What mythological creature am I...?

[fajrdrako]

Surely not! I mean - I'm an introvert. Mostly. Sort of. A sociable introvert. This really doesn't sound like me.

You Are a Chimera

You are very outgoing and well connected to many people. Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others. You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others. You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

I got this from tudorpot.

Comments

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Eh. This is the Wiki entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_%28mythology%29) about mythological Chimera.

I'm just realising again just how shy I really am... I think the LMB list (and LJ) are actually a good influence on me. :) Me, I'm an introvert all the way.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm shy too, and introverted. I love a good discussion but I'm hopeless with strangers.

If a chimera is a mixed-up sort of paradoxical person... With strengths and weaknesses that contradict each other - maybe!

I like to think the LMB list and LJ are good for me but that may just be self-indulgence coming into play, because I enjoy them so much.

[ladykoori.livejournal.com]

According to the book I've got (which is reasonably reliable) that picture isn't even a Chimaera.

Also, that description doesn't work either as this thing is said to spit fire and killed everyone in the city of Lycia. It was killed by Bellerophon as he rode Pegasus.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I understood that basically chimera is the term for all construct creatures. (this would include the glowing mouse who got yellyfish genes I guess)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So I ask myself: if I were to be a mythological creature of my choice, what would I choose?

Hmm.

Dryad. I love trees.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

this thing is said to spit fire and killed everyone in the city of Lycia

That fits nicely with the name "fajrdrako".

But I have nothing against Lycia.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

It's a sphinx. The Chimera was a specific creature from ?Greek mythology, made up of a lion, a scorpion and I think a wolf.

I think.

[ladykoori.livejournal.com]

And a goat apparently.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh.

If the hoof fits, wear it.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

Goat! Yes, that sounds better.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There's something very Dunnettesque in that, and not just because Lymond was a Scorpio.

I'm struggling for the image...

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the creature (I got chimera as well) but the description is not fitting. I have an extroverted site, but at least as strong introverted one. I do care for my family and friends and have a nurturing streak though I won't go as far as calling me 'devoted'.
As for overwhelmed by my strong emotions, that might wel be right ;-) (emoticon of a weak and socially acceptable emotion)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have an extroverted side, but at least as strong introverted one.

Me too. Though I like people, I'd say I'm more of a solitary type: my favourite activities are all solitary - reading, studying, writing. I watch TV as a group activity, usually.

Yes, being overwhelmed (or overpowered, or obsessed) by my own emotions is a problem. I try not to let it show.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I don't really have any group activities these days, because I no longer have a group, except on occasional visits to St As. But most of my activities (reading, research & c) are solo ones, anyway. What I miss is conversation. I see one friend, Elma, on a Sunday, otherwise I can go all week without a face-to-face conversation beyond, "A decaff skinny latte, please." I phone my parents every night, but... It's not the same.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I am lucky in that I have fannish friends (of various types) to talk to - some of them by telephone, like you! It's been wonderful to have maaseru and maaboroshi in the same building, and others like commodorified and Alayne, or lmondegreen and josanpq elsewhere in or near the city.

This doesn't stop me from thinking of myself as solitary and introverted, though!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yes! Having Skype is great, and e-mail – but it's not the same as having people around. I can count on one hand the number of visitors I've had since moving here 4 years ago. I know my friends have their own lives, jobs, & c, but most of them have more money than I do, so why is it always me that has to cross the country by bus/pay for B&B, to go to see them? Once I moved away, it was as if any reciprocity disappeared.

I hoped to get more involved with the History Dept here in Glasgow, but last term it was always dark and stormy and raining when there was a talk on (at 5.30), which made going out again an unpleasant prospect; and this term, there aren't any subjects that interest me (all Modern).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I occasionally check the universities to see if there are lectures or events of interest; sadly, there isn't much medieval history in this city and what there is, is mostly available only for full-time students, or at least, people who don't work in the daytime. Add to that the problem of being tired after work, and bad weather, and I fall more and more out of touch... Thank goodness there are books and libraries.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

After some recent conversations on medievalstudies, I'm frankly worried about what they're teaching at the University of Ottawa.

Apparently, some 2nd year Mediævalists, as part of a social history course, have been asked to create a"character profile" of a fictional character (their tutor gives them the social class and occupation and they have to use their reading to flesh it out). They then have to write a paper about how their fictional character would react/what s/he would think, feel and do, during the 13C popular revolt they're studying... To me, this is a creative writing exercise – historical fiction, not history! Apparently, their tutor thinks this will give "meaning" to their research. Also, it's because some of the demographic groups covered (such as the unemployed) haven't left much trace in evidence. Fine: if there's not much evidence, that doesn't give you carte-blanche to impose your own imaginative recreation instead: you should just come clean and say, "We can't say what x demographic group thought about these events, because we have no proof"!

I was horrified. We never, ever had to do anything like that at St Andrews.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm frankly worried about what they're teaching at the University of Ottawa.

Hee - I wouldn't know, I'm a graduate of Carleton!

We never, ever had to do anything like that at St Andrews.

Well, we never had to do anything like that at Carleton, either, but of course that was eons ago... Yes, it does sound like creative writing and I can see it as an exercise to get psychologicallly into the medieval environment, but I'd want lots of justification and footnotes and sources for just about every assertion. Easy to wander off into assumptions.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Yup. I really worry about it being used as a teaching method re: a late 13C popular revolt in Flanders. I got into a bit of an argument about it on the forum. One of the posters (a mature student in the class) wrote that:

I think that there is a great majority of people in the world who need this sort of exercise to bring history to a personal level they can relate to. History to a lot of people is drab - dates, names, events.[...]
I see this as a way to get the younger kids in class interested in the social structure of medieval life in a new way. It brings the facts to life. Causes them to have to think about the research in a more personal level. I know from experience, that this can be incredibly useful.

As I pointed out, these "younger kids" are not 8 year olds: they are 2nd year undergraduates of 19 or so. They shouldn't need sweeteners of this kind. And if they are finding the subject "drab", why the hell are they doing it? They chose to study it. And if the staff want to bring the research to a personal level for them to "relate to", there are documented real people to study, such as those with whom we fell in love...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would have thought that by second year, students would be beyond needing that kind of incentive. It occurs to me that - depending on the level of evaluation the teacher plans - it might be an indication to him where he needs to be focussing on problems and weaknesses in their understanding. Still: that ought to be obvious from standard essays, as well!

I can see this as being more appropriate for an exam, with the student proving how much he has learned about the reality of the situation. And again, with lots and lots of references and citations.

Handy for parking...

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

What Mythological Creature Are You? (http://www.blogthings.com/whatmythologicalcreatureareyouquiz/)

Re: Handy for parking...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, good for transportation. I like the Pegasus - and what's the English colloquial for the generic noun - pegasuses? pegasi? - who always reminds me of Supergirl's lovely horse, Comet. Same principle. (Except for Comet also being Biron the Bowman. Twisting the story a little.)

Re: Handy for parking...

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

and what's the English colloquial for the generic noun - pegasuses? pegasi?

I think it's just "flying horse". Pegasus was its personal name, wasn't it?

Re: Handy for parking...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It was, but I've heard it used symbolically, with a certain vagueness. It's also a kind of fish. The dictionaries don't list a plural though, so I think you're right - it's still really a specific being. Including the constellation.

[glinda-north.livejournal.com]

Ironic, since the element I'm least comfortable with is water. Oh well.

What Mythological Creature Are You? (http://www.blogthings.com/whatmythologicalcreatureareyouquiz/)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No. I don't feel comfortable with water, either. Otherwise I'd think this fit me better than the description I got! Ah, well, I'll write it down to 'hidden depths'.

Love your icon!

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

Whose definition of a mermaid is that? Traditionally, they were dangerous creatures luring sailors to their doom. Is this the Disney version?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, frankly, I think this quiz just made up random descriptions for characteristics for each of the categories. Any resemblence to real myth seems to be absent.