What are you?

[Steph]

Why is everyone always projecting? I must do it too I guess. (sigh) No Steph, Im not saying thats more important to me. On the contrary I think I agreed with you that marital status is important. As I said, I tried to think of likely answers. First answers. When asked 'What are you?' I doubt very much the first answer that pops into anyones mind would be their marital status. That doesnt mean I dont think its a perfectly valid answer.

The "you" in my answer was not directed at you Bozo, but at you, everyone who place politics before familly

 

[Mirc]

Nationality, then Religion. Then Profession, Gender, Species.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Ah, ok Steph. guess I was the one projecting that time.

@Gelion: Watched it a couple of times, just couldnt get into it. Im very picky when it comes to Sci Fi shows.

 

[Jawz II]

First thing that popped up in my head? Henry the VIII I am, I am Henry the VIII.

So I guess profession?

 

[Masquerouge]

If someone came and asked me out of the blue "so, what are you?", my profession would probably be the first thing in my mind.

 

[JollyRoger]

My first reaction: I am a father.

My first reaction: Not your baby's daddy.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I'm nothing.

 

[The Last Conformist]

"Andreas"

 

[Mathilda]

Mother


then profession

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Mathilda, that may be what you feel most identifies you, but if someone with a microphone stopped you on the street and without preamble or context simply asked you "What are you?" is that what would first occur to you? Before nationality, species, etcetera? 'What are you' is a fairly broad question.

 

[CartesianFart]

'What are you' is a fairly broad question.

I beg to differ."What are you" is a vague and incomplete question that requires a "broad answer."

 

[Mathilda]

I think the problem with the question is that it's very hard to completely isolate it from any context.
That question doesn't really come without a context and I think people usually answer with what separates them from a crowd.
Say you go to a football tournament, and ask one of the players - what are you, he'll answer with his team name.
If you ask that same person at the training of his own team only, he'll tell you what position he plays.
Therefore, asking what would I answer on the street to a microphone... no idea, depends on so many things.

What is it really what you are trying to find out?
If it's not people feel that defines them, then what is it?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I think the problem with the question is that it's very hard to completely isolate it from any context.

I know.

That question doesn't really come without a context and I think people usually answer with what separates them from a crowd.

Exactly.

Say you go to a football tournament, and ask one of the players - what are you, he'll answer with his team name.
If you ask that same person at the training of his own team only, he'll tell you what position he plays.
Therefore, asking what would I answer on the street to a microphone... no idea, depends on so many things.

What is it really what you are trying to find out?

Absent context, what are we? Thats what Id really like to find out. Is what we are dependent on context?

 

[CartesianFart]

I guess when the question of "What are you" is raised it depend on what the state of mind of the individual who is the recipient of the question in any given circumstance and setting takes place in conjunction of the individual who delivers it.

 

[Swedishguy]

Nationality is what first pops up in my mind. Y'know, people would get impressed if I said "a swede".

But if a swede asked it? Well, they wouldn't ask "what are you?" but rather "vad är du?".

 

[Tykinruoka]

A weirdo. This response comes out without thinking when I'm asked that question.

 

[Gilder]

I am moreso defined with ethnicity.

 

[Mathilda]

Absent context, what are we? Thats what Id really like to find out. Is what we are dependent on context?

Well I can only think of teenagey emo philosophical answers to that, so I'll just spare you all.

 

[JonnyB]

I'm still trying to figure that out.

 

[Quintillus]

My first reaction was my name and why do you want to know?

But the first one of the choices I thought of was profession.