General to specific, specific to general – what does it mean?
Generally, the bus driver picks people up and drops them off. Specifically, he picks me up at 6:38 and drops me off downtown at 6:59. It could get more general and more specific than this. The question seems to imply movement between the two, which I don't understand.
What does "logical" mean? What is your understanding? Do you think that it correlates with the common view?
Something is illogical in my understanding when it can't be supported by a reasonable explanation corresponding with reality or facts. I think the common view of logic consists of a more specific definition... And there are things like math that have little correspondence with reality or facts - I think I can sometimes judge the veracity of those things, but I don't know how.
How do you explain fractions on the dial of the clock?
The bigger ones represent hours and the smaller ones represent minutes.
What is a rule? What rules do you have to follow?
Rules are behaviors/actions that are expected at the risk of consequences inflicted by the rulemaking party. For example I pay my rent on time so I don't get evicted.
What is hierarchy? Do you need to follow it? Why or why not?
Hierarchy is the positioning of some people with authority or influence over others. It doesn't need to be followed, unless somebody has codified privileges due to their position (for example I can't fire one of my coworkers). I personally find it makes life easier, to know who to defer to and who to delegate to.
What do you think of instructions? Do you use them? Could you write an instruction manual? If so, what type of instruction manual would you most likely write?
Instructions are useful when you don't know how to do something. Pretty much anyone could write an instruction manual for an activity they understand, but enjoyment of doing it and level of detail included are another matter - I think I could do a decent job and I wouldn't enjoy it. Maybe I could enjoy writing up a recipe. A recipe is a sort of instruction manual.
Please explain: "Freedom is in complying with the laws, but not in ignoring the laws"? Do you agree with the statement? Why?
Lmao, only insofar as you won't end up imprisoned. Otherwise, bullshit.
Tell us how consistent you are.
Overly consistent in my daily habits, very consistent in my opinions and sentiments. I feel a great deal of inner inconsistency I don't know how to explain. (Mental?)
What is a "standard"? Why do people need it?
A standard is an example of a thing for other things to be compared to in order to determine quality. Without it, it would be difficult to set goals, determine quality, or have order.
You need to put your home library in order. How do you feel about this activity? How will you approach this task?
This can be sort of enjoyable, unless they won't go in the order I've chosen because of lack of room, or if I'm going alphabetically and it ends up looking too ugly and I get frustrated or something. It's also mostly a waste of time. I generally try to keep the books I haven't read yet on separate shelves from the ones I've read so that they're easier to find. I don't re-read much, so any other form of organization is totally arbitrary.
What is work in your opinion?
Action taken towards an objective.
Why do people go to work?
It's usually necessary for survival. It's also a way to stay occupied. Some lucky people find fulfillment through it.
Are there any parameters where you can distinguish whether you can do this work or not?
Do I know how and/or is adequate instruction provided? Are the skills required within my known capacity? (ie if it requires an in-depth understanding of complicated mathematical concepts, no amount of instruction will get me there).
Is there any correlation between quality and quantity?
I dunno. Quantity and value, yeah, but quantity and quality, probably not.
Tell us if or how the price depends on quality?
Higher quality things can demand a higher price than lower quality things.
How do people determine the quality of work?
Comparison to a standard and/or amount of production.
How do you determine such quality?
Um, the same way? I guess I have my own quirks that are kind of irrelevant to the objective quality - like if two people gave me completed forms and they were both filled out the same way, I'd still deem the overall quality of the one with nicer looking handwriting and less smudge marks to be better. But that's not something I would want to influence the distribution of reward or punishment.
How well you can determine the quality of any purchase, do you pay any attention to it?
How long it lasts is probably the best determiner. To a lesser degree, the price and the amount of bells and whistles. I don't pay much attention to it.
How do you feel if you didn't finish some work? Does it ever happen? What are the reasons?
On edge, thinking about how/when I will finish it. I'm confused because generally work has to be finished one way or the other, so I guess this means not finished on time. It happens occasionally, usually due to factors outside of my control (maybe not properly accounted for). Or due to spending too much time trying to make it perfect.
What is "interesting work" for you? Please explain in detail.
Interesting work challenges my mental faculties but doesn't overwhelm me. Or doing something physical alongside people I like, while listening to music and having a good time - maybe interesting would be the wrong word for that, but its the opposite of uninteresting.
You go to the store and see something you're interested in buying; there is a price tag on it. What parameters are you going to use to understand if it's overpriced, underpriced, or priced correctly?
Simply whether its a price I think is worth paying for it.
When you work and someone tells you: "You don't do it right." What is your reaction?
Okay, rudeass, how should I do it then? (I wouldn't actually say rudeass at work.)
There is a professional right next to you. You always see that you can't perform the way they do. Your feelings, thoughts and actions?
Lol, I feel like this all the time and take it for granted...as long as I'm doing well enough to keep my job I don't care. If they've been in the position for less time than I have, I would worry about what my employer would notice wrt to my future prospects. Otherwise, they're probably just more experienced than me and I can learn from them (I guess that's the "action," whether they're more experienced or not).
When you have to ask someone else to help you with the task, how do you feel?
I worry a little about interrupting/bothering them, and I'm nervous that it's something I should have been able to figure out myself.
You need to build a pyramid exactly like in Egypt. Your thoughts, feelings and actions?
Thoughts: Why? There's no reason for this...
Feelings: Being intimated and stressed out.
Actions: Finding people who could help me locate the appropriate materials and scope out a location would be first on the agenda.
What is beauty?
A feeling of resonance or awe in response to something.
Do you change your opinion about beauty? Does your understanding correlate with the generally accepted notion? What goes beyond the generally accepted notion?
I guess my opinion fluctuates and evolves, but not to a sharp degree. It frequently diverges from the generally accepted notion - I find beauty in dissonant or 'grotesque' things. The generally accepted notion of beauty tends to be more symmetrical, pleasant, and non-offensive.
Please describe your understanding of a beautifully dressed person. What is the core of beauty? How do you explain what is beautiful to a person who has never heard about beauty before?
A beautifully dressed person is one who's attire gives me a feeling of awe, envy, or inspiration - the core of beauty, which goes back to the definition I offered. If I was trying to explain it, maybe I'd ask the person to describe how they feel when they look at different things.
Is there a template of understanding what beautiful means for everyone to use?
There is - symmetry, color combination, etc. I'd only find it interesting or important if I wanted to sell something.
Is there such a term as "classical beauty"?
This makes me think of renaissance paintings or old movie actresses. Maybe its a combination of beauty and nostalgia.
What is comfort?
Lack of pain or tightness in the body or mind. Like when you've finished a yoga session and you're lying in corpse pose - that would be an example of being comfortable.
What is coziness?
Being enveloped in warmth. Like a blanket or another person's body around you, or being next to a fire.
How do you create your comfort and coziness?
Stretch, lie under a blanket.
How do others evaluate your skill in doing so? Do you agree with them?
Nobody cares? I guess sometimes someone will comment something like that I should crack a window in my apartment because its hot. And then I'm either like, "yeah, I guess you're right," or "really? I'm kinda chilly." But either way I just crack the window for their benefit.
How do you pick your own clothes?
I find them aesthetically pleasing and they don't make my body look fat or weird.
Do you follow fashion? Why?
No. I don't really see the point in spending the money it would cost to do so.
Do you know how to select clothes for different types of figures?
Not really.
How do you cook? Do you follow recipes?
I choose what I cook based on the ingredients I have on hand - its like a constant race to use things before they go bad. I frequently find new recipes to make based on those ingredients and I enjoy seeing how they turn out. I have certain fallback things that I always keep ingredients for to make if I don't have anything planned, like quesadillas.
What do others think of your skill?
I've gotten compliments and criticisms. I'm probably an average cook.
Are you good at color patterns and mixing them and matching?
Blerghgh.
If someone is telling you what is beautiful and what is not, what goes with what color and what is not, do you agree with this person?
If they're referring to the standard in fashion or the shoulds and should-nots, I'll take their word for it. What I find beautiful is another matter.
Tell us how you'd design any room, house or an office. Do you do it yourself or trust someone else to do it? Why?
I'd like to get input, but have the final say. Sometimes others notice things I wouldn't have come up with and I'm like "hey, good idea!" But I have my own tastes and preferences.
How do you know if a person has bad taste? Could you give us an example? Do you always trust your own taste or do you seek opinions from others?
If the stuff they like is ugly and tacky. Like, if they have a neon poster of some stupid computer-generated fantasy scene on their wall. I trust my own taste because its subjective. If I was trying to impress or sell something, I would seek opinions from others (and be slightly irritated about it).
Can you line up human resources and make them do things?
Only if they're inclined toward the activity in the first place, and just unmotivated or something. I might try to use some persuasion if they're completely uninterested or if there are higher stakes for myself, but I don't like making a dictator of myself.
What methods do you use?
I usually allude to the costs of not acting - ie. "if we don't do this right now, X will happen, so hurry." I try to use reason by clearly framing the consequences of not acting immediately. But sometimes emotional influence like saying how important it is to me or goofily sleeve-pulling.
Can you press people? If so, how does it happen?
The only time I'm relentless is when I'm emotional. So its usually just a prolonged onslaught of why they suck and should listen to me, lol. When I'm calm, I'm a lot more live and let live.
What is incursion? How do you deal with this?
"An invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one.”
The only scenario I can think of is somebody verbally attacking me. In which case it depends a lot on the person and their method. If its out of the blue, I usually go into a calm, placating, reasonable sort of state to try to manipulate them into mirroring me and chilling out.
Can you repulse? How easy can you do it?
With strangers, its the easiest thing in the world - just something I turn on with my body language (often by reflex/accident...). With others I can do it by being a dismissive bitch, but I prefer not to do that if I like them and I don't want them to see me poorly. Nobody wants to deal with someone who is being unreasonable and not even listening to or mirroring them, lol - so they go away.
What does "my people" and "strangers" mean? When do "my people" become "strangers" and why?
My people are the people in my circle. Strangers are people I don't know. My people can fall out of my circle but they never are strangers again.
Are there strategies of attack? Can you use them? When is it justified?
I react in the moment, I don't think about strategies. Attacking is justified to defend yourself.
Do you think it's ok to occupy someone else's territory? In what situations?
Like breaking into their house? Um...like, if I was visiting a new person and we were socializing in the living room I'd feel weird going into their bedroom without a good reason.
What are the methods of volitional force? When is it most effective and in what situations?
I don't know, this confuses me.
How do you protect yourself and your interests?
Keeping a small circle and avoiding people who want to control me. I've noticed that threats to myself and my interests have usually come from people I let in the door and I shouldn't have. If I'm trying to protect loved ones from others I am ruder than I am trying to protect myself from others because I want to convey that I will be annoying and I can't mind my own business.
Describe your behavior in the situations of opposition and if you have to use some force?
I guess the most "force" I use in "opposition" is telling creepy guys in bars to stop following my friends (stepping between them and saying "fuck off" with a rude expression) or repeatedly texting someone when I'm mad, lmao. I mean, in most typical situations I aim for diplomacy.
Do others think of you as a strong person? Do you think you are a strong person?
I have been called strong and I have been called naïve and scared (which I see as the same as weak). I think I am strong, but more skilled in resilience and grit, not so much in being a tough ass or taking control.
How do you understand if a person is strong? Are there any signs of a strong person? (I combined these questions).
They can simultaneously meet situations head-on while keeping their cool. They don't expect others to carry them.
What is the core of any force?
For me, there needs to be an emotional impetus, but I don't think this is the correct answer.
Why do people listen to one person, but not the other?
One person is smarter, more persuasive, has more authority, they like them better...any/all of these reasons.
What is boorishness?
The dictionary definition? I guess I'd say its being hurtful for your own amusement, or dismissive of other people's emotional reactions to you.
Does your understanding of it correlate with the generally accepted notion?
Maybe, in that I don't really care about "politeness" or manners per se.
How would you explain what boorishness mean to a 10 year old child?
I would tell them to think about other people before speaking or acting, and listen to other people when they say they don't like something.
How would you explain the same to an adult who does not behave ethically?
I would tell them how I and/or others react to their behavior and explain why that matters to them/gets in the way of their objectives.
How would you improve the moral of the society?
The morale or morals? These would be two very different answers...
The former, I don't really know, and the latter would be divisively political.
Can you justify somebody's bad behavior by thinking that he/she wasn't taught how to do so?
I tend to use this to contextualize the behavior of people (including myself) who make bad decisions that hurt themselves (ie. getting into abusive relationships) but I am less sympathetic about people (including myself) who make bad decisions that hurt others (ie. abusing a partner). I think because I feel the latter deserves more shame and culpability, and there needs to be standards.
Give us your understanding of love. Can you love and punish at the same time?
Love is when somebody feels like home to you and their happiness and well-being is of paramount importance to you. You can both love and punish children, who are in need of adult guidance, and for whom consistent rules and consequences are an act of love. But control shouldn't be an aspect of adult relationships consisting of mutuality.
What is sympathy? When do you need to express it? When is it advised not to?
Sympathy is feeling pity for someone. It's better expressed in the form of empathy or advice/help. Sometimes it's just clear that someone would rather hide what they're dealing with, and it might be kinder for their ego to stay away (with an ear perked for if they change their mind).
Are there any norms of behavior in the society? Do you follow them? Do people always have to follow them? Why?
Yes - just the things we're raised to believe are normal. I generally follow them to make life easier. People only have to follow them insofar as they're willing to deal with the consequences, ie. growing a beard to your knees might make it difficult to find a job and yelling about UFOs in the street might get you put an institution, but going to the grocery store with hearts drawn all over your face in magic marker will probably just get you weird looks. People who do not follow norms in a way that I like get extra respect from me.
How do you know what attitude among people is right or wrong?
What? I agree or disagree with peoples attitudes towards things...so yes?
What does moral mean? What is immoral? Does your understanding correlate with the others?
This is a complicated question - best I can answer is that certain behaviors invoke feelings of bone-deep disgust in a person and those are the things they find immoral. My understanding more or less correlates with the common view in my culture and peer group, with bits of variation, but I care strongly about certain things that other people don't care about and vice versa.
How can you evaluate the correctness of your own understanding?
Looking for internal contradictions in my understanding and running it through filters in the outside world (applicability, other peoples reactions to it, etc.)
Somebody is giving you a negative attitude – what is your reaction?
It depends. If I care and I know them, I'll probably be like "hey, whats up...?"
Could you show your own negative attitude toward someone else? If so, how? Could you give a person the silent treatment? How easily do you forgive people?
Yes, if I'm not restrained by conditions like having to work with them. I just say/show my negative feelings..? Giving the silent treatment isn't my thing - I like problems to actually be resolved. I forgive easily when transgressions are minor and one time. Its much harder to forgive when transgressions are major or repeated. Unforgiveness/dislike are kind of blended - often its not a matter of forgiveness. Its a matter of you've shown what you're about and I don't like it.
"Whole world does not cost one tear of child" – how do you understand this phrase? Do you agree with this opinion?
The tear of a child is worth more than the rest of the world. Um, it sounds nice I guess? But the whole world has a bunch of other children in it...
Is it acceptable to express emotions? Give examples of inappropriate expression of emotions.
Of course its acceptable to express emotions. Punching somebody because you're angry is an obvious example of inappropriate expression.
Can you use negative emotions? In what situations?
I don't "use" emotions on purpose, like emotional manipulation - I used to be much more prone to that when I was younger, but even then, it wasn't calculated. It was done out of desperation, like if I didn't want a boyfriend to leave me.
How do you express negative emotions? What does it look like? What do others think about it?
In most normal situations, I just become sort of stiff, and my face gives away sadness or anger even if I would prefer it didn't. Crying or shouting is extremely rare for me these days, either because of emotional maturity or the quality of the people I surround myself with (probably a combination). People react in different ways to it. My boyfriend finds my anger 'aggressive' whereas my best friend easily rolls it off her shoulders and my dad finds it amusing.
Shallow emotions – what does it mean? Are there any other emotions?
I guess shallow emotions are easier to ignore, or ones you wouldn't really notice until somebody asked you about it. Getting excited over a cupcake has a different depth level than grieving over a death.
What are right or wrong emotions?
There are no wrong emotions. Sometimes an emotion is perceived by others as disproportionate or unfitting to the situation, but what can you do.
Can you change the emotional state of yourself? Of others? To what side – positive or negative?
A little, I guess. I can make myself slightly less sad, but I can't make myself happy. Same for others, I think.
What does it mean to "pour out your emotions"? How does it happen? Does your internal emotional state correlate with what you show externally?
Pouring out your emotions sounds like some kind of outburst. For myself, I can't really separate it from finally letting someone know what's on my mind - an emotionally flavored dissertation. My emotional state frequently shows what I'm feeling externally, but I don't have much control - sometimes it shows much more than I would like, and sometimes it shows much less than I would like. It causes problems when I want to show affection to somebody who needs more of that kind of communication than I can provide.
Do you track what mood you are in throughout the day? Do you notice the mood of others?
I don't "track" it unless I'm in some kind of stressful situation where I'm sulky and especially paying attention. But I always notice it. I more or less notice the moods of others - but if they are someone I am not close to, I might not notice unless they are naturally expressive.
Do you like surprises?
Not usually. I can't complain if they are nice, but I hope they don't get in the way of my plans or anything.
How people change? How do you feel about those changes? Can others see the changes?
Yes, everybody goes through gradual internal changes. I get some gratification from tracking those changes in myself and seeing how I have grown, but I also get stressed thinking of how stupid I will find out I am in the future. The changes aren't all that visible to others, usually.
Is it true that whatever happens is only for the best?
Its not objectively true, but its a good mindset and I tell it to myself sometimes. It can be helpful to see the lesson learned instead of just thinking, "well, that was a shit experience."
What do you think of horoscopes, fortune telling etc.? Do you believe in luck, lucky fortuity?
I don't believe in horoscopes or fortune telling in terms of faith. I still enjoy them because I think they are tools to stimulate self-reflection and to activate helpful ideas that you wouldn't have had otherwise. Luck happens, I guess - people win the lottery - but I don't see what there is to believe in. I don't play the lottery.
Can you forecast events? Is it even real?
I can guess, but I don't usually try because it usually turns out there were things I didn't account for. Some people are very good at guessing, based on spotting trends and seeing clues. Its not crystal ball real.
What is time? How do you feel time? Can you "kill" time? How?
Time is the movement of seconds and minutes - past into future. I feel time in changes? (I don't really "feel" it.) I think killing time is wasting it doing things that don't count for anything, things that you don't value and bring you no closer to what you want.
Is it easy for you to wait for some important event? What if you don’t know when it is supposed to happen?
Its pretty easy to wait when I know when its supposed to happen - I guess excited, anxious, etc, but its not so bad. When I don't know when it will happen, I think it won't happen and I want assurances or I will just assume that it won't happen.
Do you need help creating forecasts and determining how something will end? Do you trust those forecasts?
I don't think I need them, but sometimes I ask for them and I appreciate them from people I trust only. I am particular about who I take this kind of advice from as it applies to my life because it is so speculative.
Are you normally late? How do you react if someone is late?
I'm almost always on time. My best friend is always super late. I complain, and get irritated, and then quickly get over it. I make the occasional sharp retort at her for it but I can't hold it against her. I anticipate it and plan to keep myself occupied.
Imagine the situation where you agreed to meet with someone. Your feelings and actions:
a) 20 minutes before the meeting starts
I'm on my way there, not really thinking about it, playing on my phone.
b) 5 minutes before the meeting starts,
I'm internally gathering myself to be sociable with this person, whatever that entails.
c) it is time for the meeting to start, but the person is not here,
Not unexpected, being 2 minutes late isn't out of the norm, they should still be here any second, whatever.
d) 20 minutes after the meeting start time and the person is not here,
Irritated, anxious, texting them.
e) more time and the person is still not here…
After a half hour or so, I would go about my day with the assumption that they aren't showing up.
Is there a meaning of life? In what? Is it the same for everybody?
The only meaning of life I can come up with is the sort of existentialist notion that it's whatever you make of it. Which would obviously be different for everybody.
What should be done so people can be happy?
Freedom, lack of poverty and violence.
In the situations with a lot of potential and volatility will you trust your own guts, logically calculating everything or will you ask people you trust what should be done?
Definitely ask people I trust, and try my best to feel it out and play thing by ear. Calculating what will happen or which actions are safest in a constantly shifting situation is extremely difficult, so it would be kind of like just holding on to the sides of the boat.
When you meet a stranger, what can you say about them right away? How do you know what this person is all about? Does it take long to understand someone's talents?
I get vibes relating to how I feel about them and whether we could have chemistry. Within a few minutes I notice some things like whether they are quiet or loud, or simple or thoughtful. I might say something like "he seems like the kind of person who...(raises chickens, or something)" but in a joking way related to a vague impression - not literal.
Remember an interesting person and call out 5-6 qualities you think are interesting in them. What makes an interesting person? Are you an interesting person? Why? What if someone calls you "boring" and "not interesting"?
My boyfriend - internally predisposed towards beliefs that fall outside the norm, creative and comes up with stories, has personality traits that are unaligned with his gender, not hooked up to social media (doesn't even have a smartphone), has lived in a foreign country. I don't know if I see myself as interesting - I have an interesting internal life but I'm easily boring to people who don't really know me because I keep myself hidden. I've been called boring - I don't like it, but its understandable considering I have a pretty stable lifestyle and I don't show a lot of depth outside my circle.
What opinions, from people who know you, seem:
a) fair;
I'm quiet/aloof (yea)
b) not fair;
I'm uncaring (bcuz I can't show affection the way they want)
c) hurtful;
I'm unworldly (I can't help if I don't have the money or opportunity for the experiences others have had, and I feel bad/envious about it)
d) strange.
I'm cool (I think they're being nice?)
(Actually I think these didn't have to be opinions about myself but I saw niffer answered that way and copied it, and now I don't want to go back and change it)
Do you fantasize? What kind of fantasies do you have?
All bout sex, baby. Other than that, I might imagine myself on stage singing a song I'm listening to if I'm really into it.
What qualities should a person have to be successful and why?
Bravery, social skills, talent in a certain area.
What qualities can stop a person from being successful and why?
The opposite ^
What is more important in life – to be a good person or be a successful one? Why?
To be a successful one, honestly. Most people see themselves as generally good on an intrinsic level anyway, and aren't likely to face problems in this society for being bad (lol see current presidential election). I don't know... I don't want to downplay the importance of being a "good person." But I'm certainly not running out to donate all my belongings to the poor and volunteer at a soup kitchen every night after work, so I don't expect this of others. And I don't downplay the importance of money wrt having a good life, sorry.
Is a good person always successful? If not, then why?
No, more frequently the opposite. Goodness requires some altruism and lack of self-interest.