"A quick, spookily accurate, impossible-to-resist personality test"

[Brian K]

Hmm...my result was only about 10% accurate and I nearly choked when it said I seldom verbalize. Most of my friends would actually testify to the difficulty of shutting me up! It also went into flights of fancy concerning physical dexterity and athleticism....yeah, riiiight

[sydnie7]

I wondered, too, when I got to the question where the shapes were the same. Interesting, though, that based on results I received vs. some quoted here, not everybody is getting the same "analysis." Suppose there are a limited range of descriptions triggered by one or two of the more obviously different answer choices?

I'd read about similar college-class work with horoscopes (everybody receives the same one and reads their own meaning into it). At least this one wasn't as depressing as the handwriting analysis I had done at a party back in the 90s. THAT had me typing all my notes to co-workers for a month!

My inner skeptic is unleashed! Mwahahahahahaha!!!!

But no, seriously. My undergrad degree was in Ψ...

The Forer Effect. (Sometimes known as the P.T. Barnum Effect: We've got something for everyone!).

So is it a parlor trick? Yeah, pretty much. By the time I got to the question showing me two IDENTICAL shapes and asking me which one was me, I pretty much knew it was bogus so I started clicking randomly.

Oh, and if you like, let me save you the trouble of clicking the above link to Wiki... Here is the most valuable excerpt.

[MacSaorsa]

Is it just me or did those questions sound like they were developed by GLaDOS from Portal?

[Calico]

Ohiopiper and I got the exact same "analysis". You really have to stretch the results to fit them to me. I give it 10%. Pretty poor showing for random, where I would expect closer to 50%.

[Rob]

Disturbingly accurate.

[McElmurry]

You are in a perpetual quest to find the new, the existing, tartans. Emotionally volatile, you are known for sudden changes in opinion regarding hose color. Following rules and established methods is difficult for you and the difficulties of hat selection are usually quite daunting. Sporrans come and go without a strong understanding of their cause. They are unexpected guests in an otherwise placid closet. You wear your clan colors which can be hunting or red depending on the individual. Rarely verbally effusive, you can at times feel as if your feelings are too deep for words when someone with cold hands checks your kilt. You hate to be matchy matchy, at all cost lest Jock Scot call you out for over thinking. You are very absorbent but carry an umbrella anyway.

[Zardoz]

Pretty interesting! I'd say mine was about 85% on the money, but my wife thought it was like 98%
I'd bet most Objectivists I know would get a similar result.

[celt72]

You are in a perpetual quest to find the new, the existing, tartans. Emotionally volatile, you are known for sudden changes in opinion regarding hose color. Following rules and established methods is difficult for you and the difficulties of hat selection are usually quite daunting. Sporrans come and go without a strong understanding of their cause. They are unexpected guests in an otherwise placid closet. You wear your clan colors which can be hunting or red depending on the individual. Rarely verbally effusive, you can at times feel as if your feelings are too deep for words when someone with cold hands checks your kilt. You hate to be matchy matchy, at all cost lest Jock Scot call you out for over thinking. You are very absorbent but carry an umbrella anyway.

Awesome!

[Coastie]

Often concerned with right and wrong, and punctilious in expressing it, you are best represented by the Customs Agent or the IRS inspector. Initially seen by others as cold or uncaring, you are difficult for those more spontaneous members of society to understand. You are extremely stable, responsible and dependable. You manifest an amazing ability to concentrate on the issue at hand, and are difficult to distract from issues that are important. You manifest a great sense of loyalty to your employers and your government. You tend to show love through a display of committed works, believing that actions speak louder than words. You are also resistant to change and tend to believe that the old ways are best. If a behavior has been successful in the past, why would anyone want to change? You work best in a controlled environment.

Interesting since Coasties are "agents of the customs" by statute. Have to say I have no idea how those questions can narrow down personality traits. Very good analysis of me I admit.

[Bugbear]

I suddenly have a craving for one of those fortune cookies they have at many of the American Chinese restaurants.
* And an egg roll, too...