Member Questionnaire 1 (okiedokie)
What is beauty? What is love?
Beauty is different things to different people. It's not easily quantifiable. Love, between people, in my opinion, is bringing the best out of someone else, even at the cost of your own well being. It's seeing past the said person's flaws and seeing the potential in them that may be lost on everyone else, including their selves.
What are your most important values?
I think it's important not to be prejudiced against others, to always have an open mind. No one knows everything, and it's important to learn what you can from others.
Do you have any sort of spiritual/religious beliefs, and why do you hold (or don't) those beliefs in the first place?
I'm not too big on religion. I don't really understand the word 'spiritual'.
Opinion on war and militaries? What is power to you?
I hate war. It kills off great minds. A military is necessary as a defensive measure and disarmament is fantastic theoretically, but hindsight shows it's also impractical. Militarization is a difficult and extensive issue.
Power is understanding oneself and others. I think everyone wants to be understood deep down, and great power lies in the hands of someone that understands others and helps them understand themselves.
What have you had long conversations about? What are your interests? Why?
Many things I can't remember. I like anything and everything.
Interested in health/medicine as a conversation topic? Are you focused on your body?
No; I'd like to take better care of myself when I have the chance.
What do you think of daily chores?
Unbearable. So boring. But inevitable, as well. Life has a tendency to be unbalanced, either overbearingly consistent or all over the place; most of the time, it's the former, so chores become necessary as life itself is a chore.
Books or films you liked? Recently read/watched or otherwise. Examples welcome.
The Amber Spyglass. The last part of a trilogy; the first one was my favourite, called Northern Lights. The last one felt a little rushed to me.
What has made you cry? What has made you smile? Why?
I don't remember. I laugh a lot and when I cry, I cry a lot but I never remember when I've cried because crying feels almost dream-like to me most of the time. I do remember crying a lot in the shower listening to 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond', at one point. Strange memory.
Where do you feel: at one with the environment/a sense of belonging?
Almost nowhere. Probably only at home, but even that isn't always the case. I feel like I belong somewhere else most of the time.
What have people seen as your weaknesses? What do you dislike about yourself?
I don't get people and people don't get me. That's what I don't like.
What have people seen as your strengths? What do you like about yourself?
I don't know.
In what areas of your life would you like help?
I don't want help. Life is too long for help, you need to find things out on your own. Or maybe it's too short for help, I'm not sure.
Ever feel stuck in a rut? If yes, describe the causes and your reaction to it.
Yes. Standardised tests. They stress me out.
What qualities do you most like and dislike in other people? What types do you get along with?
Their sense of entitlement. They can be very condescending, it's distasteful.
How do you feel about romance/sex? What qualities do you want in a partner?
Weary of it, it seems to be overrated. Someone who understands and appreciates me and someone who brings the best out of me.
If you were to raise a child, what would be your main concerns, what measures would you take, and why?
I don't know. I haven't thought about it. I don't want a child, I wouldn't make a good parent.
A friend makes a claim that clashes with your current beliefs. What is your inward and outward reaction?
It really depends on the belief. If it's something that I'm not sure about, I'll happily listen to a new take on it. If it's something I believe in very strongly, my inward reaction is to judge them for it for a while, and unless it's an imperative belief, I'll generally forget about it later. Outward reaction is usually silence- it's either that, or we go to war over it, but that's rare because I don't like clashing with people. I think, if it's a serious belief, I'll get a bit outwardly tense around them, too. But generally I shrug it off eventually if the friendship is worth it. There's so so much more to life than being on the same wavelength with someone all the time. How else would you learn something if no one was different to you?
Describe your relationship to society. How do you see people as a whole? What do you consider a prevalent social problem? Name one.
I see them as confusing. No one looks out for anyone else. They really contradict themselves sometimes. I really think it's wrong to look at people as a collective body, though. Everyone is not the same.
How do you choose your friends and how do you behave around them?
People who are honest with me about what I do, aren't afraid to challenge me and without any grudges, people who are also genuinely caring and very intelligent. I can talk and listen to them without wanting to leave. I really enjoy their company. But a sense of friendship has to be mutual, so friends like these are hard to come by. I'm very fortunate to have met people like this.
How do you behave around strangers?
I maintain a distance. I like to get to know people slowly, so I take it easy around them intially. There's no rush to know them.