# Here are seven of my favorite things. What does that tell you?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 27, 2006, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787 "2006-01-27T00:28:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/21 "2006-01-27T16:27:12Z")
Mr Dibble: You think of yourself as a daring traditionalist, of the nostalgic black-wearing type. A Romanticist in the old use of the term.
Novel: Foucault’s Pendulum (Eco) or If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler (Calvino)
Short Story: Garden of Forking Paths (Borges) or The Dead (Joyce)
Film: Oh, sheesh. Blazing Saddles or Blade Runner?
Current TV Show: Can I hope for Futurama? The new Dr Who?
Musical. Hedwig, I suppose. Or Rocky Horror.
Painting: Van Eyck’s Canon van der Paele
Comic book: The Tick
---
### Author:  [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/22 "2006-01-27T16:34:32Z")
How about this - I don’t really have favorite things? My likes are very transitory - I don’t think I can say that there is one book/movie/tv show/recipe, whatever, that I default to.
Susan
---
### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/23 "2006-01-27T16:35:00Z")
**danceswithcats** , you seem to have a real appreciation for honesty and prefer it be presented in an engaging yet classic manner. Okay, I’d suck as a critic.
Musician: Neil young (Old Man)
Comic artist: Berke Breathed (Bloom County)
Painting: John Constable (The Hay Wain)
Movie: Jeremiah Johnson _or_ Fandango
Non-fiction: Bertrand Russell (The History of Western Philosophy)
Fiction: Cormack McCarthy (All the Pretty Horses)
TV: Monday Night Football
---
### Author:  [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/24 "2006-01-27T16:47:32Z")
> [@susan\_foster](#):
>
> How about this - I don’t really have favorite things? My likes are very transitory - I don’t think I can say that there is one book/movie/tv show/recipe, whatever, that I default to.
>
> Susan
Hmmmm… maybe you have trouble committing to one thing?
Favorite novel: Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves”
" short story: Stephen King’s “Everything’s Eventual”
" film: Fight Club
" television show (currently on air): Lost
" musical: Evita
" painting: René Magritte “Goncolde”
" comic book run: Sandman
---
### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/25 "2006-01-27T18:44:54Z")
> [@Snowboarder Bo](#):
>
> **Dervish** , you like soup. Your socialist tendencies clash with your desire for fashionable clothing and a fast car. You secretly wish that hippies would kidnap you so you wouldn’t have to take responsibilty for what happened last week at work.
At last some silliness! ;j
---
### Author:  [@furthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furthur)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/26 "2006-01-27T18:45:27Z")
> [@lieu](#):
>
> Musician: Neil young (Old Man)
> Comic artist: Berke Breathed (Bloom County)
> Painting: John Constable (The Hay Wain)
> Movie: Jeremiah Johnson _or_ Fandango
> Non-fiction: Bertrand Russell (The History of Western Philosophy)
> Fiction: Cormack McCarthy (All the Pretty Horses)
> TV: Monday Night Football
**lieu** , you love manly man stuff but also have a very thoughtful, intellectual side. You lean socialist and have a good sense of humor.
Musician(s): The Gourds (Song: Cracklins or Pickles)
Painting: Flora by Waterhouse
Favorite movie: Persuasion
Favorite TV show: Firefly
Favorite fiction: Pride and Prejudice or any Discworld
Favorite non-fiction: Last Chance to See
Favorite food: Thai (Spicy Chicken Mint)
Mrs. Furthur
---
### Author:  [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/27 "2006-01-27T19:49:48Z")
> [@Alias](#):
>
> Favorite novel: Mark Z. Danielewski’s “House of Leaves”
> " short story: Stephen King’s “Everything’s Eventual”
> " film: Fight Club
> " television show (currently on air): Lost
> " musical: Evita
> " painting: René Magritte “Goncolde”
> " comic book run: Sandman
You like strong, highly emotional experiences, even if they are occasionally disturbing. You like to be surprised, but don’t mind the occasional dose of predictability.
here’s mine:
Short story: (collection) David Foster Wallace: ‘Girl with Curious Hair’
Novel: Michael Chabon: ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay’
Film: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
Opera (in lieu of Musical): Mozart: Don Giovanni
Painting: Picasso’s ‘Don Quixote’
Non-fiction book: Bill Bryson: ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’
TV Show: Battlestar Galactica (the new one)
---
### Author:  [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/28 "2006-01-27T20:22:07Z")
> [@Figaro](#):
>
> You like strong, highly emotional experiences, even if they are occasionally disturbing. You like to be surprised, but don’t mind the occasional dose of predictability.
> here’s mine:
>
> Short story: (collection) David Foster Wallace: ‘Girl with Curious Hair’
> Novel: Michael Chabon: ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay’
> Film: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
> Opera (in lieu of Musical): Mozart: Don Giovanni
> Painting: Picasso’s ‘Don Quixote’
> Non-fiction book: Bill Bryson: ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’
> TV Show: Battlestar Galactica (the new one)
I would guess you are sort of a dreamy adventurer with a romantic streak. However, you possess a depth of interest in things that interst you most people will never know. You like to know why and believe that hope is the one thing you should never lose.
Here’s Mine:
Favorite novel: “Watership Down” By Richard Adams
short story: Ray Bradbury’s “Rocket Man” and “All of Summer in a Day”
film: Probably “It’s a Wonderful Life”
television show (currently on air): Law and Order (even without Lenny)
musical: Assassins by Sondheim
painting: Van Gough, Starry Starry Night
comic book run(Limited Series): Watchmen by Alan Moore
---
### Author:  [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/29 "2006-01-27T20:44:53Z")
> [@ddgryphon](#):
>
> Here’s Mine:
>
> Favorite novel: “Watership Down” By Richard Adams
> short story: Ray Bradbury’s “Rocket Man” and “All of Summer in a Day”
> film: Probably “It’s a Wonderful Life”
> television show (currently on air): Law and Order (even without Lenny)
> musical: Assassins by Sondheim
> painting: Van Gough, Starry Starry Night
> comic book run(Limited Series): Watchmen by Alan Moore
You have a fascination with the dark side, but believe that justice, or at least karma, might prevail. You find truth in the saying “I may be lying in the gutter, but at least I’m looking at the stars”.
Here’s what I got…
Favorite:
novel: Joseph Heller’s “Catch 22”
short story: Fredrick Pohl’s “Tunnel Under The World”
film: Apocalypse Now (_not_ Redux)
television show (currently on air): King of the Hill
musical: “Springtime For Hitler”
artwork: Ralph Steadman’s cover art from “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
comic book run: Alan Moore era “Swampthing”
---
### Author:  [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/30 "2006-01-27T21:43:31Z")
Favorite novels (tie): _Dandelion Wine_ by Ray Bradbury; _The Great Gatsby_ by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Favorite non-fiction books (tie): _The Story of Civilization_ by Will and Ariel Durant; _Walden_ by Henry David Thoreau.
Favorite living author: Camille Paglia.
Favorite classical music: _Carmina Burana_ by Carl Orff.
Favorite current TV show: _America’s Funniest Home Videos_.
Favorite website: SDMB.
Favorite month: October.
---
### Author:  [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/31 "2006-01-27T21:49:16Z")
VL Mungo, you are keenly aware of the insanity of the world but combat it with an absurd sense of humor.
OK, mine:
Novel: Either Beloved (Toni Morrison) or Love in the Ruins (Walker Percy)
Short Story: A Fratricide (Kafka)
Non Fiction: Please Kill Me: An Uncensored Oral History of Punk (McNeil and McCain)
Film: The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover
Musical: I can’t stand musicals.
Painting: one by El Greco–I think it’s called The Grand Inquisitor
TV Show: King of the Hill
Comic: the only one I can think of is a compilation called Commies From Mars: The Red Planet
---
### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/32 "2006-01-27T22:13:34Z")
Movie: Apocolypse Now
TV Show: The Simpsons
Book: Siddhartha
Play: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Album: Kind of Blue
Poem: If, by Rudyard Kipling
Rock Group: The Clash
---
### Author:  [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/33 "2006-01-27T23:27:07Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#):
>
> Movie: Apocolypse Now
> TV Show: The Simpsons
> Book: Siddhartha
> Play: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
> Album: Kind of Blue
> Poem: If, by Rudyard Kipling
> Rock Group: The Clash
You like raw, confrontational art (as exemplified by your love of “the Simpsons”), but temper your angry in-your-face attitude with an appreciation for quirkily amusing fair (such as “Apocalipse Now” and “the Clash”). You appreciated twisted reasoning (“R & J are dead”)
My Fav’s:
Movie: “Suddenly, Last Summer”
Novel: “Freddy’s Book” by John Gardner
Album: “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane
Play: “Buried Child” by Sam Shepard
Comic Book: Walt Simonsen’s run on “the Mighty Thor”
Catch-phrase: “The whole universe is completely insane!” uttered by Mr. Natural
web-site: Angry Aliens’ “30 Seconds…with Bunnies!” theater
---
### Author:  [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/34 "2006-01-27T23:58:01Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#):
>
> Movie: Apocolypse Now
> TV Show: The Simpsons
> Book: Siddhartha
> Play: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
> Album: Kind of Blue
> Poem: If, by Rudyard Kipling
> Rock Group: The Clash
You’re particularly good at explainging things, esp. at framing problems. I can’t explain how I get that from what you wrote.
I don’t have seven favorite things, instead, I have the following observation about myself:
I never know how to answer when people ask me “What’s your favorite x” for any particular x.
I can say this. Here are some things I have recently enjoyed very much:
the TV show 12 Ounce Mouse
The song “Eve of Destruction” as rewritten by the group Bishop Allen
A philosophical argument that relations are identical to their converses.
My wife’s clever one-liners, though no particular one comes to mind ATM.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
That’s all I can think of.
-FrL-
---
### Author:  [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/35 "2006-01-28T00:14:09Z")
**Effects:**
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> I never know how to answer …
>
> no particular one comes to mind…
>
> That’s all I can think of…
**Cause:**
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
😃
As for me…
**Favorite novel:** Nabokov, “Ada”
**Favorite movie:** Whit Stillman, “Metropolitan”
**Favorite jazz recording:** Stan Getz and Kenny Barron, “People Time”
**Favorite painting:** Bruegel, “Return of the Hunters”
---
### Author:  [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/36 "2006-01-28T00:15:41Z")
**Favorite number of favorite things:** 4
:smack:
---
### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/37 "2006-01-28T00:27:21Z")
> [@Frylock](#):
>
> I don’t have seven favorite things, instead, I have the following observation about myself:
>
> I never know how to answer when people ask me “What’s your favorite x” for any particular x.
>
> I can say this. Here are some things I have recently enjoyed very much:
>
> the TV show 12 Ounce Mouse
> The song “Eve of Destruction” as rewritten by the group Bishop Allen
> A philosophical argument that relations are identical to their converses.
> My wife’s clever one-liners, though no particular one comes to mind ATM.
> Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
>
> That’s all I can think of.
>
> -FrL-
How am I supposed to do stuff with that? 🙂
Um–you like quirky and out of the mainstream things. I am not familiar with the TV show, the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (sound like a beer to me) etc. So, I also conclude that you love and respect your wife. This makes you a Good Guy.
fav novel: _Pride and Prejudice_ by Jane Austen
fav short story: _A Small, Good Thing_ by Raymond Chandler.
fav film: too many to count. How about _Casablanca_?
fav TV show: if fictional, _Six Feet Under_, if not-TDS.
fav musical: currently, _Spamalot_
fav painting: almost any landscape–oh, Pisarro.
fav poem: _Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening_ , by Frost. Or _You Do Not Have to Be Good_ (first line, can’t think of title or poet)
---
### Author:  [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/38 "2006-01-28T02:28:37Z")
**eleanorigby** , you are old-fashioned. You like traditional things, and enjoy the simple comforts of home and family, though you are open-minded and liberal at the same time.
Favorite novel: _As I Lay Dying_, William Faulkner
Favorite short story: “The Deathbird,” Harlan Ellison
Favorite film: _Bladerunner_ (The Director’s Cut)
Favorite current TV show: _Deadwood_
Favorite musical: _Cats_
Favorite painting: Van Gogh’s irises
Favorite comic book: _The Watchmen_, by Alan Moore, and _The Sandman_, by Neil Gaiman
---
### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/39 "2006-01-28T03:47:38Z")
Spot on, **Rubystreak**!
---
### Author:  [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787/40 "2006-01-28T03:56:44Z")
**Rubystreak** , you’re not afraid to contemplate things of a darker nature, but you are not necessarily “dark” yourself. You’re a bit different from others around you, but not so much that you can’t fit into social situations rather well.
With these, keep in mind that honestly there’s at least a 3 way tie for every category, but I felt that’d be cheating or weakening the idea. Unless someone wants to see my other ones to see how it changes my ‘profile’.
Favorite novel: “One Hundred Years of Solitude” - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Favorite short story: “The Library of Babel” - Jorge Luis Borges
Favorite film: Pi
Favorite current TV show: scholarly biographies of historical figures (like Napoleon, Czar Nicolas, Otto von Bismarck, etc that go into historical context and impact instead of just a glossy biopic)
Favorite play: Death of a Salesman (prefer to read over watch, though)
Favorite painting: Le Portugais (The Emigrant) - Georges Braque
Favorite band/musician: Einstürzende Neubauten
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/here-are-seven-of-my-favorite-things-what-does-that-tell-you/341787.md?page=3)