Interlude #2: Who Are You?
"Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know. (Who are you? Who, who, who who?)"
-The Who, "Who Are You," Who are You
Who are you? On the surface, this is a simple question that requires a simple answer. You just give your first name and your last name. If you happen to possess a middle name, you can give this also, but it is entirely optional. Like many simple questions, it is not as simple as it seems. Underneath the surface of simplicity lies an entirely deeper meaning.
Consider the name "Jake Lau." According to the latest census figures taken in the year 2000, there are nearly 300 million people living in the United States. Out of the 300 million citizens, how many of them share this name with the Jake Lau currently studying law at Davis University? Let's assume, very conservatively, that Asians form about 4% of the population of the United States. This is, of course, based upon the most recent census data. The CIA Factbook, available online and in hardback form, confirms this. That is nearly 12 million people. Out of this group of 12 million people, it would be safe to assume that a hundred people have the name of Jake Lau. Of course, this is a very conservative estimate, but for our purposes, this should be sufficient.
Even with a hundred people, going by name alone isn't enough to separate the Jake Lau studying at Davis Law School from a Jake Lau living in Los Angeles, California or another Jake Lau living in Miami, Florida. How about a more common name like John Smith. It would be safe to assume that there would be thousands of people with the name of John Smith living in New York City alone. How are you going to identify a John Smith living in Little Italy from a John Smith living in Queens? You can't go by name to fully answer the question.
OK, let's try to find physical characteristics that will distinguish the Davis Law Jake Lau from the other people sharing this name. He is six feet, two inches tall, making him very tall compared to Asian men and above average in height than most Americans. Nothing too amazing when it comes to height. Most people would say Jake is about six feet tall. Most people don't recognize those who look normal. They recognize those who deviate from the norm like the seven-foot tall basketball players or the circus midgets. Then again, if you look too normal, if you try too hard to fit in a group, you will stand out also. Like other Asians, Jake has black hair and brown eyes. He walks nearly ramrod straight and is nearsighted. He wears contacts. Most Asians, however, suffer from nearsightedness. Jake looks like many other Asians, so picking him out from a group of them would be difficult. If he slouched slightly, he would blend in very well. Not good enough.
You can add in another layer to distinguish the Davis Law Jake Lau from others with that same name. This Jake Lau likes to cook. There are many people, Asian and non-Asian, who like to cook. Jake likes drawing and reading. So do many other people. He loves martial arts like sword fighting. Again, there are other people who enjoy such things. He enjoys all forms of music, well most forms of music; he has a preference for classical music and classic rock. He thinks Tarantino movies are great, especially the Kill Bill movies. In general, he likes martial arts movies and sci-fi/fantasy movies like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jake loves reading books of all sorts. He has skill in mathematics, physics, and computers. He does impressions like Elvis and Woody Allen. He does crossword puzzles. These qualities make Jake distinct from others, but these alone do not make Jake Lau at Davis Law different from other Jakes. So, personal likes and dislikes like hobbies alone do not make Jake Lau at Davis Law complete.
What about his general temperament? He possesses a wicked and barbed sense of humor that can be politically incorrect. His "Woody Allen on Adoption" bit at Talent Night showed a large group of drunk people. He is smart, very smart, solely based upon IQ tests. Jake had his IQ tested when he was seven and it was 167. Genius level started at 130 and super-genius range started at 170. Of course, Jake knew that "genius" was a relative term depending on context. It came in various forms. Beethoven was a musical prodigy. Michael Jordan was a genius on the basketball court. He had a nasty temperament--a temper that could be easily triggered--well, he still has a nasty temperament. Jake suffered from occasional bouts of depression and loneliness. They didn't happen as much. Jake always felt like a loner. He still did on some days, despite having a girlfriend and other good friends. It wasn't as bad as it used to be. General temperament alone doesn't make the Davis Law Jake Lau what he is.
His past experiences alone didn't make Jake Lau the person that people at Davis Law knew. Jake Lau was just a generally understood term. It was a practical designation that made it easier to identify him in social situations. "Jake Lau" has no permanent individuality implied in it. Physical characteristics like eyes, hair, nail and teeth are not Jake Lau. Outward form is not Jake Lau. Hobbies are not Jake Lau. His general temperament is not Jake Lau. The sensations and perceptions that people had when they met him is not Jake Lau. None of these were Jake Lau.
Like a car, the wheel is not the car. The axles are not the car. Neither the windows or the gears are the car. All of the thousands of separate pieces that make up a car taken together is not a car. It's on account of all of the various components that the vehicle is called a car. It's a generally understood term, a practical designation. When you take account of all the various components that make up Jake Lau, it is only then the Jake Lau at Davis Law takes on meaning as that person. That is the true answer to the question of "who are you." When you answer that question with your name, you are stating more than just your name. You are including in many things. Your name is just a temporary practical designation and nothing more.
So, who are you? I really want to know.
I really want to know. (Who are you? Who, who, who who?)"
-The Who, "Who Are You," Who are You
Who are you? On the surface, this is a simple question that requires a simple answer. You just give your first name and your last name. If you happen to possess a middle name, you can give this also, but it is entirely optional. Like many simple questions, it is not as simple as it seems. Underneath the surface of simplicity lies an entirely deeper meaning.
Consider the name "Jake Lau." According to the latest census figures taken in the year 2000, there are nearly 300 million people living in the United States. Out of the 300 million citizens, how many of them share this name with the Jake Lau currently studying law at Davis University? Let's assume, very conservatively, that Asians form about 4% of the population of the United States. This is, of course, based upon the most recent census data. The CIA Factbook, available online and in hardback form, confirms this. That is nearly 12 million people. Out of this group of 12 million people, it would be safe to assume that a hundred people have the name of Jake Lau. Of course, this is a very conservative estimate, but for our purposes, this should be sufficient.
Even with a hundred people, going by name alone isn't enough to separate the Jake Lau studying at Davis Law School from a Jake Lau living in Los Angeles, California or another Jake Lau living in Miami, Florida. How about a more common name like John Smith. It would be safe to assume that there would be thousands of people with the name of John Smith living in New York City alone. How are you going to identify a John Smith living in Little Italy from a John Smith living in Queens? You can't go by name to fully answer the question.
OK, let's try to find physical characteristics that will distinguish the Davis Law Jake Lau from the other people sharing this name. He is six feet, two inches tall, making him very tall compared to Asian men and above average in height than most Americans. Nothing too amazing when it comes to height. Most people would say Jake is about six feet tall. Most people don't recognize those who look normal. They recognize those who deviate from the norm like the seven-foot tall basketball players or the circus midgets. Then again, if you look too normal, if you try too hard to fit in a group, you will stand out also. Like other Asians, Jake has black hair and brown eyes. He walks nearly ramrod straight and is nearsighted. He wears contacts. Most Asians, however, suffer from nearsightedness. Jake looks like many other Asians, so picking him out from a group of them would be difficult. If he slouched slightly, he would blend in very well. Not good enough.
You can add in another layer to distinguish the Davis Law Jake Lau from others with that same name. This Jake Lau likes to cook. There are many people, Asian and non-Asian, who like to cook. Jake likes drawing and reading. So do many other people. He loves martial arts like sword fighting. Again, there are other people who enjoy such things. He enjoys all forms of music, well most forms of music; he has a preference for classical music and classic rock. He thinks Tarantino movies are great, especially the Kill Bill movies. In general, he likes martial arts movies and sci-fi/fantasy movies like The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Jake loves reading books of all sorts. He has skill in mathematics, physics, and computers. He does impressions like Elvis and Woody Allen. He does crossword puzzles. These qualities make Jake distinct from others, but these alone do not make Jake Lau at Davis Law different from other Jakes. So, personal likes and dislikes like hobbies alone do not make Jake Lau at Davis Law complete.
What about his general temperament? He possesses a wicked and barbed sense of humor that can be politically incorrect. His "Woody Allen on Adoption" bit at Talent Night showed a large group of drunk people. He is smart, very smart, solely based upon IQ tests. Jake had his IQ tested when he was seven and it was 167. Genius level started at 130 and super-genius range started at 170. Of course, Jake knew that "genius" was a relative term depending on context. It came in various forms. Beethoven was a musical prodigy. Michael Jordan was a genius on the basketball court. He had a nasty temperament--a temper that could be easily triggered--well, he still has a nasty temperament. Jake suffered from occasional bouts of depression and loneliness. They didn't happen as much. Jake always felt like a loner. He still did on some days, despite having a girlfriend and other good friends. It wasn't as bad as it used to be. General temperament alone doesn't make the Davis Law Jake Lau what he is.
His past experiences alone didn't make Jake Lau the person that people at Davis Law knew. Jake Lau was just a generally understood term. It was a practical designation that made it easier to identify him in social situations. "Jake Lau" has no permanent individuality implied in it. Physical characteristics like eyes, hair, nail and teeth are not Jake Lau. Outward form is not Jake Lau. Hobbies are not Jake Lau. His general temperament is not Jake Lau. The sensations and perceptions that people had when they met him is not Jake Lau. None of these were Jake Lau.
Like a car, the wheel is not the car. The axles are not the car. Neither the windows or the gears are the car. All of the thousands of separate pieces that make up a car taken together is not a car. It's on account of all of the various components that the vehicle is called a car. It's a generally understood term, a practical designation. When you take account of all the various components that make up Jake Lau, it is only then the Jake Lau at Davis Law takes on meaning as that person. That is the true answer to the question of "who are you." When you answer that question with your name, you are stating more than just your name. You are including in many things. Your name is just a temporary practical designation and nothing more.
So, who are you? I really want to know.
posted by J.U. at 11/09/2005 05:43:00 AM
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