Who Are You?

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What defines you? Do you have a few one line descriptors that you've used or have been used on you over the years? And then - what phrase would YOU use today if you could define the way in which people are introduced to you?

Here are my answers:

she's just a brat

that Purcell kid

the skinny little thing

the barracuda

the little bald one

Here's my "wished for" phrase

A woman who gives more than she takes

Catherine

-- Catherine (catherine@cmjcom.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

Well, one thing I try very hard not to be in my journal is JUST a father of two autistic children...or JUST a religious man...or JUST a scientifically literate man. I try to vary my journal, as my life is varied. My most popular entries probably deal with the kids, but there is so much more to my life than that. (Just as you, Catherine, don't want to be known just for your condition.)

I think a journal is the best way to show the real person, in all its multilayered complexity. I hope you get a taste of ALL the things I'm interested in, over time, and I get a larger sense of who you are through it.

Al of Nova Notes



-- Al Schroeder (al.schroeder@nashville.com), November 03, 1999.


I really can't think of any one-liners that I've used or that have been used to introduce me. I imagine there are some, but nothing comes to me.

One-liners I'd love to hear: - a wonderful father to his lovely son - a great bear-hugger - the man with the infectious belly laugh - a Jew who celebrates Shabbos with all his heart and soul - a mentsch - a humble fellow who learns from each person he is with

...and boy do I feel like I have a long way to go before those are apt! But one step at a time.

Shimon

-- Shimon Walner (usemyfirstname@technologist.com), November 03, 1999.


negative descriptions i've heard about myself in the past: underachiever, impatient, slutty. impatient slutty underachiever; how lovely...! i prefer "enthusiastic, sensual person who keeps things in perspective."

positive descriptions: positive, happy, calm ("floating mazzy star- like calmness" is my favorite to-my-face compliment to date). my journal has been complimented a lot for its emphasis on the positive.

i'm often defined by being polyamorous.

-- ann monroe (monroe@chorus.net), November 03, 1999.


a poet a librarian information terrorist a character the cosmic archivist the one with the hair the little red-haired girl

Most things I've wished to be called, I have been: sensitive, intelligent, sensual woman who knows herself and wants the same for others

-- Celia White (celiawhite@hotmail.com), November 03, 1999.


The Archivist The Latty Monster (the signal for the rest of my class to try to wrestle me to the ground. Made our own fun in those days) Superstar (one day only) The fount of all knowledge (meant sarcastically, but to the speaker's distaste it stuck unironically) my wished for phrases would be - 'a scholar and a gentleman' - but only to people who could see the joke in trying to market yourself as either and 'someone with a genuinely open mind',

-- Chris (chris@clatimer.freeserve.co.uk), November 03, 1999.


Who am I? Last week I noticed in telling someone at work about myself I always mention first that I never had a father-I was born outside of wedlock-I am a bastard-illegitimate-Next I always mention my mother was killed in a wreck when I was 16-I am a orphan-I always tell people thirdly I am a Christian-I have been a Christian for 30 years-next I tell people I wanted to be a minister but I never got a call-I want people to know I wanted to be a minister-but it was not suppose to be-next I want people to know I am a old Beat-dreamer- writer-bookworm-loner-a family man-a common working man-a lover-from the West Coast-tired-depressed-confused-a man of faith-well I will close-I do not know who I am?-In Christ-Jonny

-- Jonny Ray Keen (jonny@freenet.macatawa.org), November 03, 1999.

I had a great experience with descriptors just last week. I was at my optometrists having my eyes checked as I had suddenly lost almost all of the vision in my right eye. Waiting at the desk while the receptionist arranged for an immediate appointment with an opthamologist I heard myself described as "She's a lovely lady - you'll like her." I have to admit I was a bit baffled as the statement was completely unlike the business-like manner which is usually the norm in that office. Maybe she was overdoing it trying to make sure that I could see the specialist the same day - given the current health care system in Ontario - possibly you have to be a "lovely lady" to get an emergency appointment. I rather like that vague description though it would not be one I would use in describing myself! More like the crazy person who is always running and never stops talking about her children and/or grandchildren and demands that people admire her garden before they can enter her house.

-- Eleanor Caverly (ecaverly@idirect.ca), November 03, 1999.

An Estonian.

I have been pondering over that description lately, asking myself: "Am I called...

... the Estonian that hangs around the online journals?"

I want to deny, to argue that I am not just, or mainly, my nation, but can I?

As I cannot get away from the fact that my motherlanguage is spoken by 1 million people only, so that half of my life has to be lived in foreign languages.

But, then, I do like to hide behind alien words, just like Americans are believed to wear their "Keep smiling!" masks as coat of mail...

-- Aet Tunissoo (tonissoo@ra.gov.ee), November 04, 1999.


"like a kaleidescope"

i think that about sums me up.

-- El (eparkins@mail.coin.missouri.edu), November 04, 1999.


For so many years, my friends have said, when introdusing me, "This is_____, she's an artist, she makes jewelry." The other thing my best friend says about me, if it comes up is, "She's a 'factoid.'" Oh yes, and one other friend thinks I have the greatest laugh, because it is so exhuberant (sp?).That's it really...and now that I write it down it sure seems pretty boring.

As for how I would like to be introduced...I guess all that is OK, I especially like the laugh part...but hmmm...let's just say artist, and forget the jewelry part...add she's intelligent, logical and very grounded in reality, except when doing art ( not jewelry), and she's introspective, and has a big heart, and cares very deeply. Issues of justice and fairness are important to her. She hates bullshit and unfortunately does not suffer fools gladly.

-- Jo (jmerchant@interaccess.com), November 04, 1999.



Oh...she actually is a pretty good speller and does know how to spell introducing...

-- Jo (jmerchant@interaccess.com), November 04, 1999.

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