Things We Like

I have always thought that online lists of things about yourself were sort of narcissistic ways to hijack social networking sites to make them even more about yourself without producing valuable content for the reader. Worse yet they are under the guise of ‘tagging’ each other so you send out your list to people for them to complete their own, but really so they will read yours.

But recently I have been wondering if these lists are really such a bad idea. If these lists help people get a better insight to you, then they could help relationships and understandings. So I broke away from the tagging and spamming aspect, and I don’t ask you to repeat what I am doing, but if you find these lists as helpful in terms of relating to those in your social networks – here is mine. (Feel free to link to yours and we can learn about each other)

1. I am an introvert. I like being around places that bustle with people and I like listening to people that inspire me, but I dislike meeting new people, talking on the phone, being required to interact in groups, or situations where I am expected to be interested in what other people are saying to me. Sometimes I love nothing more than hanging out with close friends, and sometimes I shy away from gatherings even with people that I have known for years. As a side note – it would be possible for me to go through a day without human contact, and that wouldn’t drain me.

2. Whereas I wouldn’t call myself a Jack of All Trades, I have a variety of interests. Most of which are not at all related. Some of which may hinder me from becoming an expert in other things because they take part of my attention away constantly. A short list could include: Technology, News, Religion, Early Christianity, Agnosticism, Apple Computers, Political Activism, Freemasonry, Scooters, Economy, Music and Skydiving.

3. I don’t ever plan on attending a church again. Not because I hate churches, but fundamentally I am disconnected with the structure and missions of churches. It annoys me when people know this and I hear stories about how their church is completely different and how I would like it. Please don’t invite me to your church.

4. Regardless of the fact that I am not interested in church, I can’t get enough of reading about religion in the first and second century. And I am inspired by Jesus of Nazareth.

5. I am an always have been an Apple user. This won’t change. I like my Black MacBook better than any machine I have every used, past or present. I will keep it forever. My iPhone is becoming my sidekick though, and it battles for my BlackBook’s affection. I sometimes get quick with my wife when she is using my computer, I feel bad that it happens.

6. My wife Leslie is my best friend. We have traveled to multiple countries together and over the last 15 months spent almost every moment of every day together. She is playful, intelligent, creative, and sometimes serious all at once, and I love it.

7. I have never been in a bar fight. Though I wouldn’t shy away if one was started. The closest I have come to one is punching a drunk man in the face when he pushed my wife. I say I am not proud of doing it, but honestly. . . I am.

8. I wouldn’t say that I am not afraid of anything, but I don’t think I have any major phobia’s. I can speak publicly and can get over heights. In fact if I am challenged to something, most of the fear dissipates pretty quickly. Wait, I just remembered my phobia, dark water and large ships. If I fell off an ocean liner in dark water, I would have a heart attack.

9. At any given moment I have 5 ‘great’ money making ideas in my head. . . but at the moment I have only seen one said idea come to fruition, it did pay off though.

10. I love puzzles, anagrams, palindromes, innuendos, satire, and double entendres, but I very much dislike puns.

11. I am a fan of art and like to see original pieces in museums and the such, but I am an even bigger fan of seeing original documents. Seeing what is housed at the British Library melted my heart and excited my brain. So if I had to choose between the two I’d go with ancient documents or ancient monuments over art. I mean, art is all over the place.

12. I was on medication for ADD once, it made me over-productive. I have honed some of the skills it gave me and have tried to be a more productive person. It makes me crazy over-productive though and the amount of lists I made where crazy.

13. I will watch a movie any day and any time, I love movies – even movies that suck, I just like to watch them and think about plot lines. That said, I also love reading, but I am partial to non-fiction. Non-fiction books on crazy stuff like Wikinomics, Freakonomics, of Tipping Points, but also first century religion (read Bart Ehrman), recently I have been overcome with whatever Fantasy Drama Neil Gaiman fits into. I got hooked on him while traveling around London and now I am stuck on him.

14. I find very irreverent things funny. I can’t help this. I have tried to repress it for the majority of my life, but now I just accept it and the people that know me best know that I laugh at very inappropriate things.

15. Every time I think of myself as cultured, well traveled, or experienced I immediately meet someone who makes that thought evaporate. This is probably a good thing, because I have just enough under my belt to make me cocky, but not enough to be a bastion of well-roundness.

That’s it, you get 15. I know you are thinking to yourself that you should be getting 25, but I like to leave you wanting more.

Tags: 25 things, lists