.authored by something.of.substance.
I want to try something a little different. I’ve noted both on this blog and in general how the anonymity of the internet allows people to feel open and to genuinely expose themselves. Of course, in the piece “Is Your Glass Half-Angry” (the first posting of Something.of.Substance), I deduced that people take the reigns of this anonymity and drive it into a world of despise. I remarked that, given the knowledge that they will not be caught, people revert to their most base selves. I still don’t want to believe this is a reality. And, I’m certain you don’t either.
At the very least, you probably don’t think that of yourself. But, how often do we actually engage with what we read enough to use it to examine ourselves? Do we simply nod liberally as we go along and chortle at the behavior of those we believe to be not like us before moving on to the next task of the day without a second thought? Do we ever actually consider that we may be the behavior at which we snicker and stare?
One of the benefits of Internet anonymity is that you can expose yourself- to an extent. I’m not talking about strolling- bare-assed- in front of a web cam while moaning lasciviously and gyrating to some unknown beat. Instead, I’m thinking perhaps it’s time we expose our inner character. Below is a survey, of sorts. Any user of Myspace.com will be familiar with the format of these time-killers which obstruct bulletin space and ask repetitively benign questions such as: “OMG do ya 2tally lurv ur bf???!”. The translation of that marvel of text-speak, for all you generation-ally-inclined, is: “Oh My God! Do you totally love your boyfriend???!”. It isn’t much better when written in correct English.
However, I’ve come up with 21 questions which I find both entertaining and poignant. Some are, obviously, easier to answer than others. However, no answer should be simple. And, speaking of simple, challenge yourself to interact with this survey! Cut and paste the survey into the comments section and actually leave answers! Or, at the very least, sit down with a piece of paper and engage yourself with yourself. Who you meet, on paper, may be a whole lot different than who you think you present.*
* – yes, some of the questions tend toward the simplistic and, being so, can be vaguely interpreted several ways. choose the interpretation that first occurs to you.
.21 Questions to Get You Thinking.
1. If life were a football game, would you be a player, a cheerleader, or a fan?
2. Without regard to time or money, what is one hobby you always wanted to try?
3. If you put yourself on a reality game show, real or imagined, which one would it be and what would you be attempting to win?
4. What would the other person in your first relationship say about you if they were asked today?
5. If you could either be very wealthy and completely alone or constantly struggling and in debt with a family, which would you choose?
6. Identify the song currently running through your head and the specific lyrics stuck there. Do they have any significance?
7. What was your favorite childhood hangout alone? With friends? Were they the same place?
8. What book has been most influential in your life?
9. What was the last upsetting thing someone said to you and how did you react?
10. You can only drink one substance every day for the rest of your life. What is it? (Listing ‘water’ because it’s necessary to sustain life is a given answer, Doctor.)
11. Your job or school gives you a year off with pay. You even get a bonus, but only if you travel to a spot you’ve never been and stay within 15 miles of that place for a year. Where will you spend your time?
12. Which relative do want to get to know better? Why haven’t you?
13. Quality you appreciate least in others:
14. Finish this lyric your way: “Life is a highway”…
15. What decade in history could you most see yourself living in?
16. Describe the most supernatural moment of your life.
17. Last spontaneous thing you did:
18. One goal you want to accomplish before you die:
19. What volunteer experience has meant the most to you?
20. Someone kills the person closest to you. You get to decide their sentence. What do you choose?
21. If you could read other people’s minds, would you?
Congratulations! You made it to the end! Read your answers. Read them to someone else. Discuss. But, most importantly, feel proud that you spent ten minutes reflecting on what you put into this world. That is the true test of character.
