I have an idea that is based around preconcieved ideas of people and how genuine they are being with eachother.

The idea is this; those of us that use this board regularly have built up ideas of what type of people we are talking to. I'm sure we all have a mental image of eachother.

If you are not like me and you post a picture of yourself with every message then you have already helped your peers, although it's interesting how different they appear if you copy them and paste them in an art program at full size and in the correct shape. I was convinced that ID was some sort of shaven headed neo nazi! sorry ID.

Anyway, I would like to hear from you, guests too, what you think I look like and what sort of attributes I have, height, weight, etc. please say anything you feel, i won't be offended  :)

When I have a few posts I'll take a digital photo of myself and post it here and you can then see how close you were (maybe i'll hold that days newspaper or something to validate the genuine nature of the photo).

I think/hope you will be quite close, as I am not aware that I have been playing a role or acting on this board, we'll see...

Oh, in case you are wondering, there are no pictures of me on my website!

okay Laz...I perceive you to be around 6 ft/1.83 meters, no more than 180 lbs/82 kilograms, short dark hair, wearing eye glasses/contacts....I can't really be that detailed right now, but that's the general idea...

 Oh boy, I'm not even gonna attempt this one, since I know I'm gonna get it wrong.

well if i use my amazing psychic power i could describe exactly what you look like...haha  nah, just kiddin

in my imagination youre a tall skinny guy with long dark hair and you have soft hazel eyes and a goatee... and i bet you get cute little dimples when you smile...
but thats just my wild guessing

Well, this is a tricky one!

I reckon you're less than 30, living in Nether Kellet, or possibly Kendal, married with one child. Your wifes name is Brenda.
By now you will have made more than 130 posts on Mind-Brain and a lot more to come.

I get the feeling you are shorter than average, say 5foot 5inches and have a tendency to plumpness.

You have no major illnesses and listen to Terry Wogan every morning on Radio2. You shop extensively at Asda [Walmart], though you do like to appear to be up-market now and again and pop into M&S just to get their bags.
You are not interested in sports at all, but do play squash.
Your favourite food is fillet steak with peppers and onions.
God doesn't visit you very often, and if He did, would say 'I don't exist'. You do, however, live a life which would not be criticised by many Brits.
You vote Labour every other election. Otherwise you vote Tory. You are not sure about yourself; that's why you are holding this 'questionaire'. You agree with the majority, so I hope you get a lot of replies; otherwise you may end up with short fat hairy legs!

No prizes are necessary for the accuracy of my predictions. I am used to being right all time, much like Joe!
I will refuse all the television contacts I may receive to make more successful predictions like this one, just as I already refuse all applications for autographs for my fame as a poet.

Best regards, Bill (da profit)

Hehe.... and the true psychic Uri Geller believes.... hmmm...... you are about 5'11"/ 150 lbs/ short- haired/ and a bit of a rebel. He's not being vague.... don't be ignorant of his true psychic powers.

This better be correct.... or else he has to go back to bending spoons like he did in the '70's, or keep predicting until he finally gets it right.  ;D

I'm liking what i'm reading, I'll give a full response and take a photo in a day or so. Would like to here from some more of you, Shawn, our resident witch Steven, and Joe of course; I thought he'd be dying to post here, or perhaps he's angry with me for deleting his argumentative post?

I find it interesting also that our guests on this board are like ghosts, not just in responce to this subject but all of them.

It's a bit creepy when you think about it, like having a presence in the room with you that makes no effort to talk to you, just watches from afar! I can't say that i understand that point of view.

I think it would be a good idea to have biographies of members here, posted on their profiles.  I've been working on this, and hopefully soon, this feature will be available as I think quite a few members would like to post their bios.

I apologize for my absence.  I've been very busy, but will hopefully have more time for other things soon.

I know I've been absent for a while (peak holiday season plus busy with projects), but I make a triumphant return to find that I'm perceived as a neo-Nazi!  ;) Only kidding, Laz, but the post raises some interesting questions on perception. For instance, does one's appearance influence how one's arguments are perceived (just think about how much time/money goes into 'image coaching' for political figures)? That's the good thing on forums, we can choose whether or not we display our real image.

As for my picture, the whole thing is intended as an irony: it was taken at a friend's house after an afternoon of drinking, prior to further indulgence in the evening. He remarked that I looked like some kind of guru and entitled it 'the_thinking_man' as a joke. I thought that, with the caption (Latin for 'sound mind in a healthy body'), the joke was complete as I was at the time a long way from such a state!

And Laz, my guess is that you are youngish (<25), medium height/build with medium-length dark hair. Don't keep us too long in suspense!

Here I am right now, at work:

[img]www.closertogod.net/stuff/Laz.jpg[/img]

I am 6 foot 4 inches tall, 14 stone, 27 years old, I live in Bournemouth, UK.

I find this subject very interesting, and reveals as much about the people doing the describing as the person being described, for example; no one suggested that I might have a disability, you all pictured me able bodied! I'm not actually disabled but I could have been.

I have enjoyed reading your comments, and I thank you all for playing along.

On the subject of confidence that was brought up by rhymer, I would have to disagree with you.

For someone to open themselves to possible abuse in this way, they must be confident, this was not an exercise to make Laz feel better about himself by having people say nice things about him, although most of you did  :)

I wonder what this reveals about certain key members who did not respond, does this make then unconfident because they were perhaps worried about making a judgement? maybe they just thought it was a silly idea? I guess we will never know.

Thanks again, it's been fun  :)

so I was right about the dark hair...  :D  I can't really tell if it's short or if you have it pulled back though...I wish I would have thought to say nice thick eyebrows too!!  

Hi Laz,

I was pretty close with your height and weight, but haven't you shot up in the world since I posted?

My comment about your confidence being weak was part of my 'story', not a real indication of your perceived strength! It is obvious from your posts that you exude confidence.

I think that the characteristics you asked us to guess were far less likely to be accurate than assessments of motives, behaviour, education, and other facets which can be carried over onto the web through the posts one makes. One really needs a picture to assess height and weight.

I suppose that leads to an obvious follow-on question !!

I am 59, blonde, 5ft 7ins, 17 stone, male, married and have no photo. Can anyone describe my personal characteristics rather than my physical chars. based on postings here at Mind-Brain!

I will give it a week or two, and then, per characteristic raised, admit to my strengths or weaknesses as honestly as I can. Unfortunately, I cannot think of a way to prove such claims, but do promise to give truthful and sincere answers.
By the way I am confident too, but it is a roleplaying act.

Best regards, Bill.

well obviously you cut your hair and shaved off your goatee and refused to smile so that we cant see the cute dimples that i predicted!

rhymer's right tho, physical bodies arent so important here, its mind.

 Unless you're gonna die in two days because of it.

Ohhh.... take that cripples! BURN!!  ;D

Thanks guys

I will have a go at describing Bill, his character and nature rather than his pyshical appearance, although I feel strongly that Bill has a thing for facial hair!

Your name suggests to me you have a strong desire for success and enjoy living the rich life.

I would say that you are good at business, and are a top-down thinker, like me I think you like to impress people with your success and don't hold back in telling them about it.

If you have a downside its your perseverance,
patience, and attention to details, and you don't deal with stress very well and are inclined to express sarcasm and temper easily.

I would guess that you have a thing for material possessions and have an expensive car, a boat, and possibly a mistress!

Hi Laz,

Thanks for having a go at me.

You are very close with 7 charactersistics or so, as far as I can see, and I reckon that is magnificent!

I'll leave the post a little longer to see if anyone else fancies their chances with a prediction.

No holds barred - no hard feelings - have fun!
best regards, Bill
PS Are you psychic?

Hey Bill

It's the oldest trick in the book, I visited a name analysis website, typed in Bill and up came a description.

My own name when typed in was close as well!

I'd love to know which ones were correct?

Hi Laz,

Your honesty impresses me!
But how can ones name pre-empt ones personal characteristics? It must be a coincidence that it has worked quite well for the two of us.

Hint - no mistress!

Best regards, Bill.
PS. What is the website address that you used?

QUOTE

Your honesty impresses me!

I did consider stringing you along on the psychic angle, but I beat my ego into submission on this occasion!

The website I used is one by the Kabalarians!!! Some psuedo science group. You can check other names here:

http://www.kabalarians.com/gkh/your.htm

As for the truth of the descriptions, I would have to say that I think the name you are given will undoubtedly shape your character, and the adoption of a nickname will further shape your personality and peoples stereotype of you.

A couple of things in my description were purely from my stereotypes of "Bill", do you have a beard?

I don't think I could take this as far as the Kabalarians do, although its interesting stuff

hey Laz...I've been to that site a few times and I do find the articles interesting...that's why I put the thread out there about numbers and destiny!

Ah yes, I remember  :)

What do you make of the Kabalarians elle?

I think the Kabalarians are reiterating a good philosphy (I can understand and agree w/ much of what is said)- it's certainly not a new one even for the western world.  Mr. Parker just gave it a new name.

Hi Laz,

You [or a website] are the outright winner, being the closest to describing me perfectly.

No  -thing for facial hair!

Yes -strong desire for success
No   -enjoy living the rich life.  I had to retire at 46 - ill health.

Yes -good at business
Yes -a top-down thinker
No  -like to impress people with your success [but I do hope people are impressed by my works].

No -don't hold back in telling them about it.

Yes -your perseverance [but is it a downside]?
Yes -patience
Yes -attention to details
Yes -don't deal with stress very well
No  -inclined to express sarcasm and temper easily.  

I won't bore you with the rather large number of other  positive aspects of my character just now.

I must re-iterate my surprise that someone has apparently  listed characteristics per name. I can only conclude that those characteristics chosen are generally present in the majority of people.
Which website did you consult?

Thanks for the fun, bye for now!
Best regards, Bill.
I would guess that you have a thing for material possessions and have an expensive car, a boat, and possibly a mistress!

[quote]I would guess that you have a thing for material possessions and have an expensive car, a boat, and possibly a mistress! [/quote]

Nope, I am not married so my girlfriend is both my partner and my mistress, and i hope it stays that way

An expensive car??? how about a 1989 Volvo estate!
Here's my speeding ticket photo so you can have a laugh

[img]http://www.closertogod.net/Speeding.jpg[/img]

Boats aren't my thing, but my car is a bit of an old boat!

[quote]I must re-iterate my surprise that someone has apparently listed characteristics per name. I can only conclude that those characteristics chosen are generally present in the majority of people.
Which website did you consult?[/quote]

if you check back a couple of posts the link to the site is there, the kabalarians one

I think there is some logic to it; ones given name will form a character in you based on other peoples stereotypes, starting with your parents. Ones chosen name, i.e. Bill rather than Will or William, will further enhance the characteristics one way or another, I think if you check the two in the website although they are both derivatives of william they are quite different.

I think you're right that there are only a few types of description, but that matches to the types of person you can get. Keirsey temperament and character types are well know measures of people and they describe 16 basic types, I think I am an ESTJ.