# Why are you what you are? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2000, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904 "2000-11-06T04:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/42 "2000-11-10T12:00:37Z")
because my parents had a real sense of humor, and had Tom Lehrer and Spike Jones in the house, as wqell as good classical music and show tunes. Because my mom liked to wake us up by singing obnoxious songs (something I now do at my in-patient job, to wake up the stubborn sleepers). because my brother turned me on to Frank Zappa and George Carlin when I was about ten. because i was a smart kid, and the school screwed up and told me. (Talk about turning on the lazy switch!) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_A\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Just\_A\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_A_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/43 "2000-11-10T20:28:18Z")
Because I want to be percieved as someone with a truly individual personality. I want people to listen and take to heart when I have an opinion to express and I want people to leave conversations with me feeling enlightened by what I have to say. I matured early because my parents got divorced. I struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem, and I hope this makes me a stronger person. But that’s who I am. I’m driven, but I never feel I’ve done good enough. I want people to accept me, but I never feel accepted. That’s me. I’m this way because of a culmination of all of my experiences and decisions combined with the personality I was born with. We all are…the best we can do is accept it and use it to our best advantage. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2000, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/44 "2000-11-10T20:49:21Z")
Because I’m tired and I’ve got a headache. And it’s Friday. Because my parents were kind of assholes. Because every time I look at her, I’m struck to the depths of my being with her beauty. Because I’ve read too much about history, politics, and economic philosophy. Because I got beat up a lot as a kid. Because I’ve read too much about history, politics, and economic philosophy. Because I have really quirky friends. Because I’ve read too much about history, politics, and economic philosophy. Because I’m too damned scared to take such a risk. Because I sent in an application. Because I got a temp job here for a while. Because it was a way of showing that I was in serious angst. Because it was a way to show off. Because y’all are the greatest. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/45 "2000-11-11T18:45:33Z")
Because I wanted to preserve as much of my sanity as would preserve as much of my sanity as possible. Because I want to live for myself. Not doing that nearly killed me, thankyouverymuch. Because being attracted to people is so much fun:) Natural, too, evidently:) Because I’d rather not see what happened to me happen to anyone else. I’d rather it never happen again. Ever. Anywhere. And when I do it infuriates me. ---
**Author:** ![quasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@quasar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quasar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/46 "2000-11-11T20:47:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer \* > \*\*Why am I what I am? > > Being taught to read early. Being bored in school. Reading Conan. Reading Superman. Reading Calvin and Hobbes. Listening to Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Rush, Blink 182, and Tenacious D. Being made fun of in elementary. Being beaten up in Junior High. Being picked on in High School. Being sick and tired of stupid people. Being tired of corruption and lies. Never having a girlfriend. Being unloved. Being lonely. Dealing with my own pain. Not sharing. Having no other outlet. Loving computers. Loving cars. Loving car audio. Loving home audio. Loving home theater. Loving home. Pizza, ice cream, beer, weed, mushrooms. Nickelodeon and Nickelback. MTV, Comedy Central, and science fiction. Douglas Adams, Monty Python, and Princess Bride. Movies, TV, violent video games, and angry music. Fighting intellectually, spiritually, physically, and mentally. Being tired. Giving up. Writing essays, books, and papers. Finding my own way. Making people laugh, and making people cry. Wonderment, curiosity, unrequited love. Doom, Quake, Fallout, and System Shock. Nervousness and sadness. Loss, friendship, backstabbing. Simpsons, Futurama, Friends, Seinfeld, and Herman’s Head. Knife fighting monkeys. > > –I am Tim. \*\* I just realized what a cool dude **Homer** is. As to why am I what I am? Well, simply because if I weren’t, who would? This world needs wacky dudes like me. Besides, if I weren’t what I am, I would then be what I am not, and God knows I don’t want to be like that. 🙂 * * * **Yoda** or **Yogurt**? A dilemma for the ages. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@Wee\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Man)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/47 "2000-11-15T03:39:38Z")
Because I was loved and supported as a child. Because I am loved and supported as an adult. Because I had enough sense to realize that I don’t know everthing. Because I was willing to take chances. Because I am smart enough to learn from my mistakes Because I can admit when I’m wrong. Because I know I can’t do everything by myself. Because my faith in God is greater than my intellect that questions that faith. I love the answers to the OP. Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![Reboot42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Reboot42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reboot42)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/48 "2000-11-15T06:19:23Z")
Because I think, therefore, I am. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/49 "2000-11-15T09:24:51Z")
Because someone had to, and no-one else would. Quite sad, really . . . – “Ah, MORE innocent people killed for Diabolik’s whims!” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/50 "2000-11-15T14:30:33Z")
Because I wasn’t good enough to be a major league baseball player, strong enough to be a cowboy and couldn’t see well enough to be a jet fighter pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904/51 "2000-11-15T15:19:18Z")
Well, I was busy for so long doing other things, in order to be someone else, I just lost track. By the time I noticed who I had become, I was pretty good at being who I am, so I just kept doing it. On the whole, it turned out better than I expected. Planning has never been my long suit. Tris [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-what-you-are/39904.md?page=2)