Category: Lifestyles

I’m a graver

The UK Times: term for someone over 40 who likes going to dance parties. I still like the occasional party.

I don’t stay until dawn. I’m a short-sprinter, only a couple of hours. I don’t go to Recoveries, am tucked up in bed by then.

If bees can do it, so can we

Aussie researchers have discovered that different honey bee species –  using an elaborate bum wiggle to communicate – can learn each other’s dialects. They bred and combined Asian and European bees into a single colony.

“Using video camera footage, scientists discovered that not only were the two getting along, but after a time, both were eventually able to decode each other’s bottom signals.”

(Great restraint was used when I wrote the header.)

Church of Scientology personality test

TRIED AND TESTED
What is it?
The form says: “Fill out this FREE Personality Test. Know the factors that affect your life. Bring it in today and receive your results. There is no obligation. This is done with the idea that people can know and improve themselves.”

The lowdown
There’s no one on the street corner handing out tests at lunchtime, so I go into the head office. The receptionist gives me the test and a copy of the church’s magazine, The Bridge. I’m allowed to take the test home and come back any time during office hours for an assessment.
I spend 20 minutes answering 200 questions honestly with yes, no or maybe/uncertain. Most of these cover how you’re feeling, whether you’re comfortable about interacting with people, the main vices, a couple about paranoia and several about ethics (for example, “Are you in favour of colour bar and class distinction?”, “Would the idea of inflicting pain on game, small animals or fish prevent you from hunting or fishing?”). Some of the terms are American but are easy to understand. I judge I’m feeling OK.

I go back to the head office the next day and am assigned to Miss K. I explain that I don’t want to fill out my contact details and she says that’s fine. An assistant puts my answers through the computer and five minutes later Miss K shows me the scores and how they reflect my personality, relationships and career. The results are in the “normal” and “desirable state” sections (none in the “unacceptable state” category) and this seems accurate.
I am given the results to take home and am not asked to buy anything or join up.

Tell me more
When you collect the results, you have the choice to discuss philosophical questions with the Scientologists and they have books and workshops, such as “Ups and Downs” that explain how the church deals with life’s problems. If you want to try other personality tests, you can find a number of options online by doing a Google search for Myers-Briggs, Enneagram or Keirsey.

Would I do it again?
No need to since I’m “normal”. I stayed for an hour and asked many questions and was shown several books but decided it wasn’t for me.
I was impressed by the courteous and non-pressured exchange.
Church of Scientology, 201 Castlereagh Street, city, 9267 6772 or go to www.dianetics.org