Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Confessions of a Social Retard

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  • 3410,

    Touché.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    Hmmm. 42 on that test. Thought I had gotten slightly better in the whole social situations thing. Well, maybe I have and a few years ago my score would have been rather higher. I'm fine if I know the people but if they're new I think I've been known not to utter a word. What 81stcolumn wrote sounded familiar in parts. People used to ring up and open with "whaddya know?" Never knew what the correct response to that was, so there was usually silence from my end. That or "Not much". Is there a guide on conversation responses? If someone says "blah" then the correct / usual response is...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    But Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself, that IS about wanking, right

    Every Billy Idol song is about wanking, I believe.


    Scored 29 on that test. But much of how I am in social situations depends on my mood. Sometimes very exuberant, other times very quiet. I don't think I'm alone in that.

    The one constant though is dancing, which I just can't do.

    And on the Myers Briggs thing, I'm an INFP, and probably should be a counsellor or a clergyman or an academic rather than a journalist.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    The Gorillaz line up does look pretty incredible though, don't you think?

    Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewltt of course, with;
    Mick Jones and Paul Simonon.
    De La Soul.
    Bobby Womack.
    Mos Def.
    Shaun Ryder.
    etc

    If they can't put a show on, who could? Having said that, the latest album hasn't grabbed me yet, but I'm expecting more from the live show.

    Just trying to be friendly.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Touché.

    There is something hilariously incongruous about that being a response to quoting the theme song from The Monkees. I love the world.

    The Gorillaz line up does look pretty incredible though, don't you think?

    Shut up. I think we're going to be out of the country at the time.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    If someone says "blah" then the correct / usual response is...

    Chuckle and nod.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The one constant though is dancing, which I just can't do.

    I think we're onto something here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    It's extremely interesting just how uniform this particular mental aspect of the majority of the commentators here is, considering just how far from it the host is, and how wide the range of demographics (well, actually, aren't we mostly the same age?). Some theories on how that comes about:
    1. Most commentators on the 'net are like this, it's a medium that encourages participation by people-shy people.
    2. People of like mind group together.
    3. Russell's familiarity and ease with auties (and what to do when they're naughty) is soothing and encouraging.
    4. It's an outlier.
    5. Only people who are see themselves as shy would bother with the test, the rest haven't spoken up.

    I'm curious with those who scored high whether your choices of partner are introverted or extroverted. Similarly with those who scored low, actually.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Oh, shit! Did I say that out loud?

    I heard, and remind me to lock you outside next time Gorillaz is on and everyone else is dancing at our gatherings 3 4. ;)

    .I think we're onto something here.

    I actually cant dance either but if everyone is and the mulled wine has sunk in, it certainly is easier to throw caution to the wind.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    kickin' down the cobber's tones...*

    does "Here we come / Walking down the street"
    mean nothing to you people?!

    ...er, a holiday in Queensland?

    Simian songsters aside...

    Speaking of ad swipes and tropes...
    I wonder if the same ad agency did the
    State Insurance and the Wellington promo ads
    where they both use giant present boxes?

    or did they all just see the same idea
    overseas somewhere...

    *into the feelin' groovy...
    take the love-in by the spoonful

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    3. Russell's familiarity and ease with auties (and what to do when they're naughty) is soothing and encouraging.

    Heh. Naughty auties.

    I feel bound to point out that I'm not exactly standard-issue either. I like working, but I've never been big on workplaces, for example.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    5. Only people who are see themselves as shy would bother with the test, the rest haven't spoken up.

    Nah. I did it out of curiosity and I am not shy (don't ya think?). Also my other half did it but then analysed every second question and queried the probability of situations and the accurateness of the way questions were phrased/worded. Then he got 29 and decided the points were, well, completely pointless so passed it over, kinda like lent.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Speaking of ad swipes and tropes...
    I wonder if the same ad agency did the
    State Insurance and the Wellington promo ads
    where they both use giant present boxes?

    I wanna know who's the agency that says "Hey, why don't we do an off-Broadway-style thing?" to every freakin' job they get.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    A very belated thank you for David and Emma's book launch party in Wellington last year. I don't get out much and hadn't talked to anyone but the cat for about a month prior to that evening, and enjoyed myself immensely that night. Good company.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sooo, do I require an invite to the Great Blend RB or will I gate crash? Have I missed a thread that has mentioned the venue?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    analysed every second question and queried the probability of situations and the accurateness of the way questions were phrased/worded

    you get at least 10 bonus points for that

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I'm not exactly standard-issue either

    No, and 10 surprises me

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Unless there are also negative bonus points for dancing while filling out the answers :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    the probability of situations and the accurateness of the way questions

    Accuracy </pendant>

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Scored 29 on that test. But much of how I am in social situations depends on my mood. Sometimes very exuberant, other times very quiet. I don't think I'm alone in that.

    Yeah, because I remember Rob well from the Welly launch, and I don't believe we were behaving like a pair of 29s. But then, by that stage of the evening, I was camped out with My People, under which circumstances I become an extrovert. A drunken slutty extrovert.

    (Also, I am now about to put on some Billy Idol and chair-dance.)

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    For the record I don't recall Emma behaving like a drunken slutty extrovert when I was around.

    I'm sure I would have noticed. Reasonably sure, anyway. Well. A bit sure.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Yeah, because I remember Rob well from the Welly launch

    Which means, Rob, you must have made quite the impression.

    It's fair to say there's a reasonable amount of that night Emma fails to recall.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    No and 10 surprises me

    I score higher on some tests, but yeah, I'm socially able. Things might be different had I not managed to largely do things My Way.

    In retrospect, I could have scored myself higher on pattern recognition ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Sooo, do I require an invite to the Great Blend RB or will I gate crash? Have I missed a thread that has mentioned the venue?

    Umm, yes, I'm wondering the same thing. Although it feels like I know, or should know, but can't quite remember.

    Life is like one big Déjà vu at times. Then that could just be the Billy Idol chair-dance.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Nah. I did it out of curiosity and I am not shy (don't ya think?).

    You're not shy, but that isn't the only dimension of the test, of course, just a major one. I felt much like your man did about a lot of the questions, could have scored much higher. A lot of times there was a conflict between "Is it asking about where I came from, or where I'm going to, or where I am now?". Which is one of the dangers in such testing, IMHO. If you put yourself in a box, it can feel empowering or disempowering very much depending on whether you wanted to be in the box. Going on past evidence (the only "objective" evidence), it's going to be skewed towards where you came from. Going only on what you'd say you felt comfortable being labeled with now, it could represent more of a goal than a reality. Going on "now", you'll probably be averaging the two.

    Just as an example of what I'm saying, consider the question "Am I a violent person?". If you have committed acts of violence, then an objective consensus would be on "yes". But if you never commit one again, ever? Is that consensus actually right?

    For some people it could be an easy test - they answer as they were, are, and always will be. But for people who are trying to change, I think it's not accurate. Could still be interesting, but sharing the results is not compulsory. I don't like being in boxes much, of any kind. I feel it makes people see only a cliche of me. Perhaps I'm deluded, and people seeing steadily refining cliches is actually what happens anyway. But even so, I'd just as soon be able to move. I'm not going to stand still just so people can see me clearly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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