The Things That Define Us

Do you ever find it interesting how people perceive themselves, and how they portray themselves to the world? If you are a people watcher like myself, you probably do. Take Facebook for example (and realize that I do this too) and all the silly little quizzes on there. Its interesting how we can fill up our time playing mindless little quizzes- What fairy tale character are you, What Disney Princess are you, What decade most fits you, What kind of boobs do you have? ok, maybe I am the only one who took that last one . . .

But I always find it funny how I play these quizzes and when the results are right on with how I would like to perceive myself I feel just a little triumphant. Yes, that is so totally who I am!! or completely off - No way, that is not me at all!! And yet, it is a little electronic quiz. 5-10 questions and there you have my personality in a nutshell. Not really though. So now I can tell the world, or at least my facebook community, that I am the Big Bad Wolf, Mulan (who isn't a princess, btw you quiz creators) and a straight out of the eighties party girl, among other things.

Yes its silly, I know, and yet I feel just slightly better about myself having figured that out.

Bumper stickers are another one- think about this- everyone you meet automatically knows that you have an honor student, or four kids and a cat, voted on the McCain/Palin ticket- or you are a Christian- or Evolutionist depending on whether the fish back there has legs or not. ok, maybe I just picked the bumper stickers I hate the most first off- let's be fair- you can also tell the world you are a Vegetarian, Share the Road, Buy Local, etc.

How many of you see bumper stickers and in the back of your mind decide whether or not you like that person? How many of you laugh at a bumper sticker and then think "wow, I like this person" or "OMG, who let them out of the asylum?" And yet, I might really like the person who voted for McCain- I could never discuss politics with them nicely, but I might like them. And I might find the Share the Road guy to be a total pretentious ass, even though he's got a nice bumper sticker.

I promise this is not a tirade on bumper stickers.

I just find our culture so interesting sometimes- we are desperate to define ourselves to the world in short 10 words or less blurbs. Realize you have 30 seconds of a stoplight for someone to know you- what will you put on your car?

So many things to be fans of on Facebook. What will YOU choose?

Admittedly, I am curious to see myself from another's point of view. Am I really as funny as I think I am? Probably not. Am I really as fat as I think I am? Again, probably not. Am I the only one who thinks about these things? I don't know, you tell me.