Personal identity: What are you?

At several times in my life, I've been asked, "What are you?"

This question is usually asked in the middle of conversation, which lends context. Whether discussing politics, religion, employment, or whatever, the intent is normally clear based on the topic at hand.

But a couple of times I've been asked what I am without any obvious context. It's usually when meeting someone, during the kitschy small-talk that follows.

When this happens, I'm left thinking about how I, and people in general, think of personal identity.

So, I was curious: What are you? What is the primary identity with which you identify yourself? What's that single categorization label that overrides the rest on the most basic level?

PS: Reading back over this, it looks like the most blatant piece of false-intellectualism I've ever written. Oh, well...

PPS: And if anyone posts to this, let's keep the responses clean and respectful, yeah? Cheers!

i would be like... wha?

I understand what you're getting at. I don't have a answer for you though.

@killacam: Yeah, it usually leads to me looking confused, and them clarifying. Ninety-percent of the time they're asking what I do for a living.

Cougar.

Honestly, if asked outside of any context I'd ask them to clarify what they meant. But, if forced to choose one defining label, I guess I'd say I'm human, anything beyond that would feel too specific.

Just out of context, I find it impossible to answer. It's also a pretty weird question to just ask someone. I can't recall having someone ask me that actually.

I'm me.

I'm the dude.

Ah, now that's a question that's plagued my mind for centuries, and I don't think I've ever come up with a definitive answer. After all, it's quite difficult to do so when you can change so much about yourself with but a mere thought, and everything you would identify with yourself is tied up with so many other entities.

"Just a hard-working guy trying to get through life."

I've actually started saying this to people who want to know more about me. Some are confused by it, some laugh and it works well as an ice breaker. I find it's a good opener for people to get to know my personality. If they aren't too uptight, it usually leads to us becoming good friends.

I am my very own idea of a man.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@mlarrabee I'm a cunt... Ok now that the clean and respectable is out of the way, I don't honestly know how to answer this question. I could pick the easy answer and say 'writer' as I feel that is a single word answer that describes what I love, my work, and my personality to a certain extent. But that is almost a cheat, as it ignores the fundamental truths of who I am. I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Wow, it's like I just looked in a mirror. No bullshit. Honestly.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@mlarrabee I'm a cunt... Ok now that the clean and respectable is out of the way, I don't honestly know how to answer this question. I could pick the easy answer and say 'writer' as I feel that is a single word answer that describes what I love, my work, and my personality to a certain extent. But that is almost a cheat, as it ignores the fundamental truths of who I am. I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Wow, it's like I just looked in a mirror. No bullshit. Honestly.

@Tim_the_Corsair: Lol, yeah, I hope so. It would make my life more interesting!

Cougar.

Nerd

Usually when people ask that out of the blue, they're asking what your occupation is, so I tell them I'm a student.

God

To be serious, the first thing that pops into my head and the first thing I tell people is "asshole". Strange, I know, but that's how it goes.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@mlarrabee I'm a cunt... Ok now that the clean and respectable is out of the way...

Oh, I'm totally cool with that. I'm just trying to keep the "I'm a Buddhist/Christian/Democrat/Republican/Pro-choice/Pro-life" posts from being followed by terrible @replies.

BATMAN

@Gamer_152 said:

Honestly, if asked outside of any context I'd ask them to clarify what they meant. But, if forced to choose one defining label, I guess I'd say I'm human, anything beyond that would feel too specific.

Totally. It's a super boring answer, but the only thing that comes to mind is "human", also "you first".

I am.... annoyed by that ridiculously vague and pointless question.

@Jimi said:

Nerd

That's a pretty broad category, but I cant think of any other way of describing myself without going into depth...

@BoOzak: I'm a pretty broad guy.

I hate people who ask that question because they judge people on their career path (or hobby) and not them as a person.

I'm the heir to the Luna Throne. Well, I will be once I *wink* knife *wink* those who stand in my way. Oh wait, I winked but still said the incriminating word. Ah whatever, what happens on the Moon stays on the Moon.

Some guy once asked me "What's your thing?", and I responded with, "I...like...videogames?". As for what I am, I am an anime character. You can tell because I'm crazy.

I am not a human

@BrickRoad said:

I'm the heir to the Luna Throne. Well, I will be once I *wink* knife *wink* those who stand in my way. Oh wait, I winked but still said the incriminating word. Ah whatever, what happens on the Moon stays on the Moon.

You're Video Game King's son! Nice to meet you!

My friends call me Edge, because I live on it.

Time bomb

@Video_Game_King: You should watch out. This guy wants to kill you and take your moon throne:

@BrickRoad said:

I'm the heir to the Luna Throne. Well, I will be once I *wink* knife *wink* those who stand in my way. Oh wait, I winked but still said the incriminating word. Ah whatever, what happens on the Moon stays on the Moon.

I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

My friends call me Edge, because I live on it.

Depends on the context. If I was talking to a person outside of my country I would say that I am a "Canadian". If asked inside Canada, I would say that I have a French and Irish heritage. If talking about occupations I would say archaeologist. Really depends on the context. I dont think I could sum up my existence with only one word.

I don't know. I'm a lot of things. What a silly question.

I'm christian.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Are you me?

I am what others perceive me to be.

I wanna be the very best, that no one ever was.

@ajamafalous

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Are you me?

Maybe I am

We all operate in multiple identity circles. To describe myself as simply "white", "straight," or "male" would be inappropriate, as in circles filled with straight white males I might take on the identity of "pop culture consumer," or I might take on the role of "grieving youth," or I might take on the role of "social liberal." We all have multiple social identities, as much as social institutions ask us to boil ourselves down further.

@Jeust said:

@BrickRoad said:

I'm the heir to the Luna Throne. Well, I will be once I *wink* knife *wink* those who stand in my way. Oh wait, I winked but still said the incriminating word. Ah whatever, what happens on the Moon stays on the Moon.

You're Video Game King's son! Nice to meet you!

Not exactly. I have no children, and ever since the Kingdoms united, inheritance of the throne was abolished in all its forms. Besides, even if he were to kill me (and that's a great if), that is no guarantee that he would become King. Very few are capable of handling the powers of the crown, and those who seek it and can't are doomed to death.

@Enigma777 said:

@Nonused

Cougar.

Panther

Tyrannosaurus.

I'm me.

A slice of lemon, wrapped around a large gold brick.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@Irishranger

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@mlarrabee I'm a cunt... Ok now that the clean and respectable is out of the way, I don't honestly know how to answer this question. I could pick the easy answer and say 'writer' as I feel that is a single word answer that describes what I love, my work, and my personality to a certain extent. But that is almost a cheat, as it ignores the fundamental truths of who I am. I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Wow, it's like I just looked in a mirror. No bullshit. Honestly.

...what if I'm another personality living in your head? Think about it

Strangely enough, you described myself as well. Only I don't have a fiancee.

Which is weird...

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@Irishranger

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

@mlarrabee I'm a cunt... Ok now that the clean and respectable is out of the way, I don't honestly know how to answer this question. I could pick the easy answer and say 'writer' as I feel that is a single word answer that describes what I love, my work, and my personality to a certain extent. But that is almost a cheat, as it ignores the fundamental truths of who I am. I've always projected an air of slightly self deprecating self-confidence, but just like your favourite movie dickhead with a heart of gold, I'm secretly very unsure of myself and forever questioning my self-worth or why anyone would ever take me seriously or like me (or, at the risk of getting yelled at by my fiancée, why anyone would ever love me). I'm cold and distant naturally, yet warm and tender with a select few. I'm naturally peaceful, but have been horribly violent. I'm a fantastic liar, and take some pleasure from it which probably makes me morally bankrupt, yet it's that same ability channelled that allows me to write. I think I'm just rambling at this point haha. Short answer is, honestly, I don't even know. Functional, maybe?

Wow, it's like I just looked in a mirror. No bullshit. Honestly.

...what if I'm another personality living in your head? Think about it

Strangely enough, you described myself as well. Only I don't have a fiancee.

Which is weird...