(no subject)

[xiane]

Okay, that Enneagram test that everyone's been taking? I remember why I didn't take it before.

It is full of those either-or questions that aren't really exclusive of each other. Examples that pissed me off:

[7. I've been more of a
"street-smart" survivor. - or-
"high-minded" idealist.

[ 21. I've often felt the need to
be a "pillar of strength." -or -
perform perfectly. aside: both of those are what cause me to be sickly stressed out. They are NOT exclusive in the least, and even picking the one "that applies most in my mind" as these sorts of tests often suggest would offer no choice. Duh.

[25. My habit of
being "stand-offish" has annoyed people. -or-
telling people what to do has annoyed people.

Ha.

I hope the full-length online version is better than this. The results might be accurate-feeling to those who take it, but the feel I'm getting from the way the questions are set up, it feels a lot like the "cold reading" booklets I used to read. Those explained to the reader how to give a Cold Reading to anyone and give them accurate information, just by observing some general things and making some obvious conclusions from that assessment. Not to knock anyone like nothingoth, who I know is really into Enneagrams - perhaps the books are written better. I'd like to take a look at 'em sometime, Chad!
:)
Now that I've ranted about the stupidity of the test, I guess I'll grit my teeth and finish it. Grrr.

Comments

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

okay, third times good right? damn net won't save my comment....
anywayz...hmm...don't think i've seen or taken that test...and those things rae frustrating...

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Livejournal has serious hiccups tonight.

Chad says that the book is much more fulfilling, so I'll give it a chance. I'll report back my findings once I investigate ;)

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

ahh, kewl....so its not my school's net beign a whore tonight...

hmm...kewl beans...i'm still trying to finish this mystery book i'm reading. very good. involves cats. =)

*peep*

[radiantdaffodil.livejournal.com]

I must agree that the books are much more fulfilling (at least the one I have). It gives more information about what the Enneagram actually is, how it was developed, how the types related to each other, et cetera. The descriptions of the nine types are also much more detailed and it goes into detail about behavior patterns, relationships, and so on. Then again, I don't know which book(s) Chad is talking but, but I have "Personality Types" by Riso/Hudson.

Re: *peep*

[nothingoth.livejournal.com]

That is, indeed, the book that I have. And methinks it's going to get a good bit of use in the coming days/weeks.

mysterious

[evilcresyluna.livejournal.com]

canapes for the kitties?

Re: *peep*

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, my skeptical nature about this sort of thing has not been assuagued by the mention of "Gurdjieff/Ouspensky", "Sufis", or the attempts to link this system with Ancient Babylonian, Pythagoreans, and Neo-Platonists. [see the Preface and Origins chapters of above title] In my extensive experience in the Occultist realm [oh my GOD that sounds pretentious to type!] - garnered through six years of ordering, reading, and gradually debunking all sorts of occultist literature - I've come to find that the dropping of buzzwords and names like that, especially Gurdjieff's, usually constitutes a lot of hopeful spiritualism laid over a surface of unprovable history and pseudo-logic. I guess I balk at the need the authors seem to have to throw spiritual talk in with basic "here's your personality traits, let's see how you play with others!" discussion.
My favourite "oh no, I was afraid of this" quote so far:
"Nevertheless, it [the Enneagram] can provide us with some of the wisdom we need to see the truth about ourselves. But these are no small matters, for they enable us to accept the gift of Grace [emphasis theirs], which alone can transform our lives."

Flipping further into the book, I don't see too much of that pap abounding, so hopefully the meat of the text will be less "transcending" in a god-way and more in a understanding-yourself way.

Me, jaded? Not really. I just resent pop spiritualism and lofty, unsubstantiable [is that a word?] claims of a great or at least somewhat old past. Just give us the stuff we can use! If it's good, we'll know - no need to dress it up!

Oh, the crap test placed me as a 2. Ages before when I took it [and complained just as much], I was an 8. Reading over the basic summaries, I think I fall more into a 6, sometimes 7. I also think I need to go to bed. Silly book, you rated a journal entry at 3:35 am!

-ps - thanks for letting me read it, Chad. I'm definitely entertained, even if I'm not convinced! ;)

Re: *peep*

[radiantdaffodil.livejournal.com]

Is that because you'll be playing interpreter for all of your friends who took that quiz? :o) For reference sake, I was introduced to the Enneagram through the following website: http://www.ninetypes.com

It was helpful to me, though not nearly as detailed as the book. Oh, and I'm a 4w5 (yeah, yeah, one of them crazzzzy Romantics). :oP

Re: mysterious

[eure-maum.livejournal.com]

hmm...not even sure what a canape is

[trifle.livejournal.com]

One of my former therapists was all up on the Enneagram wagon in oh say 1997--i didn't realize it was still around! He catagorized me based more on conversation and exploring the implications of the questions rather than "Do you like Chocolate OR do you like Coffee" type questions where neither answer really fits. Shock, Shock, i was "Tragic Romantic" (if that's still the category they use...