by Joel Meeks

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

I used to be a fanatic about personality tests and quizzes. I enjoyed taking the tests, and reviewing the results to see if they matched what I thought of myself. Over the years, I have come to realize, however, that most tests are simply generalized statements that are meant to induce a fuzzy feeling in the reader; to create a vague feeling of truth. The Ulla Zang personality test - a simple test where the user will choose one of nine pictures to determine their personality type - was mostly the same, although it tends to use the appeal of the images to certain personality types well, giving a somewhat accurate description of a person, albeit a very narrow one. The test well identified my introverted and reflective nature, but almost nothing else, leaving out several major pieces of my personality.

The test, for example, states that I "do not mind being alone for extended periods of time. . ." This is true; I have absolutely no problems with extensive periods of solitude. I often spend days at a time holed up in my room, entertaining myself through various means, whether it is by playing World of Warcraft or Half-Life 2, or reading a book penned by Terry Brooks, R.A. Salvatore, Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman, or perhaps Glenn Cook. It is an almost-palpable relief, to be able to relax in seclusion, with the quiet humming of my mind functioning as background noise, after spending a long day amidst the cacophonic tumult of society. This part of my personality ties in well with the "introspective" and "reflective" tags that the Ulla Zang test gave me. The final tag that I received from the quiz, "sensitive," is explained near the end of my results: ". . . your relationships with your friends are very strong, which gives you the inner tranquility and harmony that you require." A valid statement, I consider the bond between myself and my good friends to be a very strong one, which certainly gives me a fair measure of peace. As was mentioned before, however, the scope of this test is far too limited to be completely accurate.

Unfortunately, the above concept - that I share such a strong bond with all of my friends - is a pleasant thought, and although it is 'valid,' I wouldn't say that it is 'true.' I have many casual friends with whom I only speak with occasionally, and I certainly don't share such a connection with these people. If anything, being around them often makes me feel uneasy or awkward, which most definitely does not give me "the inner tranquility

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>