Quiz: which 2020 email phrase are you?

You know you want to know

Dec 18, 2020

Dear all,

I hope this message finds you well.

Please see attached quiz for important, revelatory information about self. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love some feedback on the matter. It could really enhance productivity on my end in the future.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Hugs and kisses.

Which 2020 email phrase are you?

Take this quiz to find out!

1. Your friend invites you to get lunch with them at a local taqueria. The menu is huge, full of new and unfamiliar items, and completely in Spanish, which you cannot read. You:

A) Get what your friend gets, then feel sort of sad about your decision later when you realize you hate their order.

B) Pick something at random. Your friend said it’s all amazing, so you figure you can’t go wrong.

C) Wave down one of the employees and ask them what their favorite thing is, then order something completely different.

D) Google a bunch of the menu items in a quiet panic, drool over the descriptions, and change your mind three times before ordering.

2. Which extracurricular activity were you most likely to have been involved in during high school?

A) Year book, or something equally sentimental that would let me capture those precious years and connect with my fellow students.

B) Anything hands-on, like ceramics or woodworking.

C) Sports! It was all about the high-energy activities, and all the long bus rides to and from games with my friends.

D) Literally anything that would put me in the spotlight. Band, drama, choir — I just wanted to express myself and get attention for it.

3. Describe your ideal date.

A) I let the other person choose where we go, and thank the heavens when they pick a place I like. The plates are small, but the ambience is perfect for romance, which is more important to me than the food in this case. I feel instantly attracted to my date, and sense that it’s mutual.

B) I meet my date at a restaurant we both agreed on. We’re both on time, and ready for a night filled with good conversation, lots of laughs, and one dessert with two spoons.

C) The best date is one where each person is down for a long night, starting with dinner, followed by drinks, followed by dancing. If I’m going to get dressed up for a date, I might as well make the most of it and show off my outfit — and my arm candy — at multiple destinations.

D) I like to be surprised but the surprise has to be perfect and I have to like it.

4. Pick a show from the 1990s.

A) Friends

B) Frasier

C) Seinfeld

D) Sex and the City

5. How are you most likely to spend a day off?

A) Talking to friends on the phone, meeting up with friends for coffee and drinks, writing about it all in my journal.

B) Catching up with a little cleaning and a few other tasks, relaxing afterwards with a nice meal.

C) Binging a show with a lead character that sort of reminds me of myself, Tweeting about it, posting Instagram stories about my dinner.

D) Having a late breakfast, forgetting to wash half the dishes, and spending the afternoon floating between one activity and another.

6. What did you ask for for the Holidays?

A) House plants

B) An agenda for 2021

C) A clear face mask so everyone can still see me smile

D) Clothes, shoes, and art

Tally up your answers and make a note of which letter you got the most!

And now, a brief intermission before we get to the results.

Results:

If you answered mostly As

“I hope you are well during these crazy, uncertain times.”

You know the value of being in touch with your emotions, and you carry that with you wherever you go. Empathy is both a strength and a weakness for you. It’s wonderful that you’re so willing to be open and honest with friends, family, and sometimes even strangers. It makes people feel comfortable and seen. You know that if you check in with someone — even an email recipient — they’re more likely to extend the same favor to you. However, some people aren’t ready for this level of intimacy, and sometimes you let your concern for others stand in the way of taking car of yourself.

If you answered mostly Bs

“Just wanted to circle back.”

You are probably one of those people who keeps their fridge spotless and changes their bed sheets once a week. Order is one of your biggest strengths. You like to keep things in motion, and you want people to keep up with you, which is why you always have to circle back with all the slackers in your inbox. All of this is admirable, and probably helps you succeed, but be careful not to take your productivity too far. Give yourself the rest you need to stay grounded within yourself, not just in your correspondences.

If you answered mostly Cs

“I’m sure you’re incredibly busy, but…”

“To whom it may concern: This email is all about me me me.” Sure, all emails have something to do with the sender, but you’re not afraid to draw attention back to yourself, lest the focus be forgotten. You’re a real go-getter, and willing to do whatever is needed to get your ideas noticed. Some people are jealous of your determined spirit, and and how easily you seem to put yourself out there. Be careful of this — you want to win, but you don’t want to burn any bridges with your forthrightness.

If you answered mostly Ds

“Sorry for the late reply.”

But you’re not. You’re not sorry, because being late is just a part of who you are, so you can’t really count it as late since, relative to every other time, you’re on time. Do you follow? You are a person of great ambition, full of ideas and impulses. Sometimes, though, you lack the discipline and follow-through to see them to fruition. You know you can do it, but if you can’t get your shit together and send your emails on time, no one else will believe it. The good news is that your ideas are probably so good, and you’re generally so well liked, that whomever you emailed will probably want the message even though it’s late.

A song for you

A forever favorite.

A few final thoughts

I say it often and I mean it always — thank you so much for reading Disco Diaries. It has been a huge and important part of my year, and I hope it’s added something to yours. I’m really excited to carry on into 2021, and take this baby to the next level.

I am always grateful for feedback of any kind, and it would be particularly helpful to me as I plan for the next year of this newsletter. If you’ve had a favorite format, topic, or Disco Diaries moment, I’d love to hear about it. Your responses keep me motivated, build a sense of community, and help me deliver the good goods. You can let me know what you think by leaving a comment, or responding directly to this email.