[QUIZ] Your bending

HughJ · October 31, 2016

Not sure where to put this but I recently started rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender and I wanted to do this for fun

Oh by the way I know absolutely nothing about Legend of Korra so don't expect me to draw on any content from that

EXPLANATION

If you take the following 10 question quiz I should be able to get a good enough grasp of your personality and soul to assign you to a form of elemental bending. These questions aren't meant to be easy (I hate that Buzzfeed clickbait crap) so please answer them as best you can.

I'll keep tally of who's in what nation in the OP. I'm considering doing an Avatar RP here someday if I can grow a work ethic

Each question is in a 1-10 score answer format, with 1 being "minimally / not at all" and 10 being "maximally" (or along those lines.) Please write a minimum of two sentences explaining your score and any important thoughts about the question. The more you write, the more accurate I can be with my diagnosis. Try to include the questions themselves in your answers, if it's not inconvenient (just copy/paste and erase formatting).

Give the answers that you feel accurately represent yourself. If you write under the identity/personality of a character (OC or otherwise) then it's not going to decide what bending you would have, it'll decide what bending they would have.

EXAMPLE:
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

4. While I care very much about the people I love, I have to uphold my belief that all life is precious, and treat everyone (even those I've never known) with equal respect. I can be selfish from time to time, just like anyone else, but the morals that help me wake up every morning tell me to acknowledge those narratives outside the ones I know.

QUIZ:

Reveal hidden contents

PAST DIVINATIONS:

Air: Combat Medic, Alchemia Chan

Water: ArmoredGuardian (Ice), Dobby (Steam)

Earth: Viridescent 2.0 (Stone), Nova (Clay), EXLink32 (Lava)

Fire: Tartar

Alright that about does it. The quiz might be subject to revision because I came up with the questions just now. I look forward to your answers

Edited November 5, 2016 by HughJ

Ironbound · October 31, 2016

Interesting. I've not followed ATLA much, having only a basic knowledge of it, but then again I've never been much of an anime enthusiast. Still, here goes:

1. Direct confrontation should not imply violent confrontation, and nonviolence should likewise not imply roundabouts or suggestive solutions. Though this question cannot be answered without reference to the case and circumstance, I should say that simple truth and a direct approach solves most problems; a more convoluted, indirect or otherwise complex approach should be adopted only on a sequential basis of logical reasoning. Always try the simplest solution first. I should answer this question with a highly subjective and case-dependent 6/10

2. I have first a duty unto myself, then a duty unto my family and my dependants, then a duty unto my people and only then a duty unto anything else. Very often, the "greater good" and "individual good" mean the same thing; if one is true to one's duties in life, one's individual goals will not be opposed to or at the cost of what is beneficial to all of one's dependants; the greater good itself is the only real good. I say to this, 10/10

3. It is foolish to assume that anyone can perfectly control oneself at all times; however, I can assert that I place very little importance to impulsive action as a rule, and therefore make a conscious effort to almost never exhibit the same. Over time, with enough control over such impulses, their frequency and magnitude of occurrence has receded in me, as I prefer to subordinate the feeling to the thinking. I can reasonably answer to about 8/10

4. Money is a servant, not a master. I am acutely aware of the importance of money, both absolute and relative, since by profession I am an accountant and a student of economics, and as a person have also experienced what monetary constraints have to teach. Money is important, but the reason for which you wish it is more important; desiring a hundred, you would say, may be lesser absolutely than desiring a billion, but if one wishes that hundred solely for their own pleasure, while another wishes for a billion in order to achieve a humanitarian mission, the attitude with which one sees them differs. And yet they may both equally view money as important for their own goals. Again, the application is the gauge by which one measures the value a person attaches to money; with my own case, again highly subjective to context, I shall say to this a 6/10

5. Death is an eventuality and is therefore irrelevant to long term decision making. I and those I care about have all made peace with that fact. The idea of death should only inspire one to achieve their goals in the time we have, so as to be ready for it when it comes. Having witnessed death multiple times, I can say that to go with no regrets is the only goal, and the only thing to fear is to go leaving life undone. Fear, then, is of life and what is in it, not of what is beyond it. I say to this 0/10

6. Man as a being cannot survive completely alone; even Robinson Crusoe needed society. It is not possible to imagine how one would be in a situation of exile or calamity unless one has experience of it; in such a situation, it is wiser to prepare and anticipate a pessimistic view than an optimist one. I do not know to answer this question, and hope not to have need to.

7. Man is an animal, not anything more or less. An advanced animal, a social animal, but still an animal, and still subject to the same base instinct as any other. As a life form, the only notable difference between us and most other creatures is not our intelligence but our empathy; very few other creatures (those too being higher mammals like primates, pachyderms and cetaceans, as well as some birds) have been studied to show empathy, understanding, and pity for others of their own volition (I am not referring to a motherly instinct to protect). As such, I think man is greater than other animals, but in degree not in kind. Of course, from a purely objective evolutionary angle, man is far more advanced mentally and socially that most other organiams we know of, so the answer would be an exponent and not a gradation. I cannot answer this question on a scale.

8. War is natural; every organism goes to war on its own scale. With the evolution of intelligence, though, the method of war changes. War today among people is a mental combat between boardrooms and offices, an arms race of knowledge and technological supremacy. As a community, war can never leave any society, but the method and the targets will change. A war against ignorance, terror, substance, traffickers, a war against violence and societal evil, such wars are necessary to every society in every stage of civilisational evolution. I say to this 10/10

9. My answers to the seventh and second questions apply here. I strongly believe that man is human only when he serves for the greater good and not for himself. Being responsible for the world we are in and taking compassion on those less fortunate than us is the true mark of humanity...which I find that many ignore. Man should be motivated by desire, but not, I say, for himself alone at the cost of others. The world is less of a dog-eat-dog one and more of a cooperative one the more a society evolves. In our present state, I should believe that out net contribution to the world should exceed our net deductions from it, so I will say, based on context, a 6/10

10. Tradition, as defined as Dharma, is all important to an individual soul; all souls obey their Dharma by Instinct, catalysed or poisoned by the strength of their intelligence. I'll leave a link to my Philosophy Thread where I've spoken at greater length about the concept of the Dharmic Law of Life, and the concept of divinity as such, which, if you take the trouble to peruse, will give you an idea of my assertions on that respect. In this context I answer to a 10/10

Traditions if defined merely as societal dogma, are irrelevant to the individual. The individual must exercise its own independent enquiry to determine the cause and effect of such traditions, and obey or disobey if necessary as the times change. However, it is to be kept in mind that a tradition exists only because it obviously serves some purpose, and unless the times and circumstances change enough to the point where such rituals are meaningless, wasteful or counterproductive, they should generally be adhered to. In short, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. In this context I answer to a 6/10

Now, for your other questions:

1. I appreciate any natural colour in its proper setting. My personal preference goes to subtle, subdued shades that please the mind; charcoal grey, sky blue, holly green, earth tones and soft creams. However, considering that I call myself 'Viridescent', which means 'green'...

2. Googling has shown me the techniques of elemental manipulation that the ATLA universe displays. I should ally by philosophy with Air, since it is most closely aligned with my own culture, but by personality I would seem to associate with earth and specifically metal; I do not generally yield unless I am shown that there is an excellent logical reason to do so, I do not waver easily from a decision once taken, and I do not forgive what I believe is opposed to my morals. Besides, I already have a reputation for being a steel-type maniac in Pokemon context, though the reasoning is different.

3. Not having watched more than a few of the first episodes years and years ago, I cannot answer this question meaningfully.

Here's the link to my thread, though it's been dormant for a while:

http://www.pokemonreborn.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=20695

I'll admit this questionnaire of yours has made me curious, if only to see what conclusions you'll draw from it. Let's see, eh?

Felicity · October 31, 2016

I don't even have to do it to know it's water.

HughJ · October 31, 2016

Viridescent, after a few hours of deliberation, I have decided that you are an Earth bender. Specifically, one who would bend Stone (as opposed to raw rock or dirt, for example). I envision you and a team under your supervision (or perhaps tutelage) constructing stone buildings similar to the Pantheon, based on your architectural designs. Perhaps you are even well-known for the incorporation of quietly colored stones (such as jade or olivine) into your architecture to accent certain aspects of your design.

Your logical, realistic outlook on the world - the inevitability of death, the humble nature of man, and the necessity of war - characterize you as someone willing to face the truth and stand your ground. Though you are firm in your opinions and beliefs, you recognize the role external or uncontrollable factors - dogma, Dharma, and societal cooperation - must play in shaping these convictions.

In this sense, you are as a rock, which stands firm against most deliberate offense, such as from wood or fire (baseless accusation or emotional assertions); yet you yield to the occasional sharper mineral or metal blade (logical points and tempered arguments). While rejecting material that does not pass your test, you incorporate the stronger elements into yourself, allowing those forces to shape you for the better.

Stone also resonates with the more minor elements of your personality, such as your preference for quieter colors. Though you may love the Steel-type, I don't believe you are a metal-bender. Metal-bending in my eyes is born from an almost impossibly stubborn and tenacious nature (think Chell from Portal). Even when faced with situations that seem physically or mentally impossible to survive, you must find a way.

You were partly correct in saying that your philosophy might lend itself to that of an airbender. However, airbender ideology is based heavily on idealism and complete faith in the greater machinations of the spiritual world; they are often seen as 'carefree' or overly optimistic due to their absolute faith in the justness of destiny. They seek enlightenment, similar to the kind defined by the Buddha, and they live in a republic like the one Plato described, as close to utopia as they believe they can be. When they travel, they travel in a nomadic and solitary fashion, more often to experience the world than to experience its peoples or their ideologies.

I felt that this did not quite sit with your personality; though you may have faith in the afterlife, it would seem unreasonable for you to think man has no role in shaping himself or his destiny. You may not be afraid of death, but this is due more to a recognition of its inevitability than an unshakable faith in reincarnation or enlightenment. Something important to acknowledge is that Hinduism (a spiritual religion attributed to the Earth Nation) and many of its studies are grounded in a culture and preexisting belief system born from communal living - think of the caste system, reproductive gurus, and dogma. Buddhism (attributed to the Air Nation) is, in contrast, the work of a solitary man dedicated wholly to his own enlightenment (and subsequently the enlightenment of others).

I won't say specifically how I decided these things based on your answers, but it should be fairly clear to you. You may find that one or two answers to the quiz did not distinctly appear in my response, but I can assure you that I considered all of the material you presented me (including skimming the philosophy thread). Thank you very much for participating in this quiz, and in such a militant fashion. I hope it will help me accurately classify others who reply.

On 10/31/2016 at 8:45 AM, Monster of the Deep said:
I don't even have to do it to know it's water.

Why not fill it out and find out for sure? You might be surprised...

Tartar · October 31, 2016

Interesting initiative. I'll try my best to satisfy your curiosity.

1) This question depends on what said goal is. As of this moment my main goal is to achieve good results in my studies, and this is a whole requires no confrontation with anyone else, and is in the end a "confrontation" with myself and how far I can push myself to attain ever greater amounts of knowledge. Thus confrontation is in no way necessary to achieve my goals. 3/10

2) I do not feel like I have an inherent obligation or duty to put the priorities of others over my own, either in my personal relations nor society as a whole. Now as it stands, quite often helping others is beneficial, as society is built upon trust and cooperation, and therefore helping other's is very much something that benefits society as a whole, and therefore in the end helps me too. 9/10

3) The ideal I pursue is naturally to have all my action be built on a foundation of logic and reasoning. Now as life has it, this ideal cannot always be fulfilled and in times of distress emotions, doubt and worry can cloud my judgement. And while I would love to say that I am in perfect control of my own mind, i cannot, because in the end, I am just human. 8/10

4) Money is not an end in and of itself, but merely a means to attain independence of the need of money. While this itself may seem paradoxical, the value of money in our society cannot be understated. My life's goals are very much dependent on achieving a stable means of income, and thus paving the way to live my life in accordance to my ideals and beliefs. Naturally I am not dependent on said money to achieve happiness, but as I do not want to be a leech upon society, I have taken it upon myself to gain the education necessary to become a productive member of society to live my life how I want to. 9/10

5) I am afraid not afraid of the death of those around me, as I am not dependent on them, and while I will be sad for the passing of those dear to me, life will march on. But as I do value life greatly, I do try to lead my life in such a way that I will live the longest life possible (ie. eating healthy, excising, not risking my life for trivialities). But at the same time I am not afraid of death as it is the final destination of all life, and the fear of losing my life does not make me cling desperately onto it. 5/10

6) As of the time of writing, my life has been absent of hardship, want and struggle. I have never been in a desperate situation where my life was on the line. And therefore I do not know how I would act in the situations you have described. But considering I do not know many practical skills that would be needed to survive in extreme environments, and my personal skillset is used exclusively in our modern society which is based upon information, I doubt I would be able to do well in a post-apocalyptic scenario. 1/10

7) The question all depends upon what we measure greatness. Man has created order from chaos, society and culture from barbarism. Something that other species on our planet have yet to achieve. But in the end these things have no inherent value, and are only valued and treasured because humanity have decided it to be thus. Thus due to the vagueness of the question, and the fact the term greatness is has no objective measurement I do not feel I can answer this question.

8) Again, this depends on the definition of war. If we are talking about wars with arms, then those are in no way vital to the survival of the modern human society. Now if we were to define war as a competition in society for the scarce amount of resources in the world, then I said competition is vital for society to thrive as it pushes people to ever greater heights. And without said competition in our society, our society would cease to be. 10/10

9) Humanity is only responsible for nature in such a way that it benefits us. As it stands now, nature is an important part of our plant, and the preservation of local ecosystems and biological diversity. Our society is very much dependent on the continued existence of nature, and therefore we should do everything in our power to preserve and sustain it. But this is because nature is valuable to us, were this not to be the case, and were it to hold no value, then humanity as with anything else should hold no responsibility for it. 1/10

10) I do not feel I can answer this question. I prize individuality very highly, and am against upholding tradition for the mere sake of tradition itself. Naturally I feel some parts of society and tradition are valuable tools for the preservation of society, but outside of these traditions there also exists many traditions which are arbitrary and pointless which merely serve to divide humans into groups, and cause discord. And in terms of this, tradition can also be harmful, as it sparks conflict, hate, prejudice and other unbecoming and vile emotions. As with anything else, tradition can be a tool for both good and evil, and cannot be generalized in the way this questions does.

Bonus questions

1) Mute and dull colours are what I prize the most. Hues of white, a lighter shades are the most pleasing to gaze upon, and are therefore my favorites.

2) As with anything else, bending is a tool, and as with any tool it is judged by its usefulness. Fire and Earth are physical by their nature, and can too easily cause destruction and have little use in day to day life. Water and Air on the other hand can work independently of their surroundings and can serve as valuable tools in one's daily life. Therefore these later two would be my favourite types of bending.

3) I do not have a preference for any specific type of character despite having watched the show.

And after having answered these questions, I am indeed curious as to what you will make of me. What sort of person did you see me as, and in what way has this insight into my mind changed your perception of me?

ArmoredGuardian · October 31, 2016

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

Direct confrontation doesn't help me necessarily achieve my goals. I just do what I have to do to meet them. I sometimes use direct confrontation, but sometimes I just stay inthe background and just work in the shadows.

7/10

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

I prioritze myself first, then it's my loved ones. The way I see it, it's my life and so I must do the things that will affect my life first and then do the things that will affect the lives of my loved ones. Sometimes I'm selfish, but who isn't nowadays. Sometimes you have to think about how certain things will affect you before you make a decision.

8/10

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

I never show that much emotion when I'm in public. I choose to be sad and I choose when to cry. I can resist the urge to cry when something horrible happens. I have the ability to just completely shutdown when I feel like I shoudl be strong.

9/10

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

Money is not really important towards my happiness, but it is important to my life goals. You need money to be able to survive in this world and without it, you won't be able to complete your life goals and make accomplishments.

8/10

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

I am very much afraid of death, but I also know that everyone must die at one point. It's just the thought of dying at any time gets to me and makes me fear it.

10/10

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situtation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

I don;t think I can survive in a desperate situation. I need to be motivated because of my lack of motivation and I also need guidance to think straight in these kind of situations.

3/10

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

Animals are awesome. Some are extremely smart and the fact that some have different ways of survival facinates me and makes me think how humans were able to take over when there are other species that can be up to par with us.

7/10

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

War destroys. It is insignificant and irrelevant. Jiust a way to settle stupid arguments.

2/10

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

With global warming happening, I believe it is our right to help nature and get it back on track. We caused it so we should fix it.

10/10

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

I think a person shouldn't need to follow a tradition to shape their identity. There are many people who don't follow traditions and become great people. We wouldn't have a diverse population if people didn't branch off of christianity and make different religions. (tbh I'm stumped by this question so I made stuff up)

6/10

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Green~

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Blood Bending/Water Bending

What is your favorite character from the series?

Katara

Edit: forgot to explain.

Nova · November 1, 2016

You should definitely check out the Legend of Korra after you're done with ATLA, especially if you plan on turning this into an RP. It's somewhat "darker" than the main series and has quite the different structure and setting, which you may or may not like, but it does a lot very well and can inspire quite some ideas for RP stories.

That said:

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On a scale of 1-10...

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

3/10. Disagreements are bound to happen on the way towards achieving goals, but I see them as a necessary evil rather than a means to an end. Conflict still has its use, but full-on verbal/physical confrontation shouldn't be a part of it.

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

5/10. It's quite hard for me to take the "yourself" and the "loved ones" together here, since it makes a lot of difference to me. If self is a 7/10, and loved ones is a 3/10, the average is 5/10, so I went with that.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

7/10, but not as much as I'd like to be.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

3/10. As long as I'm free from financial worries and can live somewhat comfortably at a basic level, I need nothing more.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

5/10. I'm not as much "afraid" of death consciously, but rather as a thought of something that always lurks. It could happen at any time to stop my efforts, but there's little I can do about it other than staying healthy and hoping for the best.

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

3/10. I don't think I have the skills and the attitude needed to survive for very long in a physical environment. Not that I mind that, since it'll probably never happen.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

9/10. There is a reason why there are no other animals answering questions raised by human minds (on this topic created by a human mind on a website created by human minds) after using those minds themselves to evaluate things like how our minds are or are not comparable to those of other creatures. I like animals, and I don't like to say "inferior", buuut... Humans are a lot more capable. Just saying.

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

2/10. The importance of war between small communities faded long ago, and, for larger communities such as countries that conflict, war is about to become irrelevant as well. And that's probably for the better.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

8/10. It is our responsibility, but not currently a possibility, the way I see it. The world is simply too overpopulated to achieve this in its current state, and no amount of grand ideals alone will change that.

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

1/10. Independence is one my most important values. If I need help, I will seek it myself, and I need not tradition to force a way for me to take.

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Orange 10/10.

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Was lava-bending in The Last Airbender already? If so, that. If not, earth-bending.

What is your favorite character from the series?

The Last Airbender: Iroh

Legend of Korra: Amon

HughJ · November 1, 2016

Tartar, after some time weighing the decision, I have decided that you are a Fire bender. I don't believe you fit a subtype of bending (as nearly all firebending subtypes are weaponizations); though this lacking is perhaps counterbalanced by your status as a royal. Specifically, a royal with a flair for acting, who would solicit the services of circus troupes as they passed through the area and perhaps even perform alongside them. The sights of 'dragon-tamers,' performers who wrestle with fiery, legendary beasts of their own creation, dazzle the common people that you host in your court.

In terms of personal conduct, you prioritize the ones you love; you take a pragmatic approach to questions moral, political, or economic alike; and you willingly accept your fundamentally fallible human nature (emotional influence, partial fear of death). In terms of worldview, you recognize competition as not only a necessity, but a positive good for human society; you believe that Nature is our responsibility only insofar as it can serve us; and you believe that mankind gave order to chaos, for what that is worth. All of these traits characterize you as a man who admires humanity, even if such admiration is due solely to your own nature as a human being. A consequent faith in the human spirit leads you to a more laissez-faire approach to human organization and nature; those who can obtain power and resources have the right to do so, and through doing so, often better humanity.

Though you have been taught by your family's military advisers that bending is a tool for warfare and survival, the fully alien nature of these circumstances have driven you to find other uses for firebending. The creation of spectacles such as torch-lit classical drama, fireworks and pyrotechnics, and demonstrations of martial arts - this provides you entertainment and an opportunity of self-expression, promotes individualism through art, and keeps the masses pacified (a wonderfully utile effect).

This diagnosis was a bit more difficult than Viri's, so I want to go through a bit of the decision making process. When reading through your responses I picked up signs of a realistic, pragmatic approach to the world, indicative of Earth and Fire nation philosophies. Though I kept Water in mind for a bit longer (factoring in my general observance of you as someone with somewhat of a flair for the dramatic/artistic), I eventually ruled it out as you stated that the individual had to rise above tradition if need be.

This emphasis on the individual is really what lead me to two variants of bending - sandbending, a subtype of Earth, and firebending. What decided it from there was your professed inability to survive in harsh circumstances and the important distinction that a nihilistic outlook doesn't necessitate a fatalistic one. Even while acknowledging that human constructions do not have any real value (because they are made to serve humans, who themselves have no purpose) you can still acknowledge their value to you, as a human. Even Nietzsche said that "Without music, life would be a mistake."

From there I had to place you in a role of wealth or power, such as a royal, because it is really only in these circumstances that someone could have the mental state to reconcile a philanthropic lifestyle with an acceptance of all the facets of human nature, including our hedonistic compulsions. For the final touch of having you solicit performing troupes (à la Hamlet) I honestly drew this from your fairly theatrical greetings to newcomers in the Grand Hall.

For your final few statements, I think you and I think somewhat alike. It was difficult not to let my own perspectives bleed into my classification, and I may not have prevented that in its entirety - you may find incongruities in this post, and it is almost certainly because I put down some aspects of myself subconsciously expecting that you would think similarly.

Combat · November 1, 2016

Interesting. I’ve never actually had any real interest in the show, but for some reason my curiosity is getting the better of me. Here goes nothing.

1. I’m a pacifist, so usually confrontation goes against my goals. Likewise, it’s a little hard for me to say since the last time anything like that has happened to me was in high school. So, for the sake of the question, I’m going to go with how I play video games. Often time, I try to avoid enemies and play from the shadows, jumping out when necessary to choke a guard out or to leap to the next area. If I can avoid an enemy, I usually will (unless we’re talking about a JRPG. I grind like there’s no tomorrow in those thing.) 3/10.

2. I have a high horse, and I’m working to get down from it. Often times, I try to put the better of the world before myself, and going back to video games again, always choose the “You die but everyone else lives” option. While video games shouldn’t be a mirror to the soul, I want to say that I would sacrifice myself for the greater good. I will admit I don’t always donate to the charity Kmart is running, and I haven’t given blood in a while… I will say, that the good of my family and friends is greater than the good of all. I’m not afraid to say that 5/10

3. Sometimes, I’m the goofy and lovable weirdo of my gang. Other times, I’m a nervous wreck. I keep finding myself regretting decisions from grade school, and have an alter ego that shows up whenever I’m really tired or tipsy. So no, not really. 2/10

4. My family is moderately wealthy, so money has never been an issue for me. Still, I try to live semi sensibly, and haven’t wasted any money on anything crazy for a while. Getting money is not really important to me, yet. 3/10

5. My opinions of death seem to change every few months or so, but as of now, I don’t fear my own death. I believe in an afterlife, and believe that I’m not a complete asshole who should burn for all eternity, so as far as I’m concerned, death would only be a new step forward. Losing someone else though would crush me. I’d rather not get to deep into it, if you don’t mind. Myself: 2/10 Love One: 10/10

6. I probably wouldn’t survive, to be honest. My brain is my biggest weapon, and that only gets you so far in most situations. Even then, I’m wittier than smart, so I wouldn’t be able to make a boat out of coconuts. Still, as you can see above, I wouldn’t fear death. And who knows, maybe the zombie apocalypse would turn me into one of those crazy survivalists who replace their hand with a lawn mower.

7. Sure, animals have souls just like us, and they feel emotions just like us, but am not giving up bacon for anything. As long as we’re ethical about it, I see no reason why we shouldn't act above animals. It is just survival after all, and while I’m sure I’d change my opinion when getting mauled by a bear, that’s how the worlds been for years. (So yes, the death of that gorilla was justified.) 7/10 (As long as its ethical and not rednecks shooting anything that moves for the hell of it.)

8. While I might be a pacifist, I can see reasons for war. Had we known what was going on in Germany from the get go, I can see why people would fight. Just not specifically me, as I can’t imagine taking another humans life. 3/10

9. The world is in dire straits, so yes, we should defiantly be planting more trees. There’s not much to say here really. We should try to keep the blue orb safe for our grandchildren. 9/10

10. A person should be able to make their own identity, and if their ideals go against their tradition, than they should cast it aside. If we were still going by tradition, women couldn’t vote, African Americas would be segregated, and other bad things. No one should be able to tell you how you should be (except if what you are is a serial killer). You should be aware of you roots however, as those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

1E) Purple

2E) Does bending the franchise so you can make a movie count? Because I’m looking at you M. Night Shyamalan.

3E) Never watched it. Cabbage Guy.

HughJ · November 1, 2016

ArmoredGuardian, I have decided that you are a Water bender. Specifically, I believe you would bend Ice. I envision you as a Polar Tribe hunter that would spend a lot of time alone or in small groups. Even though, for safety and economy purposes, it is necessary to go out with one or two other hunters, you'd often split up the party as you look for signs of polar bears or other prey in the tundra. Though just like all waterbenders you can control the element in many forms, you find none more reliable and beautiful than ice.

Your firm handle on emotion and confident self-prioritization can sometimes lead outsiders to see you as a loner, but your basic human need for motivation and guidance drive you to make close relationships with select trustworthy individuals. Your distaste with war, recognition of animals' equal power, and belief that humankind must take responsibility for the damage it inflicts invokes an ideal of sustainable living.

It is said that ice floats in Water because the element of Air is trapped within; your own identity is in a similar state. Your philosophy and outlook on the world are reminiscent of the hopefulness of Air: not only is it possible for humans to live in peace, both with ourselves and nature, we have an obligation to do so. At the same time, your fear of inevitability, occasional reliance on direct conflict, recognition of money as a means to an end, and similar traits show that your true nature is perhaps more human and fluid than the rigid airbender lifestyle mandates.

It was tough for me to decide between icebending and nomadic airbending but I ultimately decided the former felt more right.

Alchemia Chan · November 1, 2016

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

3/10 Although I think interpersonal conflicts are better solved with direct confrontations, I'd rather just let things work out themselves through time.~

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

9/10 I pretty much don't care about myself anymore. As long as my loved ones are doing fine, I could work things out for myself with what little I have left.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

7/10 Letting my emotions express themselves is probably the best way for me to gain clear thinking which allows me to freely manipulate my feelings.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

2/10 I don't even have money. As long as I have enough to survive, I'm fine with living a life of subsistence.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

1/10 I've had my enough fill of it already. I'm not afraid of it anymore, at all. Everyone's bound to die one day, right?

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

8/10 Sustenance and survival is pretty much what I have been striving for every single day of my life. I'll be able to handle myself since I've already been left alone for a long period of time.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

4/10

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

1/10

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

10/10

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

2/10

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Blue.~

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Probably cloud and ice bending.

Who is your favorite character from the series?

Toph is best char.

Edited November 3, 2016 by Alchemia Chan

Felicity · November 1, 2016

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So my prior post was a crack with my Halloween profile, water bending for a leviathan from the deep sea yadda yadda yadd. I'm actually a narcissist and you've put some nice thought into it at first glance so coolio.

Aurorix · November 1, 2016

This seems interesting, I might as well join in

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On a scale of 1-10...

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

9/10 I find it very important to confront your problems especially with people. If you don't do anything about the problem it may not be resolved in the best way possible or at all in the worst case scenario.

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

7/10 I tend to care about others rather then myself but those others are mostly people I know. I like seeing people with a smile on their face and making their day a little brighter.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

10/10 It is hard to get me angry. If someone starts to try and get a reaction out of me I usually ignore them. Plus I always try to keep a smile on my face no matter how bad the situation maybe.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

7/10 Having money means I can afford more video games and chipotle. Most of the things that quickly bring up my mood are food and video games which the latter can get rather expensive. Plus having money in the bank feels good.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

1/10 No I'd rather not worry about that. We'll all die eventually and if someone wants to off themselves they're only being selfish. Though I'd probably try and stop my friends or myself from our deaths but I won't fear it.

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

3/10 I'm not too strong and quite lazy. Compared to what I'd be forced to go against I won't last long. But it won't stop me from at least trying to survive.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

7/10 Going purely based on a technological stand point. Many humans own animals as pets and provide for them. There are zoos where caged animals live and they have to spend the rest of their life there. However with out technology humans couldn't fight a lion and come out unscathed.

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

5/10 War, like it or not, stimulates the economy. War gives people jobs making weapons as well as taking the place of the soldiers who left for battle. For example, a factory work leaves his job because of the draft which opens the position up for others. Though it's not vital, war can help the community,in a morbid way.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

9/10 If we don't cooperate with nature we won't be able to live on this earth anymore. We keep cutting down trees lowering the amount of oxygen produced. We give off tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere with car and energy production. We destroy and pollute animal habitats. All this will come back to bite us eventually, though our generation may not be there to take the consequences.

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

4/10 While tradition maybe be fun, I believe we should find ourselves in our own way. Tradition is, in some ways, out dated. Imagine if we still had the mind set of the 1940s, most people wouldn't enjoy it.

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Blue

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Fire in general was flashy and cool

What is your favorite character from the series?

I haven't seen much of the show to make an informed enough opinion for a favorite character. :T

HughJ · November 2, 2016

Nova, I have decided that you are an Earth bender, specifically one who works with Clay. I believe you would live a humble existence as a potter who moved to the city after leaving your family farm to follow your own creative interests. Though you make enough money to get by on the sale of basic, economic pottery designs, your real happiness is creating the occasional ornate, ocher-tinted vessel depicting perhaps a historical or mythological event.

Your honest, realistic approach to life can be seen in your views on war (important only in outgrown circumstances), confrontation (partaken in only if necessary), and nature (whose human maintenance is an unfulfillable duty). These perspectives are then solidified by your fierce sense of individuality, self-prioritization, and support of human superiority.

In this sense, you are like clay, a veracious substance borne of the earth, and tempered in flame to become something more: a formidable, multifaceted, yet artistically expressive work of craftsmanship.

I'm still unsure about watching Legend of Korra. The main factor driving me to watch this children's cartoon in the first place is nostalgia, and from what I've seen of Korra the developed universe is pretty intriguing while the characters are not.

Oh, and Iroh is an excellent character, good choice.

Edited November 2, 2016 by HughJ

Eloquent Liar · November 2, 2016

Good gosh, I really do like answering existential questions and A:TLA.

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

8/10. There's a difference between saying how important I think something is and how much I desire it, which is really bugging me about answering this question truthfully because I detest direct confrontation. I'd actually say that it's absolutely necessary though, even if that includes something such as direct communication (which falls under verbal confrontation, technically). Actually, it's vital to be able to directly face any problems in the way of achieving goals, because no conflict is just going to resolve itself without your input. That's just passively waiting for your goal to fall into your lap, which is lazy and entitled.

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

6/10. I'm not going to lie, if it benefits my friends and loved ones, there's a good chance it would sway my decision. Of course, if my actions were to hurt more people than it would help - say, hurting five or six people in order to help just one of my friends - then that's not something I would do.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

1/10. I'm a crybaby. I cry when I'm sad. I cry when I'm angry. I cry when people suggest changes I can make. It's not something I can control, at least not physically. This is disregarding my mental issues, actually, which make it even lower than a 1 out of 10, if that's even possible.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

4/10. Definitely not the most important thing on the face of the earth, but of course it takes money to survive, so I need to prioritize it over other things. Basically, it's a necessary evil.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

2/10 - 9/10. That's two questions right there; you can't just ask those and expect the same answer. I'm unafraid of my own death for several reasons, had once willingly embraced it at some point in my life (probably still do, honestly). However, I'm downright terrified of having somebody close to me dying. Even if it sounds selfish, I don't want to be left alone living when my friends or family are not.

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situtation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

2/10. I would say 1 out of 10, but I have decent survival skills. I'd be an emotional trainwreck, though.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

3/10. Biologically speaking, of course. I really don't think we as a species have any moral high ground, or low ground, compared to other animals. Needless to say, there are plenty of species that are just as smart as humans, or at least have the capability - dolphins, ravens, and I believe pigs? Dolphins and ravens are also thought to have a moral compass, which implies that humans are nowhere near as special as we once believed.

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

2/10. I would say not at all, but conflict resolution is a necessity, even if it's through violent means. There are definitely people who are unable to come to an agreement on certain topics through talking alone, and it would be better for them to reach a resolution rather than have their feelings bottle up until it boils over into something uglier than war.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

8/10. Everybody is responsible for their own actions, and as such, society is responsible for society's actions. We cannot just destroy something and expect it to grow back without first nurturing it; that's selfish and asking for too much. Likewise, getting upset when nature is being destroyed when humans are the ones destroying it is like throwing a tantrum after the fact. We must protect it now so we don't have to mourn for it later.

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?
5/10. The world changes, for the better and for the worse. While tradition should be honored, it's also vital to be aware of the present and not let good intentions drive home bad actions.

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Black and white together. Not grey, but distinctly black and white patterns.

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

Waterbending, namely blood bending just because how it was introduced as the "dirty little secret" of water bending, which was usually seen as so pure with its healing aspects.

What is your favorite character from the series?

Wan Shi Tong, the owl spirit from the Spirit Library, although for reasons that you don't know if you haven't seen Legend of Korra. He has a cute scene with Jinora that I absolutely adore.

NickCrash · November 2, 2016

If you could all edit your posts with spoiler tags, that would be great.

Also it might be a good idea not to read other people's posts, in order not to be influenced by their answers.

First Part

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How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

Confrontation cannot always be avoided, although a more proper and more detailed answer fits better with a question that includes context. In general, being direct is key in most situations in order to get your point across, preferably with as much clarity as possible, and to solve your problem in case it is dependent on the people you confront (and not talking about problems in general, thus slacking off would count as "indirect confrontation or no confrontation at all" as the alternative). If this question includes the prospect of using violence, I'll just say we are no longer daily fending off wild beasts to survive, so in our interspecies arguments it's causing more problems than it solves. Note that "direct confrontation" needs not be hostile. A well-placed argument that helps convince the other person is equally direct as it involves the other person in decision making with their knowledge and consent. Cases in which direct confrontation is not the answer are usually cases where no confrontation is preferable, as they do not affect you personally that much. Another case is trying to convince people to do something for you without addressing it directly or abusing how much they like you to do you favors, however that's for specific relationships: romantic, close friends, parenthood. Therefore direct confrontation should be around 8/10

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

The greater good usually is dependent on the individual welfare, and the opposite holds true as well, albeit in a different way. Once again, definitions of what the greater good includes is also of importance. I do believe that had the question been to choose between ourselves and our loved ones the answers would differ. Like everyone else, I put myself over everyone else, with exceptions being my family and those close to me, whom I might consider doing favors for or help without personal gain. As the greater good is based on my individual good and my productivity, it is only logical that I prioritize myself over it. However, if there is a decision on the matter that mildly inconveniences me but in the long run benefits both me and society, I would definitely choose the self-harmful-but-not-really option. Give this a 9/10 and call it a day.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

One cannot be in 100% control of their emotions at all times, but they can be aware of their mood changing without being completely affected by it, leading to rush and immature decisions. Everyone gets impulsive from time to time, the degree of influence over our decision-making and general character is what makes people different. Usually my emotions are hidden both as expressions on my face and body language, but also written speech, simply because I am aware of the mood changing and change it back. Other times, I am that focused on observing a situation or a person that I convey false emotions to see what their response would be. That works especially well with people feigning indifference btw. So, just to spite all of the above that ignored my message about not reading stuff in order not to get influenced by it, a 9/10 should do well.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

One cannot live without money. It is necessary for your daily survival and entertainment. Depending on one's background and personality, money can have varying degrees of importance in keeping one content with their lives. Financial stability is a prerequisite for a good life, yet not sufficient. Social interactions, personal interest and the ways one gets involved with it, knowledge and hobbies are things money can assist one in acquiring, yet not all hobbies, academic achievements, personal interests, items to be purchased, and social interactions need the same amount of money. So we could split the question into little money needed or a lot of it. One can do wonders and live happily with little money, while another may wish to spend as much as possible to cover their emotional gap. It is based on the purpose one places for their lives, and as much as one hates money, a minimum is necessary. Therefore 6/10.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

The logical approach to death does not involve its imminence. Even if I'd rather not die anytime soon, I am not afraid of it happening, as it is only natural till I find a way to stop it. People die every day and I see injured ones in my line of work so often I do not get disgusted by the thought of their demise any more. The reason I still hold some 'fear' if not 'inconvenience' for my own death is the issue of regret. I would not want to leave this world without first having done all I could for it and myself. As it stands now, there are multiple possibilities in this world that I have yet to explore, and academic achievements I have set my eyes upon and will try to get closer and closer till I get them. Till them I cannot die. Even if this statement may seem contradictory with the original one at first, it is not as goals in life need not be void in the presence of death. After all, one dies when they are forgotten, not when they physically decompose. 4/10

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situtation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

I will not be fine, that's certain. Knowledge and experience prevail here, as a person without military training will not be of any use in a foreign invasion, similarly to how hard it will be for someone to survive alone either due to exile, shipwreck, plane crash, or a natural disaster that left no other survivors, without proper training or knowledge of the human physiology and needs. In the case of the island exile, I will need tools to survive, even if I had the know-how to protect myself from the wildlife or how to construct things to live in, hunt with, and leave this place. During a nuclear apocalypse solitude is not guaranteed, as bunkers do not fill with 1 person, but even so it's more likely due to my knowledge of how radiation affects food and the environment, and measures for precaution. I think I would be more affected emotionally than physically. 3/10 and that's because I pretty much need to rate this.

Second part

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How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

Humans are animals, yet ones that have somewhat transcended their basic insticts and formed more developed societies than the simplistic groups other mammals have created. In nature you see animals co-operating to maximize their survival, and at the same time observe behaviors we consider abnormal because we operate under different norms. Physically we only exceed in our cerebral functions, and possibly our endurance, but in combat we do not stand a chance even fighting in packs, similarly to how wolves approach their prey. The fact that we have managed to abuse our co-ordination and organization abilites, form societies with specialization being key in our early technological progress, and an absolute must in keeping today's societies steady and thriving is evident of our supremacy as the basic traits of our kind go. However, our evolutionary greatness stems from the psychological approach to things, as man cares for what lies beyond and has consciousness of his consciousness. That is what other animals lack, and makes us 'greater' than them. I'd give a 7/10 to this one, with points deducted due to our physical defects.

How vital do you believe War is to the survival of a human community?

War is not necessarily a bad thing when you take certain matters under consideration. As mankind has moved through various stages to end up the way it is now, we have made huge technological, medical, and cultural leaps, all leading to a mix of different ideas about the world, coming together with the scientific revolutions of each century. I will consider "war" here as something different than natural competition, because the latter is productive and the main reason modern societies managed to thrive. However, no matter how you look at it, War is a contest. If used to deprive parts of the global population of their rights or eliminate opposing views, then it is only harmful. However if it's aimed at eradicating inherent self-destructive habits such as war on nicotine consumption, then it is a royal cause, and does not resemble the life-ending form of war as one pictures it at first glance. The more we move towards a more equal social environment for everyone, the less war is needed and ironically it first started as the method to impose our own beliefs on the others, while now it only creates polarization. To the survival of humans its primal form is absolutely harmful, but its more sophisticated forms have some gains. Give it a 2/10.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

Nature will be around long after we're gone. It is human responsibility towards humans to sustain nature and find ways of producing our energy and everyday products with minimal harm to what goes on around us. Being self-centered as a species and ultimately destroying all that opposes our goals has had a harmful effect on our planet, which would not be an issue if it didn't return back to harm us in return. Profit is what all destruction is based on, as humans do not need to kill or deforest as much to survive, yet we no longer wish to cover our everyday needs with minimal hunting and harvesting because we have more important things to focus on. Another irony is that the industrial revolution, one key factor in increasing CO2 emmission thus leading to the start of the greenhouse effect, has also been key in our technological progress that lead today in the creation of increasingly more nature-friendly devices and methods of producing power and sustaining our everyday standard of living. Thus we take a step forward in protecting the environment by doing the necessary step forward causing necessary damage. Right now with full knowledge of the resulting climate change, we ought to focus our engineering into sustainable sources. Plus all those animals need not go extinct. We don't eat them. Then again, if we did, we might have put more thought into caging and breeding them, thus not endangering them, but that's us. 8/10

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

An individual needs to study their country's history in full detail and learn from it. As it stands now, people focus on the bright days of their nation and tend to overlook the shady ones which are usually the most educational parts, thus creating a false sense of superiority. Tradition, as time moves forward, is usually considered to be a group of old beliefs empirically created to keep society stable, and possibly impose arbitrary opinions of the world onto the others. Some are proven correct, while others inherently wrong as they usually are social norms created for purposes of mass control. As society now is not centered around central leadership and creative thought is encouraged, traditional beliefs that get disputed should remain in the past. Others such as traditional dances, crafts, and procedures surrounding holidays serve mostly in form of art and entertainment. This form of tradition is good to be kept, as it is part of a nation's identity. However, said tradition cannot be part of an individual's identity, as it partially deprives them from critical thinking. Holding certain beliefs merely because your family or broader social circle does can only harm said individual, even though they feel protected inside this mental crystal ball, as their own beliefs are silenced due to social pressure and judgment of their decisions. In greater scales this is closely connected to religion, with varying results based on the strictness and dogmas of said religion. An open view is much more preferable, so 1/10.

HughJ · November 2, 2016

Combat Medic, I have decided that you are an Air bender. Perhaps in your younger years, you traveled afar as a nomad to gain wordliness and experience, stocking up on stories of adventure to tell your future pupils at the Temples. Though at times your style has been criticized by other monks as a bit aggressive and your decision-making as overly subjective, you remain a favorite within the community for your dynamic and entertaining nature.

Your pacifist behavior, sense of obligation to the greater good, and ambivalence towards money characterize you as an idealist who understands that basal human instincts and compulsions like revenge or selfishness are to be transcended, not encouraged. Within your soul, however, there lurks a certain amount of fire in your support of human dominance, promotion of individualism, and occasional emotional outbreak.

Cabbage guy is a legend

DreamLady · November 2, 2016

This sounds fun~ Might as well give it a shot. (I don't know how to use a spoiler tag.)

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

8/10 I find that verbal communication is very important. You should decide what you want to come out of a direct confrontation. (ex. resolve a misunderstanding, apologize, etc.) It resolves situations better and faster. You can find out the other person's thoughts and understand them. I find that friendly talking is the most effective in achieving my goals.

There are a few times where I find drifting apart is better. For example, a best friend who I grew to dislike and the friendship wasn't healthy for me. I weighed the pros and cons of a verbal confrontation, and decided that it is better to drift apart and move on. I saw no point to a confrontation since we were starting to drift to different social circles. A confrontation would invoke drama and make things worse.

Friends do come and go after all.

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

9/10 I have a bleeding heart. I often prioritize my loved ones over myself. If they need it too, I step down and find an alternative for me. There is no one solution to everything. There are good and not so good choices for everything. Life changes and sometimes something comes up after I step down for a loved one.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

8/10 I have a pretty good control over my emotions. I can be a hot head at times. Even if you won't believe it if you look or speak to me. I have trained myself to soothe my anger. I do it by mentally remembering the mellow feelings I get when I am relax. However, I do let out a blunt snark, uncaring of social niceites, if the person really angers me.

Plus, I don't like showing vulnerability to people. I see it as a weakness people can take advantage of. I've been burned too much to freely show when I'm hurt. The only people I might show my true emotions to is my parents.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

3/10 Money is not that important to me. I just care about money because I want to live comfortably and being able to buy things I want or need.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

4/10 I fear my own death more than others. It is better now than it was before. Yes, I will mourn close family and friends, but I can move past it. For my own death, I wonder more about what happens after. Will my vision go black and that's it? Or something else. Realizing that we have thousands of years of human history, yet we hope to live at to 100 years of it. That thought was the most overwhelming. We live so long and there will be more history after we die.

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

7/10 I think I would do okay. I'm used to being dependent and relying on myself. My social skills will suffer, though. Knowing my personality, I would detach myself emotionally to ensure my survival.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

6/10 We are greater than animals intelligence wise. We built civilizations and advanced tools. We make up for our fragile skin compared to an animal's natural tools. (ex. claws, stingers, razor sharp teeth, etc.)

Some may think we are above animals, but we are not. We still follow out instincts like animals. Like hunting for food, repopulating, fight, and other things.

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

7/10. The world is not a utopia, and war happens. Even today in the modern age. Not everyone likes each other and gets along. Wars changes countries and affects the world.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

9/10 I think it is very important to cooperate with nature. We need nature to continue our survival. It gives us food, knowledge, and supplies.If we cut down many trees and don't replace them, it can have severe consequences. Contaminate the water, the surroundings and people suffer.

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

4/10. Not much.

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

Dark green.

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

First would be fire bending, and the 2nd is blood bending.

Combat · November 2, 2016

Interesting. Thanks for the read.

Maelstrom · November 3, 2016

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1. Hmm, I'd say 9/10. I've seen that passive aggressiveness rarely works. You've gotta look at a problem and define what makes it a problem and what you can do about it. Broaching the subject with tact is very important too. Ignoring problems works when it's just something short and temporary, like someone in a bad mood, etc. But when push come to shove, I can stand my ground. Physical force isn't my first choice, but I won't shy away from the option. Some things you have to stand up and stop, and not just because of the situation at hand but to keep it from perpetuating in the future. Because I certainly won't be like a certain show where the main character can't bring herself to end the life of the antagonist, who is responsible for at least dozens of deaths... and because she let him go, her boyfriend gets murdered by him and many, many more people get killed as a result of this guy's actions later on. You can't just let things get out of hand like that. Being passive doesn't stop bad people from being bad. And sure, you don't want to use the lethal option but you have to consider how important it could be to end something immediately.

2. self/family vs whole? I'd have to put that at a 5, which in this case means neither more nor less than the other. This is kind of an out there question with a lot of interpretations. I can't say I do much of anything that impacts the whole, often. I don't litter or leave trash lying around in public or at other people's places, so there's that. I've spent years in the military, where I missed weddings, births, birthdays, and major events, so there's that too. I'm out now, but I'd still be willing to put my life on the line if people need it. I just don't like the way the institution is being run and the structure of it clearly just doesn't work for me. And I dislike it when people just avoid the issue of politics and religion, because they're just depending on everyone else to do the hard work of figuring out solutions and pushing them through. That's being lazy and putting the self above the whole as well as themselves because they don't realize how much it affects them from day to day. Someone's gotta do it, and if choose you have no part in it, you can't complain about getting shut into the sheep pen at night. So maybe you can nudge it over to 6 or 7, leaning towards whole over self.

3. 10/10. If emotions are hilly ups and downs, mine are the long, straight, flat, scenic drive through the desert a bit before dawn with the sky a calm blue that is neither too dark nor overintense with daylight. Some people drink to drown the feelings. I enjoy drinking to enjoy feelings. When drinking, I'll often watch, listen to, or read something that'll put me in a good mood or pumped up. I don't know if it let's 'em out or amplifies feelings, but it's what it does. I gotta be careful about reacting to some of the things some of you guys say in chat or post, cuz the thing that would be something I'd ignore or frown at and move on, I'd be moved to say something about it. Learning about Zumi's parade float stuff is awesome- just the sense of community and festivity just hearing about it is pretty amazing. Having a major disagreement with someone else over something like core values probably means the gloves are coming off and spiked brass knuckles get slipped on. Other than that, shit is on lockdown and it is expressed to emphasize stances I may take on different subjects. Cuz if you're gonna have opinions and preferences, having them known helps you change how people interact with you. kind of part of being direct from #1.

4. hm, I'd say a 3. You can't live and do things without money, so it's important. But I don't aspire to own a sports car. They just don't appeal to me.

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Money doesn't mean a thing if you don't have the time to enjoy it, and I don't need loads of money to do what I enjoy. So I'd like to settle for a job that pays less but drains me less and leaves me time to enjoy things with friends and family or meet new people. Like the time I went white water rafting in CO and had a good time meeting German airline stewardesses and steward who putting their down time to good use. So, 3 (somewhat important but not supremely important) is my answer.

5. Well, I'm not really afraid of dying so much as of how I might die. I don't live in fear of dying at all, even when I was deployed to Afghanistan or all the times I had to jump out of airplanes. Even the time my parachute malfunctioned and I got injured, I was too focused and too busy doing all I could to save myself to give fear a chance to happen. But I was definitely afraid and anxious every time I got on that plane and got ready to jump. The fear only stops when you're finally falling and you've made sure your parachute is working as planned. As for losing people, there's no use worrying about it. It's out of your hands. I have horrible nightmares where I lose people really close to me, but it's not something that occupy my waking thoughts. They say the good die young. I say the rash die young in a blaze of impatience. I'm gonna live forever, just you guys watch. Guess I'll have to go with 2.

6. I'd be a solid 9. I'm a university graduate with military training with a cool head for planning and good survival instincts. But I'm sure there are a lot of survival techniques and stuff that I don't know, too. I don't know how to weave or sow or the ins and outs of subsistence crops. I wouldn't know everything, but I'd have a good idea of how to find, lead, and organize people for survival. Well, if there are people, depending on the situation (like stranded on an island). I do fine on my own but I might get bored.

7. I'd gauge this to be a 6. We have capacities and facilities that have allowed us to control and change our environment and lord it over other animals, so we've got a magic mix of tricks. But as for feeling superior? Nah. We aren't the fastest or the strongest or have the most or strongest senses- we just have that magic combination of abilities. Cows are both dumb and delicious, so I have no problem eating them, but I do have a problem who mistreat animals/pets or don't fully understand what it means to 'own' an animal and be entirely responsible for their mental and physical well being. They can't read books and probably aren't as entranced by television as we are. How do they pass the time? Are you their owner/family or their jailer? Having a pet is as serious as having a kid. So this is a 6 because I recognize a certain amount of superiority but not really being intrinsically worth more.

8. Odd question. It needs context. Are we being invaded by aliens and thus need to defend our existence? Is it the idea that war among ourselves would drive the innovation that would allow us to be able to defend against said alien invasion (or the death of the Earth or the heat death of the universe)? Or is this the idea that warring helps prevent overpopulation? This question is too vague for me.

9. We don't really cooperate with nature. We live wherever we damn please because we can. We shape and change the land to our desires and even use the land's resources to deny winter's cold and summer's heat. We don't cooperate with nature and I don't know if we exactly need to, but we do need to sustain it. For selfish human survival and living conditions at the very least. It's the all important, big picture sort of thing- sustainment. So, let's give that one 9/10.

10. I give this a 3 out of 10. Tradition has to make sense, not just be tradition for tradition's sake. You could look at public education as tradition. We could all argue about what needs to be taught and how it's taught, but we all agree organized learning is mostly a good thing. I left my family's catholic tradition to be an atheist but I still enjoy Christmas for reasons that in part stem from tradition. This is definitely a pick and choose thing, and not something blanket statements can cover well.

Bonus Questions

1. Cerulean

2. I see water and earth bending as the two most useful and versatile skills to have

3. This is almost hard. Tenzin, Toph, Asami, and Zaheer are definitely up there, but there's one character that stands out even more for me: Iroh.

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Strider · November 3, 2016

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On a scale of 1-10...

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

5.

In my opinion, goals can be split into two general forms: personal, and nonpersonal. Personal goals simply amount to a desire for betterment, mentally or physically. I think that in personal goals, direct confrontation of a problem is always the first step towards the eventual achievement of said goals. Nonpersonal goals always consist of the desire to obtain something. Objects of possession, relationships, or to control/influence someones actions. For most nonpersonal goals I believe that direct confrontation should come as a last resort. Once this method has been used, and fails, attempts at indirect solutions will be easily percieved by those of intelligence. However, if indirect methods are used first, they may succeed. If they fail, direct confrontation still holds promise. In short, for personal goals, direct confrontation is best, for strictly nonpersonal goals, direct confrontation should be a last resort, and for goals that mix the two, then the method depends on the situation.

However, when I want someone to do something for me, direct confrontation has been less effective than manipulation, so for goals in general... 5

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

4.

In my daily decision making, almost any choice that would be for the good of my family is also for the greater good.
If I were forced to make the rare decision between my family and the greater good, I think I would choose the greater good. I hope my family would understand that decision. I know that I would make that choose. The only question is whether I could live with it.

Until I'm faced with this situation however, it's impossible to know how I would react.

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

7-8. I like to think that I'm quite in control of my emotions. Anger is harder than any other emotion for me, but I think that I'm still above average with regards to the emotional control.

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

6.

Because I wish to live in comfort (though not opulence), money is quite important to me. Though I dislike money's sway over people, it is convenient, and useful. Money is not in any way the key to my happiness, or achieving my goals. It is simply an important facilitator.

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

7.

I fear my own death a bit, because I don't know what to expect. Whenever you try (or are forced into) something new, it is natural to feel fear. The death of other people scares me far more than my own. I almost feel as if I've taken on their worries. I become depressed by the fact that they won't be able to do or experience anything here on earth anymore. I worry that they had something that they didn't get to do. One major reason that I fear my own death is that I worry that it may have a similar impact on others.

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situtation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

9. Very well. I'm an innovative person, and I've spent my entire life using the wrong tools to get a job done. I have rudimentary self-defense skills, and I know my way around firearms. As to how I would do emotionally, I think that I would be alright.

The one situation which I might not be able to handle is the one in which there is no hope. If all humanity was gone, there would be no reason to try to survive. Even so, I might attempt to survive out of sheer stubbornness.

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

3.

Humans are certainly... more advanced than animals. However, as far as we know, there is nothing that we have that animals do not have in some capacity. We simply have better problem-solving ability, better communication, and better use of tools. So in this regard, I think that humans a just a few steps advanced on the evolutionary ladder.

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

2. In our early years, I think wars were of great importance to the building of society. They encouraged ingenuity, strength, and survival of the fittest.

Many modern wars are fought by the fittest humans, which probably will result in a selective weeding out of the strong. Another problem with modern wars is the reason for fighting. The U.S. has been at war during 223 out of its 240 years of existence, and most wars were fought on foreign soil, and for decidedly non-altruistic purposes.

In the future, though, war will probably be the evolution field for technology. The best weapons systems and AI will survive. As long as proper precautions are taken, this type of war may actually be good for the progress of humans. If proper precautions aren't taken...different story.

All in all, I think that many of todays wars are not worth the lives that they cost. However, uprisings against tyrannical government are still necessary in my opinion. So, a 2.

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

10. As long as we live on earth that is. I think that as long as we live on earth, it is our responsibility to cooperate with nature for the sake of the people and animals living here.

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

?? I can't say how much tradition should play into shaping identity. I know that tradition often does play a large role, but I would never force someone to accept the tradition which they were born into. No one has control over their parents, and everyone should have the opportunity to change for their happiness (barring any interference with other people's happiness).

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?
Blue
What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Fire-bending or Earth-bending
What is your favorite character from the series?

Sokka or Iroh

Edited November 7, 2016 by Strider

HughJ · November 3, 2016

Alchemia Chan, I have deicded that you are an Air bender. You split your time between meditation, long peregrinations, and community-building activity with the children of the Temple. The young ones help add color to your often-cynical outlook.

Your more indirect, sparing lifestyle and constructive, peaceful worldview evince your idealistic nature. Despite some dark times in the past - wherein you gained strength through an onerous independence - you have resolved to better the lives of the ones you love and promote peace in this troubled world.

By the way guys I'm sorry but I'm working through a backlog of 7 of you and it might take me some time to get your results out. I want quality over quantity so I like to take at least 45 minutes each, usually around 1.5 hours for people with long responses. I'm really enjoying it but it does take some time and I'm currently in a bit of a crunch, so please be patient

Edited November 3, 2016 by HughJ

Jelly · November 4, 2016

How important do you find direct confrontation (either verbal or physical) to achieving your goals?

not very. i tend to let other people do the confrontation and go from there. in the past this has led to some complications regarding friendships and whatnot but it usually irons out in the end. 2/10

How much do you prioritize yourself and your loved ones over "the greater good" in your daily decision-making?

i tend to value my well-being less than others' and i value the greater good almost equally as those around me. 5/10

How much do you think you are in control of your own emotions?

not at all most of the time. it feels like there are two parts of my brain, the reasonable one and the irrational one and i can never control who is running the show at any given time. 1/10

How important is money and its acquisition to your happiness and/or life goals?

i mean i need money to survive but other than that im happy just wandering about and all. camping is one of my favorite things and you dont need much to do that for a while. 2/10

How afraid are you of death (your own or anyone else's)?

i like to say im not afraid of death because ive tried to cause it to myself a few times (whoa edgy). but im a very generous person and i will often go to great lengths to ensure a person's wellbeing 3/10

How well do you think you would manage alone in a desperate situtation (island exile, nuclear apocalypse, foreign invasion)?

considering i have these daydreams all the time i think i'd fare pretty well. my survival skills are better than the average bear's by quite a bit and im very determined. but on the other hand i'd probably fold immediately if my loved ones' were not with me. 7/10

And again, on scale of 1-10...

How much greater than animals do you think the human being is?

honestly i believe that no matter what a person should respect animals but if an animal is a source of food for a human then one should not feel bad about killing it. the treatment of said animal, however, is a big issue to me. 5/10

How vital do you believe war is to the survival of a human community?

not at all actually. i know that world peace is never going to occur because of the way people are, but i like to imagine that war is not a necessary thing. however, maintaining an army in the case of alien invasion is very important. gotta flex those guns. 2/10

To what extent do you believe it is a human responsibility to cooperate with nature?

humans should respect nature because without it we all die off. everything we need to survive comes from nature and if we fuck that up then we'll all be dead in a short while. 10/10

How great of a role do you believe tradition should play in shaping an individual's identity?

i feel as though a person is shaped by what traditions they uphold since they were young. generally one can have a good idea of what a person is like based off of their traditions regarding hygiene. 6/10

And some bonus questions (not 1-10):

What is your favorite color?

olive/pale blue

What is your favorite kind of bending as seen in Avatar: The Last Airbender?

not really sure how to answer this as i feel like it'll only directly affect the outcome more than the other questions

What is your favorite character from the series?

toph based off of the scenes where she openly makes fun of her blindness

HughJ · November 4, 2016

Dobby, I have decided you are a Water bender, specifically one who would favor Steam. I see you as an inspired warrior traveling through foreign lands with a group of close allies, perhaps exiled from a tribe whose nature you found overly submissive. Though, like all waterbenders, you can control the element in all its varied forms, you prefer steam for its properties of simultaneous offense (scalding on contact) and defense (visual cover).

Your neutrality on personal attributes such as confrontational style and emotional control depict you as someone that understands the push and pull of jin and how the world exists in a perpetual state of changing circumstances. At the same time, your heated philosophical convictions that the human being is superior to animals, that war is vital for a human community's survival, and that tradition should not largely determine the personal identity demonstrate an intensity that waterbending society could not reconcile itself with. These two are not the only factors in your personality, however - an unusual ease on the subjects of death, isolation, and finances also evince a more passive, ascetic compliance with the world.

For this reason, you are like steam, a substance balancing the personal fluidity of Water, the heat and vigor of Fire, and the flexibility and simplicity of Air.

I really would have been fascinated to hear the reasoning behind your scores, as even without them I can tell you're a pretty interesting character.

Bluewolf · November 4, 2016

This is a lot I apologize Q~Q

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1. (6.5/10) I feel that it is very imperative, especially in my field of work, to convey precisely and concisely what you mean or need to those you work with. Not a confrontation in the angry or fighting sense, but more of having the courage to ask questions and take charge. However, it's not needed all the time. If you do what you need to do, things should fall into place without much worry.

2. (8/10) I'm gonna be honest with myself here. I'm involved in stuff like choir and orchestra, but I've never been a real big fan "We win together we lose together". I do my best to be involved in situations where what benefits me, benefits everyone else. I'm not saying "screw everyone else I'm the star!" but if Adam Levine offered me a record deal only if I left my choir I'd take it in a heart beat.

3. (9/10) I'm obsessed with the control, especially over myself. I'd say pretty in control of what I feel, and always know the reason as to why I feel the way I do at a given moment. Yet, when it comes to emotions falling under attraction/infatuation, I do *ehem* get a bit flustered and out of breath. But for the most part, yeah. Cry when I wanna, laugh when I wanna.

4. (6.8/10) You know all of those stories about singers and actors moving to New York and become broke druggies who die of AIDS and stuff? Yeah those are rooted in some deep truth. In no way is the (primary) path I'm taking guaranteed to riches and the more money I can get the better. Now, waving a stack of hundreds around my billion dollar mansion is not what I define as happiness (for me at least), but it'd sure as hell help. Say for example having an SO: I'd love to have a special someone but I'd also like to treat them to things and provide for them and maybe eventually a family. It helps.

5. (5.5-8/10?) I'm really weird about it. I mean, who hasn't wondered what's really at the end of that dark tunnel? I've been taking philosophy for 5 years now and my curiosity only grows. Other than that, I'm mainly terrified not getting to do everything I've wanted to do or dying in some gruesome, painful way (those car crash stories, nah man). Or like just not existing and how unfathomable the concept of nonexistence is. That's some scary shit man.

6. (5/10) Ehhh I don't know. I think I'd eventually get myself together and find food and stuff. This is kind of like those "what if" questions that middle schoolers ask you and you're just like "well for one I wouldn't be in the situation" but for the sake of this, I'd say I might nearly die a few times but miraculously survive.

7. (5/10) When it comes down to it, we just beat the squids in the evolution race. That and suppressing the progress of other species. Besides all that, I don't really think we're 'better' so much as that we have more power. But if I had to choose between saving a person and a kitten, I'd choose the person. People have the capacity to contribute to their communities and improve them, whereas animals have their separate agendas that symbiotically benefit the ecosystem.

8. (2/10) 2 is a generous number because I don't think we need. We just have an ass load of irrational, irresponsible, money-loving, short-sighted people leading the world government. Common. Sense. Damnit. Yeah we're always gonna have fighting but we can use COMMON SENSE. War is bad. End of story. Yet everyone wants it because apparently one can be so bored that the only thing that will help them is nuclear fallout and a bunch of dead children.

9. (7/10) Hm, interesting question. I think we should do everything we (reasonably) can to live in some sort of harmony with nature. Renewable, clean, energy, is important (vote yes for cold fusion) and if humans kill of pandas/polar bears I will never forgive us. There's also the weird part of me that wants to genetically modify humans (because we totally can except there's this dumb thing called ethics in the way but that's a discussion for later)

10. (6.2/10) Oh I like this one. Tradition is very important in family structure. I've observed first-hand how traditions passed down for so long really tie people to their families and create a basis for their values and the way they conduct themselves around others. However there does come a point in time when one must go out into the world (not community college) on their own and enter situations where they're views are the minority (I've lived in Texas for most of my life and I don't know how I survived). A Rumspringa of sorts. After that, take your views and values and reconcile them with what you've learned and experienced. I hope that makes sense.

B1: Can I pick two? Mauve and Sky Blue. Either one.

B2: Water (specifically Ice)

B3: Uncle Iroh for life

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