NON-LINEAR MINDEDNESS "PURITY" TEST Choose the best-fit of the answers below. Score a '0' for each 'a', '1' for 'b' or 'd', '2' for 'c' 1. You are standing in line at a check-out counter at a store. You already have everything that you came to the store to get in your shopping cart. The line is long and looks as though it will take at least 10 minutes to get to you, and several people got behind you right after you got in line. There are no other checkout lines available, and you already picked the shortest one. Do you a) Continue waiting in line for your turn b) get out of line and shop for another 15 minutes, hoping that the lines will become shorter c) Angrily yell at the check-out clerk to hurry up, or drop "loud hints" like "aren't there any more checkstands available," and "why isn't this line moving?" d) get out of line, leave the shopping cart in the isle, and go to another store (or return at a time when there are not likely to be any lines). 2. You have a child of 3 years and you discover that he's just dumped the kitchen trash can all over the kitchen floor, and is now busily smearing the contents because he likes the colors it makes on the floor. Do you a) scold the child, put him in a 'safe zone' out of your way, pick up the trash, and mop the floor b) scold the child, make him help you pick the trash up, and mop the floor c) freak out 3. You see your ideal occupation as a) something where you can advance, have a decent salary with good benefits, and an excellent retirement program. b) something where you can express your creativity or your ability to quickly adapt to often/rapidly changing situations c) whatever you can manage to get hired to do, or 'jack of all trades' 4. Your car breaks down on the freeway, and won't start again. You have roadside emergency service already paid for. Do you a) get on the cell phone or roadside emergency phone and call a towtruck b) pop open the hood and attempt to fix the problem yourself c) light the car on fire and/or call it various profane names for an extended period of time, then abandon the vehicle. 5. My musical and/or acting ability is a) I don't play any musical instruments, or do any kind of acting, but I played an instrument and/or was in a school play when I was a child. I am/was able to play the instrument only by reading a score, and/or my acting ability got me a role as one of the background characters. b) I regularly play an instrument or sing during my spare time, and/or seek out opportunities in amateur theater or comedy. I am fairly proficient at music and/or acting, and can even improvise somewhat. c) My day job gets in the way of my music/acting, or "come to my concert/show/movie and/or buy my album/video" 6. My artistic ability is a) I can draw simple things, but it doesn't interest me much b) I often sketch my ideas to help me visualize them. I am a moderately skilled draftsman and/or CAD/CAM operator, and/or I draw/paint/sculpt/etc. for enjoyment. c) My day job gets in the way of my art, or "come to my showing and buy my artwork" 7. My writing ability is a) I write letters occasionally, including e-mail. b) I sometimes write songs and/or poetry, and/or took 'Creative Writing' when I was in school because I wanted to. Sometimes I need to write documentation or form letters for my work. c) Writing is my passion, my life... but my day job keeps me occupied all too often. Or... "Come to the Poet's Corner Coffee House, I'm doing a reading this evening, and/or I'll autograph my latest book for you." 8a. MEN ONLY - when I was in High School, I was considered ('best fit' choice) a) A 'Jock' - I maintained at least a C or B average, was relatively popular, and was VERY good at Varsity or Junior Varsity or Intramural sports. b) A 'Geek' - I maintained an A average (especially in the classes I liked), did ok in intramural sports, took only college prep courses whenever possible, and spent my time after school engaging in intellectually stimulating activities. c) A 'Freak' - I did drugs, played music or did theater projects with my buddies or did my artwork/writing until late into the evening whenever I could, didn't care about my grades as long as I passed, and took easy courses "just to get through" (or dropped out). d) A 'Wimp' - I was bad at sports, got picked on all of the time, did poorly in school except for the things I liked doing, and didn't go to any dances or Proms. If I joined any clubs, they were acedemic. 8b. WOMEN ONLY - when I was in High School, I was considered ('best fit' choice) a) A 'Betty' - I maintained at least a C or B average, went to most of the dances, and was a member of several social clubs and/or the Prom committee. I hung out with 'Jocks' and/or participated in intramural or Junior Varsity or Varsity women's sports, but strictly kept to 'approved' sports like Tennis or Volleyball. b) A 'Brain' - I maintained an A average (especially in the classes I liked), attended the Junior and/or Senior Prom, and spent my time after school engaging in intellectually stimulating activities. c) A 'Freak' - I did drugs, hung out with musicians and artists and actors and poets (or was a musician or artist or poet or actor myself), and if I engaged in sports I was either VERY VERY GOOD or VERY VERY BAD at it, and typically chose the kinds of sports that women don't often do if I did them at all. d) A 'Tomboy' - I participated in intramural or Varsity/Junior Varsity sports, and I didn't care what people thought of me, and chose the sports that I wanted to do. I typically wore loose fitting clothing because it was comfortable. Proms and dances weren't that important to me. Neither was my GPA, as long as I passed. 9a. MEN ONLY - If I were to go in the military, I'd choose a) Army b) Navy or Air Force c) If I were drafted, I'd dodge the draft instead. d) Marine Corps 9b. WOMEN ONLY - If I were to marry a man in the military, I'd prefer a) Army soldier b) Navy sailor or Air Force airman c) I'd rather join the military myself d) A MARINE! 10. I think this test was a) rediculous b) interesting c) what business is it of YOURS? RATINGS: 0-2 - you are definitely a linear-minded person, someone who prefers routine, sticks with the same job for decades, and would make a good farmer or assembly line worker, or even a school teacher as long as you use traditional methods. Your life is predictable, your future certain, and the most excitement you have is probably when you get your tax refund check. If you are a woman, you'll probably choose to be a 'stay at home parent' rather than working outside of the home. KEY WORD: FARMER 3-5 - you are probably a linear-minded person, with some non-linear tendencies. You would still do well in traditional 'linear' jobs, but may become dissatisfied if you're not allowed to advance or express some kind of creativity. You probably have a job that requires some creativity, but is mostly routine, perhaps a job in accounting, or computer science, or as a manager or company representative. If you're a stay at home parent, you may decide to get a part time job when the kids are "old enough" to be left on their own for a few hours each day. KEY WORD: MANAGER 6-9 - you are probably a non-linear-minded person, but you are able to cope in a dominantly linear society. If you were in agriculture, you'd be a rancher, or would invest in corporate farming rather than perform the tasks yourself. You probably have a moderately creative job, in engineering or science, or perhaps a job in sales and marketing, or even as a consultant or investment broker. If you are a 'stay at home parent' you'll probably try to work at least part time, even if it's just doing day care for other working parents' kids. You probably enjoy hunting and deep sea fishing, and possibly some kind of athletic activity where creativity and strategy are important. KEY WORD: HUNTER 10-13 - you are definitely a non-linear minded person, and may have trouble coping in a dominantly linear society. If you were in agriculture, your crops would most likely die on the vine, but you might do well in ranching. You have probably chosen a high-adrenaline type of career, such as career military, police, or firefighting, or a 'highly creative' career in engineering or as a professional musician, writer, actor, or artist. You may also have gone into business yourself as a 'jack of all trades', or a plumber, or electrician, or mechanic, or may even be some kind of construction worker. Money is probably less important to you than satisfying your needs for creativity, even if it takes the form of a high-adrenaline career where you must think fast to adapt to rapidly changing situations. It's also highly doubtful that you are a 'stay at home parent'. KEY WORD: CREATOR 14-17 - you are definitely a non-linear minded person, but you most likely find it difficult to cope in society. People don't see things your way, and often misunderstand you. You are likely to seek out people like yourself, and when you find them, tend to isolate yourself into small groups, away from others. You also probably work odd jobs whenever you can get them, or not at all. If you are an artist, musician, writer, or actor, you probably have a small but dedicated audience of people like yourself, and don't earn a whole lot of money at it. If you have any children, you probably use the child to get money via social programs, or you let someone else raise him/her (and don't bother supporting the child in any way). KEY WORD: REVOLUTIONARY 18+ - you are most likely a psychopath or a deranged artist like Van Gogh, and cutting off body parts as a social statement probably seems acceptable, even natural, to you. You are most likely alone nearly all of the time, have no friends, few acquaintances, and like it that way, because it gives you plenty of space to 'create' or to 'plan' or to engage in activities that society usually frowns upon. Jail is probably like a second home to you. You probably see social morality as an unnecessary restriction on your freedom, and see nothing wrong with doing those things that others around you find shocking. KEY WORD: ANTI-SOCIAL