You are what you blog

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Andrew Sullivan links to a site that, in his words, "claims to be able to analyze a blog and determine its 'type.'"

It apparently uses a blog's text to determine what "type" the blogger is -- or bloggers are, in the case of a group blog. An FAQ is here.

"By studying how people write," the site suggests, "we can get an glimpse of what is on the mind of the person and what is characteristic of the person - or, as in the case of a blog - what is typical of the role/persona used when writing that blog."

Okay, fair enough. It's just the old Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment. But it's amusing.

All you have to do is plug in your blog URL and -- presto! -- you're done.

Along with Andrew -- who plugged in various A-listers like Reynolds, Yglesias, and Hewitt and found it to be remarkably accurate -- other bloggers have been playing along. See, for example, Kevin Drum, James Joyner, and Stephen Bainbridge.

For what it's worth, The Reaction is an INTJ (introversion, intuition, thinking, judging) blog:

The long-range thinking and individualistic type. They are especially good at looking at almost anything and figuring out a way of improving it - often with a highly creative and imaginative touch. They are intellectually curious and daring, but might be pshysically [sic] hesitant to try new things.

The Scientists enjoy theoretical work that allows them to use their strong minds and bold creativity. Since they tend to be so abstract and theoretical in their communication they often have a problem communcating their visions to other people and need to learn patience and use conrete examples. Since they are extremly good at concentrating they often have no trouble working alone.

Which I suppose is about right, taking me and the co-bloggers all together and considering what we mostly write about (which is politics). And I'd say that's a major part of my personality, though, of course, I don't write all that frequently at the blog about art, music, literature, food, and sports, all of which are important to me, nor does the blog include any of my fiction. The Reaction is only part of me, as it is only part of the co-bloggers.

Anyway, check it out.