, they are conversation topics just the same.
Re: Hand over fist (your 100 page report inside)
Date: 2008-06-09 04:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 03:09 pm (UTC)Oh, well. :P
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 03:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 10:53 pm (UTC)*scratches mane and tilts his head* o.O
no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 12:16 pm (UTC)*runs off and hides*
no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 02:17 pm (UTC)You need to hide better than that.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-14 10:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-14 11:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-14 12:17 pm (UTC)Now here's a thing for you to get your brain around, try looking up "The rhubarb triangle"
no subject
Date: 2008-06-14 01:41 pm (UTC)Did you know that in the US an argument between the baseball umpire and the players is called a "rhubarb"? No, I don't know why.
Rhubarb was actually spread around the world by the French, of course. Illinois has its largest rhubarb festival in Nauvoo, the town originally built by the Mormons before they were run out of the state and headed for Utah. Some French commune idealist group settled there afterwards and started growing rhubarb.
My mother used to feed us rhubarb all the time when I was a little foal. It grew like a weed in the yard and was free. Of course it needs a lot of sugar to be edible, but sugar used to be cheaper too.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-15 12:34 am (UTC)In those old English radio shows often they'd be going "Rhubarb rhubarb" when acting out a confligration.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-15 01:16 am (UTC)Rhubarb is actually from the Greek words for "red beard."
The Low German-speaking settlers and their descendants in Pennsylvania and thereabouts call it "pie plant" because, of course, you make pies out of it. And woe betide the baker who leaves out the sugar. ;p
no subject
Date: 2008-06-23 12:22 pm (UTC)