How can one be expected to compress the various facets of their personality into so tiny a space? The human psyche is far too complicated for such endeavours as these to even approache any kind of accuracy. Also, I hate trying to 'sell' myself, it seems unnatural. Of course, everyone says this kind of thing at the beginning of a self-summary; all I'm really doing is making myself seem unoriginal and cliched. Congratulations, me.

In a bid for self-knowledge, I've taken a bunch of online personality tests (not the ones on this site). Apparently, I am tragically and severely INTP.

It seems there are multiple glaring contradictions in my personality. On the one hand, I am pessimistic and reclusive, due to shyness and my general lack of aptitude in social situations. This is the part of me that most people see when they first try to get to know me, and I'm sure it deters many. It takes a while, or the right questions, to be privy to the lighter side of me. Yes, it exists, and enjoys such things as walking in the twilight hours, Autumnal leaves and romance. It's the sensitive and whimsical side, like Lloyd Dobler.

Other, general fluff about me:

I'm generally a laid back kind of person - some might say sedentary. I enjoy relaxing and geeky pastimes such as watching TV and movies, listening to music constantly, AVID computer gaming (mainly RPGs), reading, and browsing the internet, which is basically my default state of being. I'm an introvert, so I need lots of time to myself to recharge after being with company; hence the plethora of single-player activites. That said, I'm also quite shy; I don't know very many people, and sometimes one just wants company, especially if it's for the activites listed above. I'd appreciate someone to geek out with.

I don't care for most sports; I find team ball sports rather tedious. My feelings on the subject range from apathy to active dislike. However, I do enjoy certain sporty pastimes when I get the opportunity, such as skiing, skydiving, surfing, rock-climbing, wakeboarding and scuba diving. I can't indulge in these as often as I'd like.

Currently studying Biology at Durham University, although I've grown rather complacent about it. Who knows what'll happen? I'm the world's worst procrastinator (by which I mean that I procrastinate well. Quell horreur). So, will I conquer my urges to do nothing, and actually pass the course? Who can say? Certainly not I.

UPDATE: In actual fact, I can now say. I did indeed manage to pass the course, and now possess a 2:1. Now there remains only the gut-wrenching terror of deciding what to do next.

I don't particularily feel comfortable tooting my own horn to a bunch of faceless strangers. Maybe someone else could fill in this section; in any case, I'm not trustworthy enough to be discerning.

Obviously, I'm good at being esoteric.

Certain obvious things, such as the fact that I have all my limbs, and hair grows on my head.

After that, most people probably go back to what they were doing previously. I'm quite introverted, so I'll usually be keeping to myself.

Those that do reach out to get to know me (they have to, because I am abysmal at meeting new people) tend to notice that I'm blunt and concise in speech, and always tell people my real opinion on things. Some people don't always appreciate this.

Books: I enjoy Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, as well as he and Neil Gaiman's "Good Omens". I also like Douglas Adams, Jane Austen, the Harry Potter novels, Shakespeare, His Dark Materials, anything by Isaac Asimov. I really like the Earthsea novels, but only the first three, because fuck Tehanu. I am currently making my way through both Asimov's Foundation series of novels and Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim comicbooks.

Movies: I'll watch anything that's good, and probably memorise the names of the actors, the director and parts of the script while doing so. I can't seem to stop myself. I have a soft spot for good, thought-provoking sci-fi, and intelligent comedies.

TV Shows: Firefly!!!11! (like all genius, it went before its time), QI, Monty Python's Flying Circus, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Blackadder series 2-4, any great anime series (especially if it's got great music, such as Cowboy Bebop and Last Exile), Brass Eye + The Day Today, Jonathan Creek, The Office, Extras, House, Scrubs, Family Guy, and the Simpsons before it jumped the shark.

Music: I like to think I have a moderately eclectic range of musical taste, but doesn't everyone? However, I favour older stuff over new; I like lots of music from the sixties and seventies:

Classic rock (such as Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Allman Brothers Band, Thin Lizzy etc), and Blues, both classic and from the '60s British revival. For instance, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson, Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac. Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list.

Other music I enjoy:

Proper soul and R&B from the '60s and '70s, such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye...

Funk as well, such as Average White Band, The Meters, Sly & Family Stone, etc.

Classic jazz singers are also good. Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, etc.

For modern stuff, I prefer bands that use many different instruments to create an interesting sound. Examples: Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

Regarding singer/songwriters, I like any good lyricists that are also good at musical arrangement. Examples: Van Morrison, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake (exceptional), John Mayer, Joni Mitchell.

I also enjoy Irish music (the uilleann pipes are my favourite instrument of all time). The Bothy Band are a good example.

I really like accomplished film and anime scores as well. John Williams is great. Ennio Morricone's score of "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" is excellent. Practically all of Yoko Kanno's anime scores are exceptional, as are Joe Hisaishi's efforts for Studio Ghibli productions.

Air, water, food, a spinal chord, bone marrow, and blood.

Yes, I know. That kind of cynical humour got old back in "The first thing(s) people usually notice about me" section, if not before. So, why haven't I deleted it and started anew?

Because it fills up space and gives the illusion of substance.

The things I could really never do without: Music, above all. My PC and the intarwebs. My cat. Sleep (eventually).

Why certain people act in certain ways; the future; the beauty of everything in the twilight hours; love, and the concept of love; my own personality and those of others; random facts and interesting ideas.

Sitting in my room, wrapped up in a blanket and doing something that usually involves the internet, occasionally involves others, but always involves a screen. Music will also be involved, more often than not.

Examples: Forum surfing, computer game playing, film watching, getting lost in the inescapable mire of TVTropes.org, and other delightful pastimes.

I am painfully terrible at meeting new people, and as such have never been in a relationship, or had many friends. I didn't grow up in a very close community, am an only child, and I went to a school that had thirteen hour days, included school on saturday, and was filled with people that had interests deviant from my own. As such, I fail at social interaction.

Hence, the whole meeting people online thing. Even this is terrifying.

...you actually want to. I am not proactive. I rarely make the first move in any social context, and if I do it is usually purely utilitarian in nature. One might go as far as saying that if you don't message me, I'll die alone.

Alternatively, message me if you feel like geeking out. We can shout things like "Soylent Green is PEOPLE!" at each other.

Editors

• FalcoS