{STAMPS} On the inside, there you will see...
WHAT IS STAMPING?
I'm sure that the concept of stamping might be unfamiliar to some people, so I will try my best to explain it before listing the stamps that I have received.
For as long as I can remember, I have compared myself to and identified with fictional characters. As a child, I remember watching The Last Unicorn and relating to the Unicorn/Lady Amalthea's sadness and loneliness. As a preteen, I watched Ocean Girl and felt a kindred spirit in Neri, a wise but childlike girl who grew up alone on a deserted island. In my teenage years, there was Kaiou Michiru from Sailor Moon, the artist and musician who wielded the power of the ocean, and the quiet, mysterious Himemiya Anthy of Shoujo Kakumei Utena. More recently: Namine, the kind but lonely witch of the Kingdom Hearts series, and Fay D. Flourite of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, the magician with many secrets.
I enjoy finding kindred souls in characters. Sometimes because it's fun to imagine what it would be like to be the character, sometimes because I discover aspects of myself that I had not been fully aware of in relating to a character. I never particularly wondered if other people felt the same way, but as it turns out, there are many other people who identify strongly with fictional characters.
The point of a "rating" or "stamping" community, however, is to see what character other people see in you. You fill out a survey about yourself, and others vote on which character from a particular film/book/etc they feel is most like you. Typically this is based on personality alone, although some communities rate appearance instead. Most rating communities now include themes, to keep members interested and active. For example, a "mirror" theme (appearance) or "voice" theme.
What exactly is the point? There's not much of one, really. It's just fun. Of course, I know which characters I identify with the most, but it's fun to see what characters other people relate me to, and why. I enjoy seeing if the character they relate me to matches the character I relate myself to. I try to be as honest and accurate as possible in my applications (because otherwise what's the point?), and typically I have found that I am "stamped" accurately as a result - even if it's a character I didn't really expect.
So, I hope that clarifies things, for those unfamiliar with stamping. =)
STAMPS
- Animated Films (2)
- Anime and Manga (4)
- Books/Television/Films (2)
- Other (4)
ANIMATED FILMS (WESTERN)
Character: Aurora
Key words: Elegant, graceful, dreamy, romantic
Votes: 3 for Cinderella, 1 for Snow White, 4 for Aurora
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: "sweet wistful dreamer", mature, somewhat similar life experiences?
Additional thoughts: I consider myself a combination of Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella (with some of Belle), so the votes did not surprise me. Only one person gave an explanation of why she chose Aurora: "I think the fact that you were ill and bed ridden for so long, is something you have more in common with her. And you are very pretty ^.^" I do relate to how isolated Aurora was from society, but then again, I think this is something that most of the princesses share in common.
Character: Snow White
Key words: Idealistic, dreamy, romantic, innocent
Votes: 9 for Snow White, 1 for Aurora
Other characters mentioned: Cinderella
Reasons given: None
Additional thoughts: As mentioned above, I believe I share many qualities in common with the more traditional Disney princesses, so I feel this is a fitting result. I may or may not add to this comment later, but I'm quite tired at the moment, so this will have to suffice. :)
ANIME AND MANGA
Character (Female): Sophie
Key words: Quiet, mature, kind, determined
Votes: 5 for Sophie, 1 for Sheeta
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: Many reasons were given - namely, that we are both reserved, polite, and kind.
Additional thoughts: When I submitted my application, I didn't have a strong feeling about which Miyazaki female character I'm most similar to, but I agree that Sophie is a good fit. I recently rewatched the film, and the way she works so quietly and intently by herself in the beginning does remind me of myself. Additionally, I think we are similar in that we try to stay positive but realistic, we are quiet but determined, and simultaneously confident and insecure (though I think we both try our best to keep our insecurities hidden).
Character (Male): Haku
Key words: Reserved, mysterious, aloof, kind
Votes: 3 for Haku, 2 for Fujimoto, 1 for Seiji
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: We "seem to share a lot of attributes".
Additional thoughts: Haku is the Miyazaki character I've always identified with the most. He appears to be kind and gentle in one scene, yet cold and reserved in the next. He's quite mysterious, and the viewer is meant to be uncertain of his true thoughts and motives throughout most of the film. Because I am quiet and tend to keep my thoughts and emotions to myself, I am often thought of as mysterious and unreadable as well. Like him, I can seem detached - perhaps even cold, at times - but truly, I am kind and empathetic in nature. And of course, he is actually a river spirit, and I strongly identify with the element of water. :p So, I relate to him quite a lot, and therefore agree with this result.
Movie: Spirited Away
Key words: Imaginative, whimsical, dreamy, uplifting
Votes: 5 for Spirited Away, 1 for Howl's Moving Castle
Other movies mentioned: My Neighbor Totoro
Reasons given: Adjectives, "Are you more..." section, "Movie" preferences
Additional thoughts: If I were to pick a Miyazaki movie to describe my interests and personality, I would most likely go with Spirited Away, with Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky as alternative choices. Spirited Away appeals to my love for imaginative, dreamlike worlds and interest in the supernatural. The themes of personal growth, love, and the power of ones name also suit me, I think. But I also agree with the voter that thought Howl's Moving Castle would also be a good fit. It's also quite imaginative, includes themes of personal growth and love, and it has tragic moments but is ultimately uplifting.
Character: Kaiou Michiru/Sailor Neptune
Key words: Intuitive, introverted, graceful, talented
Votes: 6 for Michiru (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Hotaru
Reasons given: Everything, including likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses.
Additional thoughts: Michiru is the character I have always felt the most similar to, in terms of nearly everything. My passions, talents, interests, and personality almost mirror hers exactly. Thus, this result did not come as much of a surprise, and in fact was even a bit expected. It's still fun to receive feedback from others, though. I found it interesting that someone actually compared me to Hotaru. In the past, I have been compared to Rei, Setsuna, and Ami, but after Michiru, I feel that I am the most like Hotaru. This is the first time someone else has picked up on that.
Character: Fay D. Flourite
Key words: Kind, intuitive, perceptive, secretive
Votes: 5 for Fay (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Tomoyo
Reasons given: Strengths and weaknesses.
Additional thoughts: I did not relate to Fay so much at the beginning of the series, but as the layers of his character were gradually peeled away, I began to see a lot of myself in him. I do not have so much the energetic, playful personality (read: facade) that he displays in the beginning, but more of the complex, vulnerable, and genuinely kind side of him that we see later on. I also share most of his faults. I can be rather secretive, distant, self-destructive, and stubborn at times. So, I definitely agree with this result, even if I personally feel I'm quite similar to Sakura in some ways, as well. =)
BOOKS/TELEVISION/FILMS
Character: Jasper Hale
Key words: Calm, reserved, intuitive, analytical
Votes: 6 for Jasper (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Carlisle
Reasons given: Strengths, weaknesses, fears, overall "calmness".
Additional thoughts: I have to admit, this wasn't the result I expected. I thought I would be compared to Carlisle or Edward, or perhaps Esme. Jasper didn't even occur to me. But now that it has been pointed out to me, I can see it. I am quite a bit like him in some ways. One person said: "I also got this overall calm feeling from your application, and while I was reading it I started to feel calm as well, which just reminded me so much of Jasper's ability." Others have made similar comments about my applications in the past, and I have been told (irl) that I have a very calming presence. So I can definitely see why I was voted as Jasper, even if I related more to Carlisle and Esme while reading the books. I consider Jasper my third favorite character (after Alice and Carlisle), and he's from my area (I live just outside of Houston, TX). =)
Character: Esme Cullen
Key words: Gentle, maternal, accepting, compassionate
Votes: 6 for Esme, 1 for Jasper
Other characters mentioned: Carlisle, Angela
Reasons given: Strengths, weaknesses, "sweet, gentle vibe"
Additional thoughts: While reading the books, I did find that Esme was one of the characters I related to, so I tend to agree with this result. I find it amusing that Bella was immediately reminded of Snow White upon meeting her - a character that I am very partial to (and feel I am similar to, in some ways). lol, sorry. That's a bit random. I really don't have much else to say about this.
OTHER
Mythological creature: Merfolk
Key words: Dreamy, romantic, ethereal, curious
Votes: 3 for Merfolk, 1 for Nymph
Other elements mentioned: None
Reasons given: Love for ocean and water, adjectives used to describe myself
Additional thoughts: I more or less agree with this - and not just because mermaids are my favorite mythological creature. Merpeople are generally depicted as being very curious, romantic, but elusive creatures. And I'm sure they share my love for the ocean, even if they are sometimes curious about what life would be like out of water. :)
Element: Garden
Key words: Feminine, delicate, secretive, gentle
Votes: 5 for Garden, 3 for Sea
Other elements mentioned: Mist, Dawn, Twilight
Reasons given: Mainly interests, but also adjectives used to describe self and "this-or-that" section
Additional thoughts: I personally don't agree with this result. I believe that Garden fits me to an extent, but I do think that Sea is much more fitting. I asked the first voter why she voted Garden (because I was completely clueless as to what a Garden element would even be described as), and she provided reasons that made sense, but also said, "i could take the easy way out and say Sea or Water, because they certaintly do fit you very well, but i didn't want to choose what would be necessarily the most obvious when i did see Garden as an option throughout the aplication." I thought the whole point was to choose the most obvious one. Oh, well. :)
Card: The Moon
Key words: Emotional, intuitive, creative, insightful
Votes: 6 for The Moon (unanimous)
Other cards mentioned: The Hanged Man
Reasons given: Artistic nature
Additional thoughts: I've long believed that both The Moon and The High Priestess seemed to represent my personality best. I shouldn't be surprised, as Pisces is The Moon's ruling sign. As mentioned in the key words, The Moon is associated with creativity, emotion, and intuition, as well as sleep, dreams, and nightmares. It is just the card that seems to fit me and my interests the best, overall.
Sign: Pisces
Key words: Emotional, dreamy, romantic, idealistic
Votes: 11 for Pisces (unanimous)
Other signs mentioned: None
Reasons given: None specified.
Additional thoughts: When I first learned about astrology, I felt rather disconnected from my sun sign (Leo) because most of its traits did not seem to fit me and I've always felt connected to the element of water, not fire. Although I feel I may have grown to be more Leo-like, in my own quiet way, the one sign that fits me perfectly is Pisces. Reading a description of Pisces is like reading a description of myself.
I'm sure that the concept of stamping might be unfamiliar to some people, so I will try my best to explain it before listing the stamps that I have received.
For as long as I can remember, I have compared myself to and identified with fictional characters. As a child, I remember watching The Last Unicorn and relating to the Unicorn/Lady Amalthea's sadness and loneliness. As a preteen, I watched Ocean Girl and felt a kindred spirit in Neri, a wise but childlike girl who grew up alone on a deserted island. In my teenage years, there was Kaiou Michiru from Sailor Moon, the artist and musician who wielded the power of the ocean, and the quiet, mysterious Himemiya Anthy of Shoujo Kakumei Utena. More recently: Namine, the kind but lonely witch of the Kingdom Hearts series, and Fay D. Flourite of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, the magician with many secrets.
I enjoy finding kindred souls in characters. Sometimes because it's fun to imagine what it would be like to be the character, sometimes because I discover aspects of myself that I had not been fully aware of in relating to a character. I never particularly wondered if other people felt the same way, but as it turns out, there are many other people who identify strongly with fictional characters.
The point of a "rating" or "stamping" community, however, is to see what character other people see in you. You fill out a survey about yourself, and others vote on which character from a particular film/book/etc they feel is most like you. Typically this is based on personality alone, although some communities rate appearance instead. Most rating communities now include themes, to keep members interested and active. For example, a "mirror" theme (appearance) or "voice" theme.
What exactly is the point? There's not much of one, really. It's just fun. Of course, I know which characters I identify with the most, but it's fun to see what characters other people relate me to, and why. I enjoy seeing if the character they relate me to matches the character I relate myself to. I try to be as honest and accurate as possible in my applications (because otherwise what's the point?), and typically I have found that I am "stamped" accurately as a result - even if it's a character I didn't really expect.
So, I hope that clarifies things, for those unfamiliar with stamping. =)
STAMPS
- Animated Films (2)
- Anime and Manga (4)
- Books/Television/Films (2)
- Other (4)
ANIMATED FILMS (WESTERN)
Character: Aurora
Key words: Elegant, graceful, dreamy, romantic
Votes: 3 for Cinderella, 1 for Snow White, 4 for Aurora
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: "sweet wistful dreamer", mature, somewhat similar life experiences?
Additional thoughts: I consider myself a combination of Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella (with some of Belle), so the votes did not surprise me. Only one person gave an explanation of why she chose Aurora: "I think the fact that you were ill and bed ridden for so long, is something you have more in common with her. And you are very pretty ^.^" I do relate to how isolated Aurora was from society, but then again, I think this is something that most of the princesses share in common.
Character: Snow White
Key words: Idealistic, dreamy, romantic, innocent
Votes: 9 for Snow White, 1 for Aurora
Other characters mentioned: Cinderella
Reasons given: None
Additional thoughts: As mentioned above, I believe I share many qualities in common with the more traditional Disney princesses, so I feel this is a fitting result. I may or may not add to this comment later, but I'm quite tired at the moment, so this will have to suffice. :)
ANIME AND MANGA
Character (Female): Sophie
Key words: Quiet, mature, kind, determined
Votes: 5 for Sophie, 1 for Sheeta
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: Many reasons were given - namely, that we are both reserved, polite, and kind.
Additional thoughts: When I submitted my application, I didn't have a strong feeling about which Miyazaki female character I'm most similar to, but I agree that Sophie is a good fit. I recently rewatched the film, and the way she works so quietly and intently by herself in the beginning does remind me of myself. Additionally, I think we are similar in that we try to stay positive but realistic, we are quiet but determined, and simultaneously confident and insecure (though I think we both try our best to keep our insecurities hidden).
Character (Male): Haku
Key words: Reserved, mysterious, aloof, kind
Votes: 3 for Haku, 2 for Fujimoto, 1 for Seiji
Other characters mentioned: None
Reasons given: We "seem to share a lot of attributes".
Additional thoughts: Haku is the Miyazaki character I've always identified with the most. He appears to be kind and gentle in one scene, yet cold and reserved in the next. He's quite mysterious, and the viewer is meant to be uncertain of his true thoughts and motives throughout most of the film. Because I am quiet and tend to keep my thoughts and emotions to myself, I am often thought of as mysterious and unreadable as well. Like him, I can seem detached - perhaps even cold, at times - but truly, I am kind and empathetic in nature. And of course, he is actually a river spirit, and I strongly identify with the element of water. :p So, I relate to him quite a lot, and therefore agree with this result.
Movie: Spirited Away
Key words: Imaginative, whimsical, dreamy, uplifting
Votes: 5 for Spirited Away, 1 for Howl's Moving Castle
Other movies mentioned: My Neighbor Totoro
Reasons given: Adjectives, "Are you more..." section, "Movie" preferences
Additional thoughts: If I were to pick a Miyazaki movie to describe my interests and personality, I would most likely go with Spirited Away, with Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Sky as alternative choices. Spirited Away appeals to my love for imaginative, dreamlike worlds and interest in the supernatural. The themes of personal growth, love, and the power of ones name also suit me, I think. But I also agree with the voter that thought Howl's Moving Castle would also be a good fit. It's also quite imaginative, includes themes of personal growth and love, and it has tragic moments but is ultimately uplifting.
Character: Kaiou Michiru/Sailor Neptune
Key words: Intuitive, introverted, graceful, talented
Votes: 6 for Michiru (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Hotaru
Reasons given: Everything, including likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses.
Additional thoughts: Michiru is the character I have always felt the most similar to, in terms of nearly everything. My passions, talents, interests, and personality almost mirror hers exactly. Thus, this result did not come as much of a surprise, and in fact was even a bit expected. It's still fun to receive feedback from others, though. I found it interesting that someone actually compared me to Hotaru. In the past, I have been compared to Rei, Setsuna, and Ami, but after Michiru, I feel that I am the most like Hotaru. This is the first time someone else has picked up on that.
Character: Fay D. Flourite
Key words: Kind, intuitive, perceptive, secretive
Votes: 5 for Fay (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Tomoyo
Reasons given: Strengths and weaknesses.
Additional thoughts: I did not relate to Fay so much at the beginning of the series, but as the layers of his character were gradually peeled away, I began to see a lot of myself in him. I do not have so much the energetic, playful personality (read: facade) that he displays in the beginning, but more of the complex, vulnerable, and genuinely kind side of him that we see later on. I also share most of his faults. I can be rather secretive, distant, self-destructive, and stubborn at times. So, I definitely agree with this result, even if I personally feel I'm quite similar to Sakura in some ways, as well. =)
BOOKS/TELEVISION/FILMS
Character: Jasper Hale
Key words: Calm, reserved, intuitive, analytical
Votes: 6 for Jasper (unanimous)
Other characters mentioned: Carlisle
Reasons given: Strengths, weaknesses, fears, overall "calmness".
Additional thoughts: I have to admit, this wasn't the result I expected. I thought I would be compared to Carlisle or Edward, or perhaps Esme. Jasper didn't even occur to me. But now that it has been pointed out to me, I can see it. I am quite a bit like him in some ways. One person said: "I also got this overall calm feeling from your application, and while I was reading it I started to feel calm as well, which just reminded me so much of Jasper's ability." Others have made similar comments about my applications in the past, and I have been told (irl) that I have a very calming presence. So I can definitely see why I was voted as Jasper, even if I related more to Carlisle and Esme while reading the books. I consider Jasper my third favorite character (after Alice and Carlisle), and he's from my area (I live just outside of Houston, TX). =)
Character: Esme Cullen
Key words: Gentle, maternal, accepting, compassionate
Votes: 6 for Esme, 1 for Jasper
Other characters mentioned: Carlisle, Angela
Reasons given: Strengths, weaknesses, "sweet, gentle vibe"
Additional thoughts: While reading the books, I did find that Esme was one of the characters I related to, so I tend to agree with this result. I find it amusing that Bella was immediately reminded of Snow White upon meeting her - a character that I am very partial to (and feel I am similar to, in some ways). lol, sorry. That's a bit random. I really don't have much else to say about this.
OTHER
Mythological creature: Merfolk
Key words: Dreamy, romantic, ethereal, curious
Votes: 3 for Merfolk, 1 for Nymph
Other elements mentioned: None
Reasons given: Love for ocean and water, adjectives used to describe myself
Additional thoughts: I more or less agree with this - and not just because mermaids are my favorite mythological creature. Merpeople are generally depicted as being very curious, romantic, but elusive creatures. And I'm sure they share my love for the ocean, even if they are sometimes curious about what life would be like out of water. :)
Element: Garden
Key words: Feminine, delicate, secretive, gentle
Votes: 5 for Garden, 3 for Sea
Other elements mentioned: Mist, Dawn, Twilight
Reasons given: Mainly interests, but also adjectives used to describe self and "this-or-that" section
Additional thoughts: I personally don't agree with this result. I believe that Garden fits me to an extent, but I do think that Sea is much more fitting. I asked the first voter why she voted Garden (because I was completely clueless as to what a Garden element would even be described as), and she provided reasons that made sense, but also said, "i could take the easy way out and say Sea or Water, because they certaintly do fit you very well, but i didn't want to choose what would be necessarily the most obvious when i did see Garden as an option throughout the aplication." I thought the whole point was to choose the most obvious one. Oh, well. :)
Card: The Moon
Key words: Emotional, intuitive, creative, insightful
Votes: 6 for The Moon (unanimous)
Other cards mentioned: The Hanged Man
Reasons given: Artistic nature
Additional thoughts: I've long believed that both The Moon and The High Priestess seemed to represent my personality best. I shouldn't be surprised, as Pisces is The Moon's ruling sign. As mentioned in the key words, The Moon is associated with creativity, emotion, and intuition, as well as sleep, dreams, and nightmares. It is just the card that seems to fit me and my interests the best, overall.
Sign: Pisces
Key words: Emotional, dreamy, romantic, idealistic
Votes: 11 for Pisces (unanimous)
Other signs mentioned: None
Reasons given: None specified.
Additional thoughts: When I first learned about astrology, I felt rather disconnected from my sun sign (Leo) because most of its traits did not seem to fit me and I've always felt connected to the element of water, not fire. Although I feel I may have grown to be more Leo-like, in my own quiet way, the one sign that fits me perfectly is Pisces. Reading a description of Pisces is like reading a description of myself.