1. Click on this link: Flickr: Explore! Look at the random photo for about 30 seconds. Copy and paste it here, and write about your impression of it.
This is the picture that I found:
At Home.Afternoon. | Elena Shumilova | Flickr
These are my initial perceptions of the image: I love all the colors and textures of the picture. The lighting is amazing. I love how the light of the window is peering from the back. I like how the light reflects onto the plant and I like how you can see trickles of light on the water. I like how there are shadowy shades around the edge of the pic. I don't see a way this picture could be improved, I think the way it is set up shows beauty, and therefore it fulfilled its purpose.
Also, what is the kid doing? Why does the kid look sad? Is the kid sad? Why is the kid holding that necklace thing? Is the kid feeling abandoned and alone? Rejected? Bored? Is this picture representing emotions or something else? The picture makes me question the motives, and it also makes me curious how the photographer set everything up.
The cat’s an interesting part of the picture, I’m not sure what the cat’s purpose is, but it seems to be displaying an ordinary household.
2. You are with a group of people in a car, heading to a different town to see your favourite band/artist/musician. Suddenly, the car breaks down for an unknown reason in the middle of nowhere. What are your initial thoughts? What are your outward reactions?
I'm not someone who's a planner nor am I someone who gets disappointed easily. Once the car is on the side of the road, I'll immediately be thinking of a solution. What's the problem with the car? How do we fix it it? What's everyone's emotional reaction? I'd be taking things moment by moment, so I wouldn't be worried about what we'd do if the car doesn't work but if that came to be I'd figure out games we could play to compensate. I guess my reaction would be: How to fix the problem, and how everyone is, if we're stuck, we'll go with the flow and find some sort of enjoyment even if it seems our initial plan didn't work.
3. You somehow make it to the concert. The driver wants to go to the afterparty that was announced (and assure you they won't drink so they can drive back later). How do you feel about this party? What do you do?
I'm always up for social interaction, so I'd probably keep an eye on the driver and everyone at the party to make sure everyone is okay and we could then enjoy ourselves. Let's have fun terribly singing karaoke in front of everyone. In terms of the driver, I'd probably end up driving myself as I think I'm good at it, and in case they turned on their word.
4. On the drive back, your friends are talking. A friend makes a claim that clashes with your current beliefs. What is your inward reaction? What do you outwardly say?
It depends on what the belief is. I guess if it affects someone I care about, I'd be extremely firm with them to stop. But other than that, if it's a political belief or something, I probably wouldn't care too much about disrupting the harmony, unless it's something that I can form a rational argument against or if I'm asked about it. I hate to pick fights when I haven't had enough time to articulate what logic I'll use to counter.
5. What would you do if you actually saw/experienced something that clashes with your previous beliefs, experiences, and habits?
I can get very protective and aggressive when it comes to defending people I love or people that I find are victims of circumstance. I have a big brother side to me. My values have less to do with society or ideas, but pretty much come to face with the people I care about. I've been extremely protective over women in general in my life as well.
6. What are some of your most important values? How did you come about determining them? How can they change?
Protect the people around me. We should, as a society, protect each other as we do with family. I also believe in valuing common sense, using our heads, exploring and having fun immersing ourselves in our senses, whether that's trying new foods, finding new music, engaging in intimacy, or seeing new places.
7. a) What about your personality most distinguishes you from everyone else? b) If you could change one thing about you personality, what would it be? Why?
I excel at understanding people. I've been talented at presenting and being perceived as confident. I'm able to understand what people want to see, and then using that image that society/a group of people most like to then become that in order to be seen as respectful or more in control. When I walk in a room, I think: How can I best fit into this room?
I usually purposefully control my body language, and I have been told I have a really warm puppy like smile. I'm someone who's developed to become a person who enjoys hearing and understanding other people's issues and being their 'big brother' at times.
I enjoy thinking 'outside the box'. I'll compare myself with an INTJ. For a real life example, let's say there's a news piece. The INTJ I know will ask: What are the facts? What are the ramifications? What is the purpose of this? I'll see this exact same news piece and I'll ask: What are the different sides to this news piece? Is a Republican/Democrat take on this any different? Why do Republicans/Democrats think differently? In that sense, I'm more interested in thinking why something is, why people think a certain way.
Something I wish I could change is not to always be dependent on my image. I used to be a jerk and was extremely sassy and rude and wore a leather jacket because it made me feel powerful and helped me get hookups. When I started realizing how important meaningful relationships could be, I had a hard time breaking out of my cycle of 'Act this way to get this reaction from people'. I've gotten better at it, but being vulnerable and close with people is something I'm still learning.
8. How do you treat hunches or gut feelings? In what situations are they most often triggered?
I guess I get hunches about people, whether I can trust them or not. I usually take things at face value, so if I think there's something off with someone, I usually stick to that notion until proven otherwise. My hunches usually come from paranoia than out of a wise insight.
9. a) What activities energize you most? b) What activities drain you most? Why?
Social interaction energizes me a lot. I get energized a lot by doing things as well. Motorbiking on the countryside or sledding on a steep hill. For me, it's the experience that matters, people enhance it of course, but that's more secondary for me. I get extremely drained by boring, intellectual stuff. Classrooms have, usually, if they haven't implemented group projects or hands on stuff drained me by lecturing and talking about abstract stuff. I also get drained by not having enough social interaction.
10. What do you repress about your outward behavior or internal thought process when around others? Why?
I actually understand things a lot more than I seem. I internally fit things to make sense for me and I don't always share this. I think independently, and if something makes sense to me, I don't necessarily need anyone else to understand that. I also try to hide my internal emotions by acting positive or enthusiastic even if I'm not feeling well.