Who are you?, A survey. Options

[innovation]

I've just returned to CB, and I feel so lost because I don't seem to know anybody anymore! However, I don't want to post a cliche survey because (a) it probably has already been posted and (b) I never care about the questions in those surveys. So here's a list of probing questions that would give me and the rest of the community a better idea of who each of you are, not what your favorite band is or if you've ever smoked pot or gone skinny-dipping. So here goes:

(1) What is your name?
(2) Choose three adjectives to describe yourself.
(3) What/Who has (or has had) the greatest influence on your life right now and why?
(4) What in your life do you value the most and why?
(5) Whom in your life do you value the most and why?
(6) What, do you believe, is your purpose on earth?
(7) What, so far, have your contributed to the world?
(8) Do you portray yourself to others in a way that is contrary to who you really are?
(9) Pick a quote or two by which you live your life.
(10) Is there anything you would like to change about yourself or your life?
(11) What is your favorite place to be and why?
(12) Describe your life in five words or less.
(13) What are you genuinely interested in?
(14) If money were not an issue, what would you do with your life?

Go crazy, kids.

[*mipadi*]

I don't normally respond to surveys, but this one seems fun, and it's for a good cause.

(1) What is your name?
Michael

(2) Choose three adjectives to describe yourself.
Apathetic, relaxed, unmotivated

(3) What/Who has (or has had) the greatest influence on your life right now and why?
This is a tough one, because a lot of people have influenced my life. My parents have instilled a lot of positive values in me. A few teachers and professors have truly encouraged me. Friedrich Nietzsche has helped shape my outlook on life. But I must say that Mike Judge has really taught me the importance of not taking life seriously.

(4) What in your life do you value the most and why?
I would have to say my sense of self, and my identity. Without it, who am I?

(5) Whom in your life do you value the most and why?
Just one person? It's tough to say. There really are a lot of people important to me. In terms of family, I think I'd have to say my brother. He's a good man. I hope he comes home safe and sound.

(6) What, do you believe, is your purpose on earth?
Nietzche thought that the meaning of life is to live it as though it were a work of art. I have to believe that. I am of the opinion that life is without meaning, save for the meaning you give it because its yours. I think my purpose is to make sure I lead a meaningful life, and to help make the lives of those close to me better as well.

(7) What, so far, have your contributed to the world?
An injection of positive attitude.

(8) Do you portray yourself to others in a way that is contrary to who you really are?
My self-identity is very important to me, so no, I don't feel that I do. I keep some things hidden (I can be a bit shy), but I try not to be dishonest about who I am.

(9) Pick a quote or two by which you live your life.
From Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson:

"Until a man is twenty-five, he still thinks, every so often, that under the right circumstances he could be the baddest motherf**ker in the world. If I moved to a martial-arts monastery in China and studied real hard for ten years. If my family was wiped out by Colombian drug dealers and I swore myself to revenge. If I got a fatal disease, had one year to live, devoted it to wiping out street crime. If I just dropped out and devoted my life to being bad.
"Hiro used to feel that way, too, but then he ran into Raven. In a way, this is liberating. He no longer has to worry about trying to be the baddest motherf**ker in the world. The position is taken."

(10) Is there anything you would like to change about yourself or your life?
Possibly be more outgoing. I also wish I were more motivated and not so lazy. I am unproductive most of the time. I really should pay more attention to my studies, too--if I am doing as well as I am without putting forth any effort whatsoever, where would I be if I cracked open a book every once and a while?

(11) What is your favorite place to be and why?
College, in the days before a new semester starts. There's nothing to do, no obligations, and I can just have guilt-free fun with all of my friends.

(12) Describe your life in five words or less.
One hell of a ride.

(13) What are you genuinely interested in?
Computer science--not just computers, or software, but how we can actually go about computing things. Logic. Philosophy, to an extent--at least in terms of the true root of the word, meaning a love of knowledge. Enjoying life. Meeting new people and seeing new things. Stuff that explodes or goes fast, or both.

(14) If money were not an issue, what would you do with your life?
No doubt about it--I'd start up a kick-ass motorcycle gang/streetracing team. I've always been inspired by the biker gang in Akira.