(no subject)
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
I would eliminate willful stupidity. In my opinion, that's the source of all humanity's problems. Faulty leaders? Well, who elected them? Wanton destruction of natural resources? The scientists have been telling us for years that it's a stupid idea. Bigotry? Ignorance? Overpopulation? All due to a lack of education-- and in my opinion, our culture's failure to give priority to education is an act of willful stupidity.
What makes a person respectable?
That's hard to define. I can definitely say what makes someone not respectable. Pretending to knowledge and authority that one doesn't have is not respectable. On the other hand, actually having knowledge and authority about something is likely to earn my respect, so I guess education is a mark of respectability for me. It's also important that a person treat everyone decently until they deserve otherwise. Of course, I'm generally more likely to respect someone if he or she holds the same views as I do, but I think that's a human thing. Oh-- ignorance and bigotry and so on are not at all respectable. I think respectability includes a drive to educate oneself, and a constant urge to improve.
What do you look for in a friend?
Someone whose sense of humor is compatible to mine, first off. Compatible political ideals, but that's not necessary-- it just means we're more likely to be on the same wavelength. Intelligence is very important; I probably won't be good friends with someone who can't follow my leaps of logic and contribute her/his own. Of course, if someone makes overtures of friendship to me I'm almost guaranteed to return them even failing the above, provided I don't already know something about the individual that makes me unwilling to associate with her.
What are your hobbies?
Reading (fanfic, mostly, but also sci-fi, fantasy, and the permutations thereof. I'll also read nonfiction, sometimes, if it's relevant to my studies or I find it interesting.). Writing, occasionally, depending on inspiration and initiative. I sing and can play a little bit of guitar and piano. When motivated, I knit, draw, and sometimes make things out of beads. I spend too much time on Livejournal, and I watch movies when I think about it.
Have or would you give time and money to a charity?
Yes, I have, and yes, I would. Mostly because they make me feel guilty, but it does feel good to help. I dislike the obnoxious ones, though-- if you plunk yourself in front of me and don't let me pass without asking me for change, I probably won't give you anything.
What is the one thing you would most like to accomplish?
I want to be famous. I've always wanted to be famous. However, I want to be famous for having done or created something incredibly cool or brilliant or beautiful, or for having made a positive change in the world; I have no desire to be on the news if it's for having done something stupid.
Who is your role model?
I'll give the stock answer and say "my mother," because I really do admire her. She juggles responsibilities (work, a house, four offspring), is enrolled in graduate school, and still manages to exercise, read, work in her garden and paint the house. In addition, she is a strong, loving, and intelligent person; she has a wonderful sense of humor, loves and provides for her family, rolls with life's punches and doesn't take shit from anyone. If you'll pardon my language. I kind of pick up role models as I go along, though-- I rarely find someone I absolutely admire, but encounter lots of people who have certain traits I'd like to emulate.
What trait most annoys you about other people?
Besides the aforementioned willful stupidity? I hate it when people talk for hours on end about subjects I find boring, not allowing for changes of topic or letting me get more than a word or two in edgewise. As in most cases I'm constitutionally opposed to interrupting others when they're speaking, in such a situation I'm pretty much trapped, unless I can fake another obligation and escape.
What do you want to do for a living?
Read. Sing. Write. I want to be paid for doing things I enjoy doing. I dread being saddled with a nine-to-five at some soulless corporation, doing work that any machine could do and probably contributing to the fall of civilization while doing it. Point of fact, I don't want to be stuck doing anything I don't find interesting. Moreover, beyond a basic framework I hate routines-- class schedules are about as much as I can handle-- and would most likely go crazy if my workdays were always the same. I wouldn't mind working in education, though I don't think I have the patience for normal classroom teaching. It's possible I could teach at the college level, but then I'd still have the problem of people who were only taking my class for the credit-- I'd probably try to fail them on principle. Mostly, I want to be doing something that will make some kind of real, measurable difference.
I probably wouldn't mind being President, if someone elected me. Actually, something more behind-the-scenes would probably be better, since I can't stand having my inadequacies pointed out in public.
If your friend was attacked (by a person, animal, or (in the magic world) beast), what would you do?
Most likely jump to her defense-- but in a way I was reasonably certain would work. If it was a verbal attack, I'd respond in kind; I'm generally pretty sweet, but I can be a horrific bitch if crossed. For a physical attack, I'd either jump in to help-- with whatever weapon was available, and hitting as much as I could where it really hurt-- or call for help, depending on the urgency of the situation and whether help could be called. I'm very big and kind of imposing-looking, so I like to think my presence would act as a deterrent to would-be attackers in the first place.
Would you ever use an Unforgivable Curse for any reason?
Probably. It would depend on the situation. If someone was trying to kill me, or my family members, and I couldn't bring to mind any other way to take the attacker out, I'd certainly use the Killing Curse. The Imperius is fundamentally unethical-- to me, impeding another person's right to choose and to act according to his or her own will is one of the only real sins. However, it's not impossible that someday I might lose my temper with someone who refuses to go along with a certain course, even though it's obviously the right one, and casting it. Only for a second, though. And then I'd go to jail.
The Cruciatus is another story. To me, it's the embodiment of human evil-- deliberately causing someone incredible pain, for no other reason than because you love to see them suffer. I can't really see how anyone could be more depraved than that. Even the Killing Curse isn't as bad, to me (I believe in reincarnation, so death in and of itself isn't that great an evil. It's the things that you aren't able to do before you die that are the problem.)
What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
1) Intelligence. I'm not nearly as smart as a lot of the people I admire-- but damn it, I take pride in my brains! It was a real shock when I got to college and couldn't just coast by on smarts anymore.
2) Kindness. I like to think that I'm genuinely a decent person. Usually. At least, I usually act like a decent person, even though I'm not always sure my motivations are entirely altruistic.
3) Intuition. A lot of times I kind of get a "feel" for things that covers up a few of the gaps in my knowledge and makes it easier for me to pick up new skills. I tend to pick up language easily, for example, because I can quickly get a feel for their pronunciation and structure. At the same time, I think my intuition gives me a pretty good idea of whether or not someone can be trusted.
4) I'm not sure how to define this in one word, but I've got kind of a meditative appreciation of the physical world-- I go into paroxysms of delight, for example, when walking outside at night, alone in the middle of a thick fog glowing with streetlights. Some of my strongest emotional responses have been to nature-- the feel and smell of a breeze after a heavy rain; a sunset and what it does to the mountains where I live; the sight, in summer, of an apparently endless wall of green where bare trees used to be. I don't know if I'm making any sense, or even if this is something most people would appreciate, but I know it's made my life a lot more enjoyable.
5) Open-mindedness. I'm generally ready to see a new viewpoint on something, if it's well-argued, and I'm rarely averse to new experiences unless they're directly and obviously hazardous. I'm easy-going and not easily angered, and I adapt well to new situations.
What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
1) Laziness and procrastination. I've got lots of ideas, but rarely muster up the initiative to do anything about them; likewise, I'm unlikely to do more than think about a necessary project or assignment until there's almost no time left in which to do it.
2) Shyness. I'm painfully shy, and hesitant to make overtures of friendship to strangers, or to speak out among people I'm not familiar with. In some ways it's a self-defense mechanism, but it seriously impedes my social life and is an unfortunate trait in someone whose life goal is to be famous.
3) Snobbishness. I'm well aware I'm a snob, but haven't been able to bring myself to regret it.
4) I tend to hold a grudge. If someone apologizes for a slight, and seems sincere, I'll forgive it readily enough-- but if they don't, I'm capable of holding on to my resentment for years. I actually have a little mental list of "People To Screw Over If I Ever Get The Chance," which I'm aware is quite a bad sign. It's a short list, though, and if they apologized they'd be off it...
5) Fear of commitment. And I'm not even talking relationships-- last night I spent ten minutes in the shaving aisle at Wal-Mart trying to pick out a razor. Ended up going with my first choice, of course. I'm capable of agonizing to an equal extent over almost anything-- what clothes to wear, what words to use in a sentence-- usually with equal results.
Define in your own words the following key traits:
Courage:
Courage is knowing the hardships involved with a given course of action, and following through with it anyway because the action is right or necessary.
Loyalty:
I think that loyalty is overriding one's own human impulses because of a perceived commitment to someone or something. Loyalty can mean continuing to support a person or cause even though there are more obvious benefits to be had by turning away from that object. However, it can also mean refusing to hear ill of a person one has accepted as a friend or leader-- even if the "ill" is actually true. I'm a bit wary of loyalty as an ideal, because I think sometimes it can override sense and cause people to do things for the wrong reasons. However, as I'm also very loyal to my friends, I'm not sure of my actual feelings on the subject.
Intelligence:
Hard to define. Intelligence is understanding the truth when it's there to be understood. It's also determining the best course of action in a given situation, and assessing risks that may be hidden to others. On a more superficial level, intelligence is the ability to comprehend patterns-- actually, now that I think about it, that's a pretty good definition. Intelligence is the ability to comprehend patterns, whether they be sequences of events, past behaviors, or the ordering and interaction of the letters, numbers, and shapes. It's a survival skill-- it's what allows us to evolve. You see what works, and you see what doesn't work, and you base your future actions on that.
Ambition:
The desire to elevate oneself above one's current status. In my opinion, ambition includes an awareness and implicit acceptance of the obstacles in the way of one's rise, and a resolution to overcome them. Ambition can also mean lofty objectives-- world peace, for example, is as much of an ambition as the desire to be President someday.
Name: Kate
Age: 21
What house do you think DOESN'T fit you? (This question is optional for those who feel they just DO NOT fit in a house. Please explain WHY.)
I have no problem with any of the houses. (In my opinion, all the Hogwarts houses represent qualities that everyone has-- and so a rejection of any one house is actually a rejection of one aspect of one's self, which is incredibly unhealthy. So there. ; D)
Where did you find out about us?
Saw the link to cunningfolk in tytaniastrange's journal, got curious, and followed the links from there.