My Barack Obama Special Edition Wall Calendar tells me that today is the Asian Lunar New Year, and the Times confirms that it’s the Year of the Ox. The Earth Ox.
I’m a water pig, which means I’m honest, straightforward and patient (honest and straightforward? Sure. Patient? Not in a million years). I’m apparently also shy (ha), modest (haha), self-indulgent (true), and too sensitive (really true).
What are you?
Here’s hoping it’s a good year.
I’m a fire dragon. Though I do have an active mind and a great interest in the world around me, almost no one who knows me will consider me to be flamboyant, socially confident, or the life of the party…….unless it is to be chased out because I crashed it. ;)
Creating the right impression……..AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
As for ambition, self-aggrandizement, and meglomania…..I’ll take the fifth….;)
Here’s to a Happy lunar New Year to everyone!
Haha! I’m a “Metal Dog” – sounds like a good band name. I don’t fit 90% of the attributes listed, but hey, I’m a METAL DOG! How cool is that?
In Mandarin, the character in pingying is “niu” (rising accent, I think), so my Mandarin prof has been wishing us all a “Happy Niu Year”. This is why I love Mandarin class. ;)
I am a fire dragon, just like exholt! Although I am less likely to crash parties. :)
Astrology, of any and all sort, is woo and quackery and I’ve found anyone who actively believes in it (aside from, “Oh, this is kind of cute, I’m an ox, haha!) is likely otherwise vapid and flaky. If you lack the critical thinking skills to deduce that astrology is a load of bull, you likely lack critical thinking skills, period.
So, no, I have no idea if I’m an Ox or a Carrot and I, frankly, don’t care, because this shit is bunk and ridiculous and I have more interesting things to spend my time on.
…like commenting on a silly post about ridiculous bunk, written by a vapid flake? Those kinds of interesting things?
Hey littleapples…you maybe could have spent your time on those more interesting things instead of commenting on how you have more interesting things to spend your time on. Just a thought.
I match Jill – same assessment, too.
And for the kids in the audience, no, I don’t care about astrology, but I do think holidays are fun and I will admit that I’m a textbook Leo. If you believe in astrology, more power to you. Now back to collectively celebrating the Year of the Ox!
I’m a metal horse, which apparently is very balanced (not really), lively, sexual though committed (yes, and yes), wild with a taste for life (somewhat), and very temperamental and defensive (somewhat). Apparently serious (no).
Earth Snake. I knew about the Snake, but not the Earth. I freely confess to not knowing much about the personality traits these associations imply.
Aw, one of my best friends is vapid and flaky. Thanks littleapples! Without your help I might have gone on continuing to think that she’s smart and cool and just happens to believe in something that I don’t but still think is interesting.
Jill, that explains why we are so similar in so many ways. I’m a textbook Leo, too!!!
“If you believe in astrology, more power to you. ”
Aka, “If you believe in astrology, more power to you being an idiot who can’t think for him or herself!” Yay for patting idiocy on the back!
http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/astrology.html
There. I did the research for you. And of course that’s not the only research out there debunking the idiocy of astrology, but I’ll leave that to you to find.
Astrology is woo and quackery and I find it hilarious that people believe in that bullshit. So, yes, Cara, your friend is vapid and flaky and obviosuly lacking in the critical thinking skills department. Does she believe in the tooth fairty, too?
Littleapples, you’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass since your first comment here, and always manage to make an ass out of yourself and annoy everyone on the most benign of threads — like this one. And yup, you just took it a step too far. Goodbye and good riddance.
Fire horse. Some traits apply, others not so much.
And jeez littleapples, I’m not ‘into’ astrology either, but it’s fun to play along sometimes. Unclench, fer chrissakes!
Apparently I’m a Metal Rooster. From what I found with Google that means I’m observant but often abrasive or blunt. In the interest of cultural sensitivity (and good fun), I’ll do my best to live up to those attributes.
Littleapples: Your aggressive criticism and overwrought disdain for those who think differently then you says less about the value of your position than it does about the insecurity you feel regarding it. Calling someone “vapid…flaky…and obviosuly [sic] lacking in critical thinking skills” is not a mark of intellectual rigor but of a belief that volume can mask a lack of substance. The fact that you felt the need to not only post a derisive comment, but aggressively and repeatedly defend your position betrays a weak spot in your personality. Your behavior is reminiscent of the homophobe who quietly hopes that if he beats enough “queers” he’ll stop getting erections every time an ad for pro-wrestling crosses his television screen.
I’m an earth horse…which doesn’t fit me at all except for the stubborn part (snort…good at politics…swing and a miss!).
The SO is a wood tiger…which doesn’t fit him either except for the brilliant part (stubborn would be his defining characteristic…being a Taurus and all.)
Wow! Looks like it got a little heated, and that’s coming from a Fire Sheep which according to what I’ve read means I’m the most artistic or creative sign of the zodiac and has a great sense of fashion. Okay you we’re doing okay until the fashion, nope). I’m apparently very unlikely to cause others problems…intentionally.
As for the fire, well I’m a redhead and it’s masculine and associated with heat so I’ll blame my hot flashes on that.
Apparently I’m a Wood Ox. I guess the Ox means I am logical, hardworking, intelligent, dependable, systematic and methodical, calm, modest, kind, caring, common-sensical, invested in security, don’t like to take risks, strong minded, stubborn, patient, truthful, sincere, and wary of new trends. And the Wood means I am strong and flexible, warm, generous, idealistic, cooperative, outgoing (no), socially conscious, and that I seek to grow and expand. Mostly decently accurate (except that some of the wood traits kind of sort of contradict some of the ox ones) but then of course these things are so broad that they always fit a lot of people, and most people see themselves in at least some of the traits.
And my S.O. who sometimes posts under this name too is a Metal Rooster. The Rooster traits aren’t true at all, kind of comical really if you know my S.O. at all, and the metal traits are less comical but still don’t really fit.
Fire Dragon, heh. Wrong as hell, too, even the day and hour stuff. Maybe you have to be Asian for it to work?
I’m a metal rooster, which makes me… a hard cock?
Apparently I’m unyielding, rigid, persistent, and determined (kind of true). Also self-reliant and “prefer to handle their problems alone” (true). “The metal person is also materialistic, business oriented and good at organization and stability” (decidedly untrue).
Ha! I just found more:
“self-absorbed, pretentious” TRUE
“They do not like dishonesty or mockery of any sort. They are blunt, up front and honest people and expect those around them to be the same.” TRUE, I do expect everyone to be honest, and I find dishonesty the most distastful attribute of someone’s personality. Once you’ve been dishonest with me you’re out. But FALSE, mockery is awesome and I am a believer in the power of snark.
I’m a cancerous wood ox! “These people are always welcome because of their coolness and awesomeness. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac”
Really wikipedia? … Well, I’ll believe that.
fire snake here. Astrology is fun. Depending on which snake description you read, one version *is* actually reasonably accurate.
I think tales just build up for each catagory for people born in different years, and eventually the signs will have enough “traits” to cover everyone born under it!
To Jill and others who are unfamiliar with Chinese Astrology,
Actually, each sign is also ruled by a second animal sign, which depends on your time of birth. Thus for example, a person could be a born a Water Pig, but depending on their time of birth, have a second sign of Dog/Dragon/etc. The second animal sign is perceived to have a significant impact on the primary animal sign. For example, two people born as Water Pigs, but one having the second sign of a Rooster, and the other one have the second sign of a Monkey can have different personality traits, as they are affected by different secondary signs.
The other factor that affects the animal sign is the season. Being born a Summer Water Pig, Spring Water Pig, Autumn Water Pig or Winter Water Pig grants slightly different personalities and traits.
These two factors explain the fact that it is possible for Different Water Pigs to have different personalities and traits.
Hey, littleapples, I don’t believe in superstitions like astrology either, but it’s just a bit of fun. I understand the exasperation of those who don’t want to participate in it at all, but it’s Chinese New Year, think about it as honouring an ancient tradition, even if it is all bunk.
I am an ox. Welcome to my year.
I’m a metal monkey. Sounds more like the name for an 80′s hair band, though.
timothynakayama, now all this astrology business is completely over my head. I’m going back to being a plain old Aquarius (don’t ask me which planet is rising).
Lauren: huzzah for the metal roosters! Brave, enthusiastic, witty, loyal, hardworking, intelligent, meticulous, generous, talented, self-Involved, materialistic, overly-romantic, pretentious, vain, bossy, fussy, and blunt.
I don’t consider myself materialistic, vain, or overly romantic, but the rest of it is quite a good fit.
I am, however, a quintessential Scorpio.
I’m a Wood Rat. I’ve also seen this called a “rat on the roof”. My year was last year, well, that was an Earth rat but whatever. I’ve always found my readings to be pretty accurate, especially when you take my Western solar sign into account as well.
timothynakayama, now all this astrology business is completely over my head. I’m going back to being a plain old Aquarius (don’t ask me which planet is rising).
Lauren…guess what? The Chinese astrology animal and element signs are also compatible with the Western Zodiac. Ie, there are books that go into details about Cancerian Fire Oxes, Libran Metal Monkeys. Sagittarian Water Dogs, etc….
Double the fun, but definitely confusing for the first timer or casual browser.
Another metal rooster here. And with Chinese astrology as with the European kind, the personality description is so opposite my actual personality as to be side-splittingly ludicrous.
I’m an Aries, which matches well with the rooster – not so well with me.
Another nickname for a snake I commonly hear among older relatives and Chinese classmates is “little dragon”.
As for Western astrology, I happen to be a Sagittarius and many of the positive and all of the “dislikes” on the wikipedia page are accurate.
I’m a metal pig, and I deduct that I’m twelve years older than Jill. And as timothynakayama wrote, there’s lots more to the Chinese astrology than just the year’s element and animal. There’s the month, and the hour, and stems and branches and different elements will be stronger during different times of your life, and you actually have all five elements only you’ll have more of some than of others.
This woo-woo is a lot more complicated than most Western news items make it sound.
Isn’t that true for any woo-woo of any variety? And by “woo-woo” I mean…well…anything really.
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I’m a metal monkey, which just sounds like fun anyway. And the characteristics of the metal monkey seem to match me pretty much perfectly (although I’m not looking forward to the second part of my life being “upset and confused” and my plans “miscarrying”).
With this in mind, I’ve decided to celebrate the hell out of the Chinese new year. My January has been absolute pig shit (monkey shit?), and I need a new fresh start to start afresh. Time to put on a red shirt, get a haircut, and visit my parents.
Since I’m a Virgo born in the Year of the Rooster, that makes me a virgin cock.