There are two types of people...

One of my often-used sayings is "There are two types of people: Those who [name of characteristic], and those who [name of opposing characteristic]."

Yeah, I realize that these are "ideal types" for you Sociologist/Weberian-types -- that there are folks in the middle of the two extremes. But really, IMO, people really do tend to cluster towards either of two ends of the spectrum.


Like:

-There are those who wander around the house while brushing their teeth, and those that stand at the sink. (Me = wander around; The Lady = stays put.) Also works for flossing.

-There are those who read on the toilet, and those who don't. (Indicator: pile o' magazines near the can.) And this tends to run in the family: modeling behaviors, I suppose.

-There are those who exercise -- and those who don't. On a regular basis, that is -- not these "fitness kicks" that last a month or two, or those once-a-month hit-the-gym/go-for-a-walk syndromes.

-...and -- There are those who collect stuff, and those who don't.


I'll elaborate a bit on that last one. People tend to be "collectors," or else not. Some folks pick up stuff that "could be useful"; other folks live without excess "stuff," divest themselves of things they haven't used in the last few years, etc.

There's also another dimension to the collecting/not collecting continium: The diversity of things collected. Some people are very specific, collecing a specific item as a hobby; others are just general hoarders -- often amassing what other folks perceive as "junk."

And, some collecting is in support of a hobby, like woodworking: there's an e-mail list I belong to called OldTools, where the members talk about the use and care of (and acquisition of!) hand tools -- usually for woodworking. Most of the guys (and they're nearly all guys, not gals) own ten or twenty hand saws, a similar number of hand planes, and probably more chisels. Etcetera. Granted, most of 'em pick up their gear for five bucks a pop at flea markets and garage sales. And usually they pick stuff up 'cause "it's a good price" or "it may come in handy." I'm not sure where on the above dimensions this would sit...

Anyhow: Computer folks. Do you have just one or two computers in your household -- say, a laptop for the two adult heads, or a laptop for the grownups and a desktop unit for the kids? Or, do you have a laptop or two, three or four desktop units, an old Commodore 64, and a few "caracasses" or "husks" out in the garage?

You play guitar -- o.k. If you're a non-collector, you'll have an acoustic guitar. Or an electric guitar. Or maybe one of each. Or do you have three acoustics, ten electric guitars, two electric basses, and a mandolin?

Most people own dishes and cutlery. Do you have just one set of dishes? Or an "everyday" set plus a "fancy/guest" set? Or multiple sets of dishes, in different patterns and colors?


Both The Lady and myself come from families that -- in their own ways -- collect "stuff." Therefore, we do as well (although not all our siblings do) -- which is part of why we get along so well. We both have a pile of CDs; we both have shelves upon shelves of books. I amass guitars and (inadvertently) computers, whereas she collects teacups and dinner services and the occasional silverware set.


Sorry: This one's a bit rambly. But, I still think that "collectors/non-collectors" is a pretty solid dichotomy.

Any other suggestions for "two types of people"? :)


--GG