It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
1. Name: Gustav
2. Age: 21
Remember to explain why/elaborate on the following questions.
3. Have you read all 6 Harry Potter Books? Which book was your favorite? I have read all six. My favorite was Prisoner of Azkaban, hands down. The particular mysteries and quests of the storyline were appealing to me, as were the new concepts that were introduced (ie Animagi). I also particularly like the character of Lupin, who was (of course) introduced in POA. I also think Rowling was at her best for writing style in this one. She seemss to have been getting warmed up to things in the first two books, and the fourth and fifth really have too much exposition compared to the amount of progressing plot. HBP was an improvement upon this, but it just wasn't the same kind of exciting to me as POA was.
4. Which house qualities do you value most? I'm interpreting this to mean which values from each house, as opposed to which one house has the best qualities. In order to be most successful in life, one really must incorporate aspects from all four. Ambition is necessary, or else one will never have any goals to work for in the first place and therefore causes stuckness. In order to acheive that ambition, hard work and perseverence as well as intelligence and specialized skill are required. And I personally feel that honesty is a given alongside all of those, since a dishonest approach isn't a true and fair success.
5. What are your pet peeves? I can't stand it when people read over my shoulder or when people randomly stop for no good reason in front of me in the hall. Another source of many a rant from me is when people try to tell me how I should write my own characters, how I should lay out my own drawings, or how I should think about my own music, as if they think they deserve to leave a mark on my creative process. Input and critique is good when it's requested, but it just drives me nuts when people try to "sign themselves on" to one of my projects.
6. Based from your personality, what kind of Animagus would you be? (The animal chooses you, you don’t choose it.) I'd probably be a wolf, but not a werewolf! Wolves are intelligent and inspiring creatures, and I'd like to think I'm intelligent and inspired. They are also often misunderstood and get a bad reputation for it; I was one of those constantly teased and maligned people all through grade school. Wolves function well in groups, but also are perfectly capable of self-sustenance; I love group situations such as orchestra, but also need my personal space and quiet time. Lastly, wolves are very musical in their vocalisations; I wouldn't be a creature that had no musical capability.
7. What shape would your Boggart take? (Remember: Your Boggart takes the shape of the thing that you fear the most.) It would be some sort of sentient cancerous tumour or blob of heart disease. Of course, that would be scarier if it were inside me, but Boggarts don't work that way. And nobody wants to meet a giant sentient tumour on the street...yeeuck.
8. What do you worry about the most and why? (Note: This is not the same thing that your Boggart becomes. Your biggest fear and your biggest worry are two different things.) I worry about failure, about not being good enough to get to do the things I want to do. Music is my life, and I want to be involved in many aspects of it. I play several instruments, compose, and am learning how to conduct. I also spend a lot of free time studying music history. I worry about not being accepted into any orchestras, about never having pieces performed, that I'll never get a chance to conduct a live ensemble, that nobody will think I know enough about musicology to make interesting and insightful points. I worry about not being good enough with other things, too (art, writing, language study), but not as intensely as with music.
9. Would you put your name in the Goblet of Fire? Nope. It would just be too stressful all around, and I'm not crazy about competitions. A simple audition is enough to send me into major twitchiness, and that's really not comparable to what happens if your name is pulled...
10. What do you believe is the greatest weapon you possess? How, why, and when would you use it? Not to sound cliched, but I think that my greatest weapon is my mind. I enjoy reading and finding out new things, so I have a lot of random facts floating around up there and can generally participate in all kinds of discussions and prove people wrong when they're being obnoxious. I've also always been good at reasoning through things, which can be more formidible than standing there with a physical weapon and no idea what to do other than waving it around. But if all thought fails, I can always whack stuff with my viola case as well...
11. Would you ever want to be a prefect? Not particularly. While I feel I'd be capable at it, the duties associated with it, combined with schoolwork, would leave me much less time to myself.
12. What quality do you admire above all others? Do you feel that it is a quality you or the people you surround yourself with possess? Individuality. Of course this is a broad category of things; ones individuality is a combination of other qualities, but there are plenty of people whose qualities don't include anything that makes them stand out very far. People that follow crowds, don't question anything, and have no interests outside the most main of mainstreams are just not terribly interesting. I definitely surround myself with particularly varied individuals. We share many interests, but all of my friends are totally odd and quirky in their own ways. Nothing any one of my friends says could be mistaken for something another one said. A real meeting of the minds, and the eccentric minds at that.
13. What are the worst qualities that you believe a person can possess? Why do you feel this way? Dishonesty is the main one, because it causes so many other problems. I'm not talking about little white lies, but rather manipulative mistruths used to gain position or trample over other people. Dishonesty becomes more of problem, though, when one repeats a lie enough times to believe it's really the case. That kind of "believing" just sets the foundation for more lies that might not even be apparent as lies to the teller. Jealous spite is another; there's nothing good or worthwhile in trying to bring someone down from something they earned just because one is upset it's not his own position or achievement. Another bad quality is the lack of desire or motivation to learn about the world in which we live. Too many people are clueless about their own environments, and it causes them to say truly stupid and inflammatory things. Nobody wants other people to be jerks to them, so everyone should try to be a decent world citizen. (Note: Arrogance can be really darn annoying, but it's generally ignorable. It only becomes a problem when other factors like I previously mentioned become involved.)
15. How many people do you consider true friends? What qualities do they have that are important to you? Why are they your friends? I have a lot of friendly acquaintences, but around 10 truest and closest friends. These are people I've known for a long time, people who have always kept in touch and been there, and I've done the same for them. They are all sensitive, intelligent, eccentric, and creative people. They're the kind of people that may not share my passion for something but are still interested to hear what I have to say about it, and likewise with me listening to them. They're the kind of people that, even if we disagree, we can still have intelligent and civil discussions about that disagreement. My friends and I never think anything less of each other no matter what happens. Relationships like this don't form quickly, but they last forever after that.
16. What are your thoughts on Voldemort? He's bad news. Anyone whose only way to ascend to higher positions is by bumping off the people in the way (as opposed to simply doing better than them) is frightening. Particularly when his motives aren't clear. Fortunately, HBP clarifies a lot about Voldemort, but that doesn't change that he's killed people, and someone that kills and sticks around to kill again is scary under any circumstance.
17. What do you think are your main 3 characteristics? Creativity, curiosity, and sensitivity.
18. What house do you feel you belong in? Ravenclaw
19. "Blood or water" - Which is more important; friends or family? Strictly biologically speaking, family is more important, because without parents there's no you. But genetic bonds aside, even family members are just people with which one interacts. Though people are influenced by their entire surroundings, most important to someone are the people they choose to associate with. One can pick up mannerisms and ideas from these people unconsciously, and one often deliberately tries to acquire certain desireable traits seen in close friends. Most people make the unconscious and easy choice to associate with their families; most people are on relatively friendly terms with their family members. Therefore, friends are more important, and family members can qualify in that category.
20. How did you find out about us? (House points are given to users who refer you here.)
ganimede mentions this community in his journal on a fairly regular basis.
2. Age: 21
Remember to explain why/elaborate on the following questions.
3. Have you read all 6 Harry Potter Books? Which book was your favorite? I have read all six. My favorite was Prisoner of Azkaban, hands down. The particular mysteries and quests of the storyline were appealing to me, as were the new concepts that were introduced (ie Animagi). I also particularly like the character of Lupin, who was (of course) introduced in POA. I also think Rowling was at her best for writing style in this one. She seemss to have been getting warmed up to things in the first two books, and the fourth and fifth really have too much exposition compared to the amount of progressing plot. HBP was an improvement upon this, but it just wasn't the same kind of exciting to me as POA was.
4. Which house qualities do you value most? I'm interpreting this to mean which values from each house, as opposed to which one house has the best qualities. In order to be most successful in life, one really must incorporate aspects from all four. Ambition is necessary, or else one will never have any goals to work for in the first place and therefore causes stuckness. In order to acheive that ambition, hard work and perseverence as well as intelligence and specialized skill are required. And I personally feel that honesty is a given alongside all of those, since a dishonest approach isn't a true and fair success.
5. What are your pet peeves? I can't stand it when people read over my shoulder or when people randomly stop for no good reason in front of me in the hall. Another source of many a rant from me is when people try to tell me how I should write my own characters, how I should lay out my own drawings, or how I should think about my own music, as if they think they deserve to leave a mark on my creative process. Input and critique is good when it's requested, but it just drives me nuts when people try to "sign themselves on" to one of my projects.
6. Based from your personality, what kind of Animagus would you be? (The animal chooses you, you don’t choose it.) I'd probably be a wolf, but not a werewolf! Wolves are intelligent and inspiring creatures, and I'd like to think I'm intelligent and inspired. They are also often misunderstood and get a bad reputation for it; I was one of those constantly teased and maligned people all through grade school. Wolves function well in groups, but also are perfectly capable of self-sustenance; I love group situations such as orchestra, but also need my personal space and quiet time. Lastly, wolves are very musical in their vocalisations; I wouldn't be a creature that had no musical capability.
7. What shape would your Boggart take? (Remember: Your Boggart takes the shape of the thing that you fear the most.) It would be some sort of sentient cancerous tumour or blob of heart disease. Of course, that would be scarier if it were inside me, but Boggarts don't work that way. And nobody wants to meet a giant sentient tumour on the street...yeeuck.
8. What do you worry about the most and why? (Note: This is not the same thing that your Boggart becomes. Your biggest fear and your biggest worry are two different things.) I worry about failure, about not being good enough to get to do the things I want to do. Music is my life, and I want to be involved in many aspects of it. I play several instruments, compose, and am learning how to conduct. I also spend a lot of free time studying music history. I worry about not being accepted into any orchestras, about never having pieces performed, that I'll never get a chance to conduct a live ensemble, that nobody will think I know enough about musicology to make interesting and insightful points. I worry about not being good enough with other things, too (art, writing, language study), but not as intensely as with music.
9. Would you put your name in the Goblet of Fire? Nope. It would just be too stressful all around, and I'm not crazy about competitions. A simple audition is enough to send me into major twitchiness, and that's really not comparable to what happens if your name is pulled...
10. What do you believe is the greatest weapon you possess? How, why, and when would you use it? Not to sound cliched, but I think that my greatest weapon is my mind. I enjoy reading and finding out new things, so I have a lot of random facts floating around up there and can generally participate in all kinds of discussions and prove people wrong when they're being obnoxious. I've also always been good at reasoning through things, which can be more formidible than standing there with a physical weapon and no idea what to do other than waving it around. But if all thought fails, I can always whack stuff with my viola case as well...
11. Would you ever want to be a prefect? Not particularly. While I feel I'd be capable at it, the duties associated with it, combined with schoolwork, would leave me much less time to myself.
12. What quality do you admire above all others? Do you feel that it is a quality you or the people you surround yourself with possess? Individuality. Of course this is a broad category of things; ones individuality is a combination of other qualities, but there are plenty of people whose qualities don't include anything that makes them stand out very far. People that follow crowds, don't question anything, and have no interests outside the most main of mainstreams are just not terribly interesting. I definitely surround myself with particularly varied individuals. We share many interests, but all of my friends are totally odd and quirky in their own ways. Nothing any one of my friends says could be mistaken for something another one said. A real meeting of the minds, and the eccentric minds at that.
13. What are the worst qualities that you believe a person can possess? Why do you feel this way? Dishonesty is the main one, because it causes so many other problems. I'm not talking about little white lies, but rather manipulative mistruths used to gain position or trample over other people. Dishonesty becomes more of problem, though, when one repeats a lie enough times to believe it's really the case. That kind of "believing" just sets the foundation for more lies that might not even be apparent as lies to the teller. Jealous spite is another; there's nothing good or worthwhile in trying to bring someone down from something they earned just because one is upset it's not his own position or achievement. Another bad quality is the lack of desire or motivation to learn about the world in which we live. Too many people are clueless about their own environments, and it causes them to say truly stupid and inflammatory things. Nobody wants other people to be jerks to them, so everyone should try to be a decent world citizen. (Note: Arrogance can be really darn annoying, but it's generally ignorable. It only becomes a problem when other factors like I previously mentioned become involved.)
15. How many people do you consider true friends? What qualities do they have that are important to you? Why are they your friends? I have a lot of friendly acquaintences, but around 10 truest and closest friends. These are people I've known for a long time, people who have always kept in touch and been there, and I've done the same for them. They are all sensitive, intelligent, eccentric, and creative people. They're the kind of people that may not share my passion for something but are still interested to hear what I have to say about it, and likewise with me listening to them. They're the kind of people that, even if we disagree, we can still have intelligent and civil discussions about that disagreement. My friends and I never think anything less of each other no matter what happens. Relationships like this don't form quickly, but they last forever after that.
16. What are your thoughts on Voldemort? He's bad news. Anyone whose only way to ascend to higher positions is by bumping off the people in the way (as opposed to simply doing better than them) is frightening. Particularly when his motives aren't clear. Fortunately, HBP clarifies a lot about Voldemort, but that doesn't change that he's killed people, and someone that kills and sticks around to kill again is scary under any circumstance.
17. What do you think are your main 3 characteristics? Creativity, curiosity, and sensitivity.
18. What house do you feel you belong in? Ravenclaw
19. "Blood or water" - Which is more important; friends or family? Strictly biologically speaking, family is more important, because without parents there's no you. But genetic bonds aside, even family members are just people with which one interacts. Though people are influenced by their entire surroundings, most important to someone are the people they choose to associate with. One can pick up mannerisms and ideas from these people unconsciously, and one often deliberately tries to acquire certain desireable traits seen in close friends. Most people make the unconscious and easy choice to associate with their families; most people are on relatively friendly terms with their family members. Therefore, friends are more important, and family members can qualify in that category.
20. How did you find out about us? (House points are given to users who refer you here.)
ganimede mentions this community in his journal on a fairly regular basis.