I’ve been gone for a couple of months, away from technology for pretty much the whole time. But now I’m back, so perhaps I should update this blog more frequently…
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Wednesday, I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular personality test, with a group of about forty other people. Personality tests* used to frighten me because of their unnatural ability to describe me to a T. I considered them to be creepy, invading—how the heck do they know so much about me? I also wasn’t fond of the fact that I was able to be shelved so well into a predefined category—that meant that there were others just like me, ruining the “I’m so unique!” ideology that I learned in first grade when we made paper snowflakes. Recently, I’ve grown to appreciate them, not because of the deep insights I learn about myself, but because of the extraordinary powers of manipulation I can derive from the tests. As I learn more about the different types of people, I also learn what makes them tick, what turns them on, and what makes them cry. The ability to exploit others by knowing which buttons to push and what pressure points to attack is nifty.
While I won’t divulge the results of my test or my specific personality type for fear of being exploited myself (I’m such a hypocrite), I will admit that I was quite pleased with the results. The portrait for my certain type was 98% accurate. Still, I’m not sure what to think about this particular personality test. After researching the Myers-Briggs test, I discovered that only 47% of those who take the test again score the same. Others say that this test (and other personality tests) can cause confirmation bias, the tendency to interpret any given information in a way that reinforces one’s inclinations while ignoring or discarding any contradicting evidence or information. It can also lead to the Forer effect, where individuals interpret broad, general statements as statements specifically for them. (The Forer effect can also be observed in fortune cookies and horoscopes.) Still, the Myers-Briggs test did provide me with accurate information, so I’m not really too concerned about it.
What does concern (and annoy me) about questionnaires like this is the extreme way people apply their results. It’s been two days since we took the MBTI, and I still hear people coming up with the stupidest applications. For example:
Rob: I finally figured out why people don’t seem to like me!
Me: Oh really?
Rob: Yeah. I’m an ESFJ. The majority of my peers are ENFPs. I don’t think the two types get along.
Me: Oh. I had always thought it was because you talk too much and never give anyone a chance to—
Rob: You think I talk to much? You must be an INTJ. You’re too critical.
Me: Actually, I am an—
Rob: Yeah, you’re definitely an “I.” That’s for introvert.
Me: I know, we have the same—
Rob: I guess your people and my people just don’t get along.
Me: “My people?”
Rob: You have “J” qualities too. Always over-analyzing and turning everything into a racial slur.
Me: What?
Or:
Jaylan: No wonder we broke up.
Me: What?
Jaylan: Me and Eric. We’re totally different types. We SO wouldn’t have lasted as a couple. None of our letters are even the same.
Me: Didn’t you dump him for Brian?
Jaylan: Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding me; I need to see what type he is. I bet we share at least three of the same letters.
Me: I hope so; it’d suck if you had to dump him because you only shared a single “E.”
Jaylan: Oh, don’t be dumb. It’s only a stupid personality test.
These are the types of people I want to exploit.
Someone has stolen my last article and used it on their site.
http://www.linukx.com/miis-for-linux/
As you can see, the person blatantly copied my article without giving any credit or asking for my consent.
Yeah, I’m ticked.
An actual conversation I had today with a woman known for her feminist beliefs:
The Feminist: Did you know that all males think about sex every ninety seconds?
Makario: Not all males. And I bet that if people didn’t mention that every ninety seconds, the statistics would be a lot different.
The Feminist: You’re just in denial. How often do you think about sex?
Makario: Definitely not every ninety seconds. I have better things to focus on. What about you?
The Feminist: Oh, I don’t think about sex.
Makario: Oh really now?
The Feminist: Well, hardly. We girls are wired differently from you guys, and we have more productive things to do than think about sex all day.
Makario: Mhmm. I suppose I can’t convince you that not every man treats a woman like a trophy and allows himself to be completely consumed by sexual thoughts?
The Feminist: Are you one of those men who doesn’t treat women like trophies?
Makario: Why yes, I am.
The Feminist: Well…you’re either a liar or a prude. Neither get far in life.
I can’t win. I no longer try.
(No, I don’t hate feminists. I do dislike the irrational ones, though.)
Okay guys, I know, I know. I’ve broken my commitment to keep this blog current. I’ve had a lot on my plate, and some things just begin to slip.
Recently I’ve been encouraged (and greatly inspired) by a friend to write more. In truth, I have never stopped writing; I still fill many sheets of paper each day with the thoughts in my head. I just haven’t posted them online for the public to read. Today (or tomorrow), I’m going to attempt yet again to share my thoughts with the world.
This time will be different, however. I’m not making a commitment. The reasons for this are twofold. It’s been said that it is better to never make a vow than to break one, and I believe that there is a lot of truth to that saying. I also find that if I don’t make things into a chore that must be completed, I tend to do things more frequently and enjoy doing the more.
I’m also not going to post as many technology-related posts. While I read many, many interesting articles every day, it’s quite difficult to find one that I deem worthy to share, and it’s even more difficult to write an opinion on the article with my busy schedule. Note that I’m not totally throwing all technological posts, but it will no longer be a main focus of this blog.
Wish me luck everyone.
(I know this post is a horrible one, lacking in both profoundness and eloquence. But it’s a start, right? Right.)
