animal crossing

So, I've started to play this game on Nintendo DS called Animal Crossing. And, I have no idea why I like this game. There is no end goal, there are no monsters to meet, no princesses to save, there is no interaction in an online world. It's just me and nintendo ds. You pick a character, which ends up being some type of human with a big head. My character is a chick named Freddi (gee, I wonder why?!). You live in a house. You talk to your neighbors such as the frog dressed in camoflage (aptly named Camofrog) who is mean and says "ten-hut" after every sentence. You pick cherries to sell to the store (in exchange for the currency called "bells"). At the store, you can buy a fishing rod or a net to catch fish or bugs. You can then sell the fish or bugs to the store or donate them to the museum if the museum doesn't already have them. You also can buy furniture and decorate your house. Boring, right? NO!!!! It's addicting.

But anyway, other than product placement (i wasn't paid promise!), i have another point. I've taken thousands of tests (the enneagram, the Keirsey Temperment sorter, OKCupid.com...etc...) to try to figure out my personality. I am good with people but I am not good with myself - figuring myself out or defining myself. I usually can talk to someone and get some type of sixth sense about "their purpose in life" or what they'd be good at (in a general sense, not in a specific sense). Me? I couldn't even begin to tell you what I would be interested in doing for the rest of my life.

Yet, I have this theory that there are some things about our personality that are innate - that we reflect on a daily basis - that we don't even realize. These are characteristics we just can't change. Scratch that. I think we can change these traits but it takes an effort. Like these traits are hardwired in. Obvious examples that come to mind: if you are a morning or evening person (you can always *train* yourself to be the other), if exercise is important to you, if you work hard.

So, recently, someone told me that I think like an economist. I was at the outlet mall and I deciding whether to buy something by playing this little game with myself. It's a game I always play. Here are the rules: I usually don't look at the price tag until I've tried something on (this may be a habit from growing up as a rich kid or it may just mean that if i like something enough I don't care what the price is up to a certain extent). After I've tried on whatever article of clothing, I decide what I think the store will charge. Based off of that number, I decide what I'd be willing to pay. (I need the first step or else I would just be willing to pay what *I* think they should charge...and I'd probably have no clothes). When I have that number in mind, I look at the price tag.

Sometimes its easier to see it in number):
If I am in Urban Outfitters, I know that the long sleeve shirt I have on will probably be somewhere between $30-50. I decide that I'm willing to pay $35. I look at the price tag, its $40. (I did that on purpose b/c the $5 increase is the hardest choice). Do I love it enough to go above my original #? It's only $5 but then again, it's only worth $35 to me, not $40. It's supply and demand and I am looking to maximize my utility (or however economists speak).

But, you know what? That's not the first time that I've heard that I think like an economist. So this must be something about my personality because I don't mean to - it just happens naturally.

And where does this all tie into Animal Crossing? As an "economist", I would say that the above example just shows that I am a rational human being, making rational choices. Just because I think it out doesn't really give insight into my personality. (again, the self-confusion...). But, I found another example that goes with my theory as I was playing Animal Crossing.

I'm a messy person. Whoever has lived with me knows this. (again, i blame this on rich kid syndrome & having a housekeeper my whole life). I think that things get put away by themselves and I have the least bit of common courtesy when it comes to mess. (OTOH, i'd like to say that i am 90% a clean person...and i think there is a difference between messy & dirty...but there is that 10% about me that is kinda gross). In animal crossing, my favorite pasttime is to fish. (mostly b/c of the funny sayings in the game - like "I caught a Red Snapper! Oh SNAP!!" or "I caught a squid, no I SQUIDn't"). Sometimes you get exotic fish like Koi or a popeyed goldfish or a Carp (surprisingly hard to catch) but other times you get a tin can ("keep our waters clean, you CAN't litter") or a dirty boot or old tire. And, when I want to gather fish (you only have a certain amount of pocket space to hold stuff), I will just leave the old boots on the side of the river. I won't go and put them in the recycle (which is picked up every Monday and Thursday). I'm transferring my mess into the game.

But, as stated, you can change. Unlike real life, I *am* making Freddi make an effort to put the Boots in the recycle bin. Although, it is kinda fun to leave them because boots attract flies and I like to catch bugs (which are more difficult than catching fish).

I could go on forever about how I think the way in which we build our computer-nerd universes (read: animal crossing, the Sims) gives insight into our personality...but I'll stop here. I'm sure I've bored you enough. if you want me to dissect your personality (kinda like a modern-day tarot card reading), lemme know how you play these video games. if you want to give me insight into my own personality, i'd be more than happy to listen!