My answers to a type questionnaire
Thanks tothehotelambushfor posting the questionnaire.
The Extended Questionnaire v0.2
Tell me about yourself.
Just a boring 30-something male with a wife and son.
What do you study or do for a living? How did you come to do that? What do you like or dislike about it?
I work at a "9-5" office job, in supply chain and procurement of goods for a manufacturing company. I sort of fell into this job by chance. I was working in a different department and a vacancy opened up in my current department so I applied for the position on a whim.
I dislike the monotony of a lot of my responsibilities. There isn't much room for creative thinking, it isn't a mentally stimulating job, although it does require some strong analytical abilities, which is OK.
I like that I enjoy a relative amount of independence. My bosses don't bother me much as long as I am working within the basic guidelines and parameters of my position. I don't like bosses who micromanage and constantly look over their employees' shoulders.
My job is boring so sometimes I make a game out of tasks by finding different ways to complete them. I try to split up tasks into smaller chunks or chapters, so it makes getting through a really monotonous day a little easier and more interesting. I like it when shit hits the fan and I actually get to think and troubleshoot. It's expected that I will really enjoy any new job for anywhere from 3 months to a year, then I will become dissatisfied and jaded with it, thinking of moving on to a different type of work.
What are your values, and why?
Fairly simple: treat everyone with basic respect and dignity, then it should follow that they should do the same to others. I value independence as well. I value logic, competence and accuracy as well. I'm not really sure how else to answer this question.
What else do you do on a daily basis? What are your interests and hobbies? Why do you do them?
Like I said, I'm fairly boring. I spend a lot of time in my head. If I have time, I compose and record my own music. I think I do this because I like to create and invent. I'm good at drawing and visual arts as well, but it's not something I'm really interested in doing. Maybe when I'm an old man I'll live that trope and paint all day.
My interests range all over the place. Sometimes I'll look something up out of the blue, for no other reason than sheer curiosity. Generally my interests are in history, philosophy, psychology/sociology/anthropology, music, though not limited to those subjects.
Describe your relations with family and friends. What do you like and dislike about them?
I could probably do better in this area of life. I'm not a very affectionate person. I tend to hold resentments within, though if I'm pushed, I can let out a very blunt, incisive attack/analysis. I've left friends and family in tears before.
What do you look for in friends? In romantic relationships?
I want people who are willing to listen to me talk about ideas and connections. I like it when I say something to someone and they respond with "I never thought of that before" or "I hadn't thought of it like that." All the more beneficial if they then bounce their own ideas back or put another interesting spin on my own ideas and theories.
What conflicts have you encountered recently with other people? Why did they happen? Which kinds seem to happen on a regular basis?
I'm not really a big seeker or generator of conflict. I honestly have a hard time thinking of any recent ones. A few years ago I got in the middle of a big family rivalry and to this day I haven't spoken with one of my cousins because of it. I don't even remember the details or the whys, it was probably over some trivial bullshit. I suppose I have minor conflicts on a daily basis, given the nature of my job, but they're really minor and not personal and I don't think of them as problematic.
How would your friends describe you?
I'll never forget a moment when I was younger, getting high with a friend on his back porch. He told me he was the brightest star in the sky, but that I was like the north star--not necessarily the brightest one, but one that could guide people. Another friend said I was the TS Elliot to his Ezra Pound, though I'm not sure if I should have taken that as compliment or insult.
What do people generally see as your strengths? What do you like about yourself?
The traits I consider positive that are evident to others: I've been told I am witty and funny. I've been told I'm intelligent and insightful. I've been told I'm a creative person. I've been told I'm weird (I take this as a compliment).
I like that I don't usually rush to judge others without good reason or sufficient data, and that I tend to be good at divorcing judgment of others' ideas from the person (meaning I might brutally criticize a person's ideas, but it is rarely personal and meant as a criticism of a person's character or worth as a human being).
What are your weaknesses? What criticism do you often face from others? What do you dislike about yourself?
I'm very forgetful and generally bad at basic things that should be easy. This morning I was at work and realized my pants zipper was down after being at work for nearly two hours. Luckily I didn't go commando today. I misplace things a lot and can be embarrassingly clumsy.
Others would say I can come across as aloof and uncaring.
I dislike that I can get easily stressed by being overloaded with too many small details and long lists of to-dos. I dislike that I get easily stressed out by big displays of emotion. Even displays of positive emotion are something I don't always react to well; I worry that I'm not showing enough enthusiasm for the person displaying positive emotions.
In what areas of life can you manage well on your own? In what areas of your life would you like help?
I do well at work, managing myself essentially. I tend to get a little stressed with things like bills and personal finances.
What things do you dislike doing? What things do you enjoy more than others?
I don't really like working a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 type of job. I don't like just sitting and "relaxing."
Although I'm a pretty lazy person, I like to keep my mind busy, either with intellectual or physical stimulation. I enjoy arguing, sometimes for the sake of arguing. Although I don't do it in a manner that is meant to be antagonistic. It's not a power game for me. I think I do it to challenge myself, to keep myself on my toes, to fine tune my own ideas and theories by arguing them and bouncing them off other people. Sometimes the people one argues with can give an insight or suggest an angle or caveat that would have otherwise seemed obvious, yet was somehow missed.
What goals, aspirations, or plans do you have for the future? How did you come to have them?
I wouldn't mind writing a screenplay at some point, or perhaps a novel. I'd like to record an album's worth of music but the time and energy to do this seems very limited these days. I'd like to travel and there's a whole lot of books I'd like to read that I just haven't had time for.
If you had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life without working, what would you do with your time?
I might go to college and get a few degrees. I would buy a modest size house with enough room to pursue my interests, maybe build a personal music/recording studio in the basement.I would travel to places I haven't been;I've never been abroad and I think everyone with the opportunity should travel, because travel can broaden our minds and make us more complete and open-minded; we can learn more about ourselves by learning about others. There's a Mark Twain quote about travel being the great destroyer of hatred and prejudice. I paraphrase; he said it more eloquently.
What traits do you find endearing that others might dislike? What traits are considered positive/neutral by others but tend to annoy you?
I like honesty and accuracy of logic, even when it might upset people. I like it when people don't take themselves or situations too seriously. I can often find humor and irony even in the gravest of situations. Some people take things and themselves too seriously. I'm a bit of a class clown, joker, despite giving off what seems to be a serious and reserved demeanor at a distance.
Sugarcoating of facts and bad news annoys me. Disregard for logic annoys me. Neither facts nor logic give a fuck about feelings. When people are too serious and can never take a joke or see the absurdity that is in most situations (if you look for it), that bothers me.
What kinds of things do you do to manage and/or beautify your environment (your room, your house, etc.)? What do you think of daily chores?
Not enough. I am a bit of a slob and I find chores mundane, rote tasks, although they can be meditative or fine when I lose myself in thought or put on headphones to listen to podcasts or music.
How do you behave around strangers?
Very reserved, very guarded, although I can feign being pleasant and outgoing, particularly if it's in a professional/work situation.
How do you react to conflict? What do you do if somebody insults or attacks you?
There's a part of me that wants to avoid conflict, but another part of me that wants to jump in and mediate, feeling that common ground can be reached. If insulted with ad hominem/personal attacks, I don't really know how to take it. If someone attacks an idea, I will vigorously debate them and attempt to outdo them by making as strong of a case as possible for my underlying logic.
What is one common misconception that people have? Explain why it is wrong.
I think people have a hard time seeing their own mortality, especially when they're younger. I think a lot of people feel entitled, like some form of big payout is on their way, feeling like "I deserve this" or "I don't deserve this" when really, the universe isn't thinking you deserve or don't deserve your current status or circumstances. You can't just sit on your ass and wait for good luck to come your way. I understand some people are in worse circumstances than others, but I think there are almost always options, ways to improve one's situation. It's just a matter of looking for and finding opportunities. Often they're right in front of people, but people are either unwilling or unable to see them.
What did you do last Friday?
Last Friday I had to work. After I got off, I went home and sat on the couch exhausted before having a cup of coffee. My son showed me some youtube memes on his tablet which found amusing. I read a bit, watched a movie with my wife, then I played a video game until about 2 AM and went to bed. I don't remember much else, not all of the specific details. I just remember that I was very busy at work.
If you are doing a video you can stop here or choose from the rest of the questions as you like.
If you are answering in writing, please answer ALL questions.
What is your biggest accomplishment?
My son.
What is something you regret?
Too many little embarrassments to list. A lot of moments that make me cringe. Moments where I put my foot in my mouth or unwittingly hurt others' feelings. I try not to dwell in these past moments, though they at least help me avoid making similar mistakes.
Who do you admire, and why?
Historically, anyone who stood up to "common sense" or dared to question "the way things are". Socrates, John Quincy Adams. Probably more, but those two jumped to my mind first for some reason. More recently, Edward Snowden, Clair Patterson.
What's been on your mind? Has anything been worrying or concerning you? What problems have you encountered lately?
Things like potential pandemics worry me. Although there's a part of me that also accepts such disasters as a part of the process of nature.
What are your religious or spiritual beliefs and why do you hold them?
Somewhere between atheist, agnostic and gnostic, I think. It's difficult to explain. I would say that I am spiritual but not overly superstitious. I believe universal consciousness may be a possibility. I don't believe in the traditional Judeo-Christian-Islamic view of a monarchical God, but I'm open to the idea that "god" could be defined as something that inhabits every molecule, every atom, every particle...something similar to the Vedantic tradition, maybe.
What are your political beliefs, and why? To what extent do you care about politics?
I'm currently a bit disillusioned with politics. I used to be fairly liberal/progressive. I suppose I still am socially, though otherwise I would probably line up closer to libertarian and classical liberal sentiments and views. I don't really like PC culture where speech becomes so policed that people are afraid to speak their ideas and minds, but I also believe all people should be treated with respect and not summed up by superficial, physical traits. I don't really like the idea of state socialism, but I'm open to some merging of libertarian and socialist ideals, for instance, worker-owned companies is an idea I like.
Would you ever be interested in starting a business? Why or why not? What role would you play in it? What kind of business would it be?
Perhaps, but I don't want to be the CEO. I also don't want to be involved in nitty gritty details. Perhaps as an advisor type role, helping come up with long-term strategies and visions.
What kind of work environment do you prefer? What do you look for in a job?
An environment where people are granted a certain level of autonomy. I want a job that sparks my creativity and doesn't involve a lot of mundane, overly detail oriented tasks.
What is or was your favorite school subject and why?
I liked history and biology when younger. History because I think a lot of it is just patterns and trends being repeated throughout time; I also obsess over historical what-ifs and could-have-beens. Biology because I've always been fascinated by the diversity of life, the fact that so many specialized and unique species evolved from a pool of single celled organisms.
How do you approach responsibility? What do you tend to expect of others?
Responsibility is key to people developing, although it's also okay to give people a helping hand and a nudge in the right direction. I expect others to live up to their full abilities and potentials and take full responsibility for their actions. If I feel they have done their best and still need help, I'm not against them being helped.
Where did you go on your most recent vacation? What did you do there? How did you like it and why?
I took my son to Washington DC and we spent a few days exploring the zoo and some museums. It was fun. I like cities. I like to study the architecture and layout and to speculate on the reason behind it as well as compare them to other cities.
What were you like as a kid? How have you changed since you were a child?
A class clown, yet also very serious and professor-like, based on how adults used to describe me. I was often in my imagination.
What was your high school experience like?
Unmemorable and somewhat mundane. I would not want to relive it. It's kind of depressing to me that many people look back on that period as the best years of their lives.
Talk about a significant event from your life.
When my son was being born. I was a ball of nerves. Nothing ever really prepares a man for becoming a father. It was terrifying and exhilarating.
Do you like kids? Why or why not?
Yes and no. They can really grate on the nerves but I love them at that really precocious age where they're curious about everything, roughly between 7 years old and 12, when they start to turn into moody teenagers.
If you were to raise a child, what would be your main concerns, what measures would you take, and why?
I try to encourage my son to use critical thinking and not believe anything at face value, to engage his bullshit detector. I encourage him to not take any situation too seriously, but also to treat other people with some basic respect. If those people violate that respect, then I tell him they may not be worth his time.
Ever feel stuck in a rut? If yes, describe the causes and your reaction to it.
Yes, more frequently than I'd like. I think I already described why above. Working in monotony and rote jobs doesn't affect me well. I become more nihilistic and prone to depression.
How do you see other people as a whole? What do you consider a prevalent social problem? Name one.
I think we haven't really learned how to live in a world with the internet. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the internet and technology, but I think social media, while potentially useful, has led to more division and rancor between people. On the other hand it allows people from different backgrounds to mingle and learn about one another and experience varying perspectives and ideas. Yet I'm disappointed that many people are still afraid of that sort of intermingling and exchange, that they just double down on their own beliefs and don't seem interested in opening their minds. I suppose to some extent these were already underlying problems and prejudices and the internet has just allowed them to bubble to the surface.
What do you do if you're not getting what you want? What approach do you use?
Re-evaluate how bad I need or want it. If I still want it, back to the drawing board to re-strategize and look for other possible ways to get it.
Are you comfortable taking leadership roles? In what areas? Why or why not?
Yes, but I don't really want to be a taskmaster. I'd prefer to look for people's strengths and encourage them to use them. I'd encourage a certain level of independence in them.
How often do you get angry? What kinds of things make you angry?
Not often do I get really angry. I might get annoyed a lot but that's different then anger, in my opinion. People doing or believing the same thing over and over, getting the same bad results, then doubling down and continuing to so the same method...that makes me angry. People ignoring what would seem to be obvious logic.
What is the best thing that happened to you during the past week?
The end of the work week.
What is the worst thing that happened to you during the past week?
The whole week was pretty long and boring, very stressful.
What is the purpose of life? What do you find personally meaningful in life?
To survive and adapt. I like life's little coincidences and surprises.
What is the most interesting place you have been, and why?
When I was a kid my grandfather took me to a park in the Everglades. It literally felt like stepping into a prehistoric world or something. It was just a wooden walkway in the middle of a vast, lush area of swamp. Very serene and surreal.
How do you dress or manage your appearance?
A mix of functionality and style. Usually darker, neutral colors, like grey and black, sometimes dark blue.
Do you like surprises?
Yes
Is there anything else important about you that we should know?
No
Reply With Quote
I am not really sure. I would give 50/50.
Originally Posted by at sirac son of sirac
