kierthos: (Default)
kierthos ([personal profile] kierthos) wrote2002-12-11 02:35 pm

Some people are fucking idiots....

You know, it seems I can't go a day without someone I know telling me about a new "personality" test, which is probably based on a popular show, movie, book, pamphlet, whatever....

Frankly, I find most of such tests to suck goat balls, with only a few being mildly amusing. (Such as the Invader Zim one, but I digress.) What gets to me more then being referred to test after test after test is two things.

1) The idea from these people that taking these tests will somehow reveal hidden insights into my own personality, thereby speeding me on my way to my own little personal enlightenment. (I consider this complete shit, by the way.)

and

2) The idea that these people think that because they have taken these tests, they are somehow better for it.

Now, before everyone starts jumping in my shit over what might be a misconception, the vast majority of people I know who take these little tests don't take them seriously, or if they do, it's only for the duration of the test. I.e. they are not deliberately trying to force a particular result, but just answering honestly.

However, I know a couple people, who shall remain nameless, as well as completely fucking clueless, who actually think that these little test mean something. (To which I, bastard cynic that I am, reply, "Fuuuuuuck.")

Let's face it. Some 10 question test revolving around "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", or "Which Superhero are you?" are hardly conclusive of anything. For one thing, the tests are far too short to actually offer anything other then a limited range of possible outcomes. For another, you have to consider the source. The people who write these things probably aren't the sharpest pencils in the drawer either. These things are probably more skewed then anti-Iraq feelings in the War Room of the White House.

I sometimes wish stupidity was much more immediately fatal. We can't always wait and hope for people to shoot themselves in the head with loaded crossbows. (He didn't notice it was loaded, you see....)

Kierthos

[identity profile] morinon.livejournal.com 2002-12-11 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
What really annoys me is all the tests where the number of answers to each question match exactly the number of results you can get. There are only a handful of tests I find anywhere near insightful, and they usually give me answers I would've guessed already.

[identity profile] kierthos.livejournal.com 2002-12-14 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
I have to admit, though, the Invader Zim test was fun to take. Finding out that I "correspond" to Mrs. Bitters was amusing. Alas, there was no super-secret result of Johnny C.

Kierthos

[identity profile] phaedra13.livejournal.com 2002-12-16 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
If you're really motivated, I can administer the MMPI (500+ "multiphasic personality inventory"). (BTW, this happens to be the only plus side to a $17K psychology degree)
Leesa