8 Surefire Ways To Tell: Are You A Fun Person?

 
Why Should India Have All The FunAstonishingly, there’s very little on the web addressing the topic du jour. Mostly, it’s a few quiz sites asking pretty random questions that carry the personal assumptions of whoever authored them. There’s nothing really, well, helpful or definitive there.

So then, given how absolutely crucial being fun is to the attraction process, let alone building a healthy and vibrant social circle, I decided to go ahead and let the fur fly (or the powder, if you were in India earlier this month).

What do you say we let the fun begin? Right on…

Like everyone tends to believe that they have a sense of humor, everyone also typically thinks of him or herself as a fun person. After all, how much of a true “stick in the mud” does one have to be to self-identify as “no fun”?

A sense of humor is rare enough, so what about a sense of fun? Do you have one? There’s no irony in the fact that both of those factors are directly related. That could be why there are as few truly FUN people as there are folks with a sense of humor. Just sayin’.

Part of the problem, I think, is that people don’t recognize fun when they’re potentially heading for it, or even in the midst of it.

I mean, what IS “fun”, and should it be a priority or not?

So much of how you might answer that question for yourself is based on personality and mindset, for sure. But hey…the weird twist there is that even people who aren’t any fun tend to recognize when others ARE. Weird, right?

It’s all too easy to lapse into the philosophical or psychological factors at play here, isn’t it? But that wouldn’t be any fun!

So on with it. Here are 8 factors that pretty much tell the tale of whether you’re a FUN person or not:

 
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1) Boring vs. Exciting

 
This one might be the only true yardstick you really need.

Are you predictable, inactive, and rote or are you interesting, active and spontaneous?

Boring can be in the eye of the beholder, most certainly. Some people think playing chess is big fun, others would rather watch paint dry (which we can all agree isn’t any fun).

So let’s make this one easy. When invited to jump into something potentially fun, do you usually say “I’ll pass” or “I’m in”?

 
2) Closed-Minded vs. Free-Sprited

 
Are you self-righteous and judgmental of that which you’ve never tried and/or aren’t sure about, or will you try anything once (within reason, of course)?

It’s not actually necessary to check your moral compass at the door and/or make bad decisions to be “free spirited”, you know. If you don’t believe that, you might not be any fun.

 
3) Easily Offended vs. Dishing It Right Back

 
I’ve written at length about this before, and I’ll say it again.

Here it is: Someone who takes everything personally is a bummer.

I got a bit of a laugh when considering this particular factor, given that those who are on the wrong side of this fence are probably offended by anyone who is fun in any of the ways mentioned in this post.

Geez…why do people think everyone is out to get them? Can you imagine how much it would fry their circuits if someone actually WAS out to get them someday? Man, they’d figure out the difference with a quickness, I’m thinking.

Fun people aren’t easily flustered, rattled or pissed off. If they also know how to feed whatever they’re given RIGHT BACK to whoever provided the opening salvo, so much more the enjoyment.

Another angle on this might be “defensive vs. thick-skinned”. This adds the dimension of taking oneself too seriously, as opposed to not so much. Ability to engage in self-deprecation without sacrificing dignity is valuable skill to have, for sure.

 
4) Negative vs. Upbeat

 
Are you a ray of sunshine, or is a dark cloud always hanging over you? Are you Eeyore or Tigger? Are you rolling your eyes right now or laughing your ass off?

Depressing vs. inspiring is perhaps another way to look at this factor. Are people who spend time with you spontaneously convinced to “go big or go home”, or are they somehow lulled into a state of not really caring whether they live or die at the moment?

I’ll throw it on the table for you. If you’re sad, angry, pessimistic, stone-faced, divisive, butt-hurt or gossippy that’s not fun…at all.

People who are genuinely fun to hang with are generally happy, content, optimistic, and spend time CONNECTING people together.

Can a fun person have an off moment (or day)? Of course. It’s who you are at your core that matters.

 
5) Hateful vs. Tolerant

 
This is really a matter of being judgmental and/or snobby versus having an accepting, inclusive attitude.

Weirdly, one aspect of being judgmental that rears it’s ugly head sometimes is the assumption that someone who doesn’t fall in line with your pre-conceived notions of “fun”, isn’t.

As married parents of four kids, I have to admit that Emily and I have encountered this judgmental sentiment before. Those people, however, have rarely been any fun. Go figure…

 
6) Lethargic vs. Energetic

 
It’s rather obvious that it’s hard to be a fun person when you just don’t feel like doing anything.

But this is also about being aloof, distracted and/or indifferent vs. engaged, attentive and/or enthusiastic.

Which leads to…

 
7) Selfish vs. Generous

 
People who only take, take, take aren’t very enjoyable to be around. Nobody’s saying you have to be a doormat, but generosity is almost always a blast (for everyone involved, I might add).

If this isn’t your style, try it some time. I can virtually assure you that you’ll be impressed. For example, go volunteer on a Saturday afternoon for a good cause. I guarantee you’ll reap as much good from it as anyone you help.

Other ways of looking at this factor would include self-promotion or approval seeking vs. building up others and giving away approval.

For what it’s worth, I’m still floored by how many people in this life are easily fooled by manipulative narcissism. That’s really unfortunate. The real-deal, in the form of genuine, heartfelt generosity is always preferable.

 
8) Scared vs. Courageous

 
Those who aren’t any fun are uptight as opposed to relaxed. They’re overly cautious, causing to them to stay home while others partake in freaking incredible adventures that enrich they’re being and change their lives.

This is all about being assertive instead of passive, valiant instead of wimpy and going “balls-to-the-wall” instead of, I don’t know…roaming the halls of a mall?

The real tragedy here is that a life lived in fear truly is a life half lived. Not only to the courageous have more fun, they lead more fulfilling lives overall.

 

I could have likely come up with several more factors, I’m sure.

For example, you may have noticed that “Social vs. Reclusive” didn’t appear on my list. Sure, you have to actually want to be around people in order for them to even sense whether you’re fun or not. Yet, we all know PLENTY of folks who are social enough, but still not any fun.

Weirdly, I really also wanted to add “Kind vs. Mean-Spirited” to the list, but if I’m honest I’ve got to admit I’ve known some pretty gnarly people who can be a blast to hang out with, as long as you stay on their good side. Still, is associating with them the best decision to make? Probably not.

Ultimately, the true “acid test” in deciding the “fun factors” above, brilliantly enough, is that those who possess them are nearly ALWAYS genuinely fun people.

Meanwhile, those who share the “non-fun” traits I’ve outlined above usually can’t even stand to hang around each other. Now THAT’S “proof of concept” in action for you. Ha!

But what fun is this post on fun if I don’t leave room for you to add your take on potential “fun factors” in the comments, right? Please do. I can’t wait to hear your take on all of this.

With that, here are two quick notes before I sign off.

First, I’ll contend that it’s not necessary to be a drunk partier to be a fun person. Interestingly, there’s an annual ranking of the most fun and the most boring colleges in the US, and pretty much the sole criterion is how much drinking goes on. That only serves as evidence that most people see medicating themselves and avoiding life is “fun”, whereas immersing oneself in life is what SHOULD be fun.

Similarly, I know it’s kind of a “soap box” for me personally, but I’d also challenge how “fun” people truly are who believe they’ve got to escape to Las Vegas or a cruise ship. The most amazing fun is often manufactured by fun human beings in their natural habitat, not necessarily requiring a certain stage to dance upon.

 

Be Good,

Scot McKay

 
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16 Replies to “8 Surefire Ways To Tell: Are You A Fun Person?”

  1. Hi Scot,

    I am greatly hoping there is a forthcoming newsletter on how to become a more fun person if we look at ourselves in the mirror and realize we’re lacking in that area, especially those of us who are in Cubicle Country 40-80 hours a week. I am assuming you don’t believe it is ingrained in us as guys if we are fun or not, but that we can change it? Is it a coincidence that your blog post about being a fun person has many echoes of The Big Four?

    1. Yes, the implication absolutely IS that you can change the status quo if you’re less than a fun person at the moment. For what it’s worth, some people in an office environment are always more fun than others even on the job, right?

  2. Leonardo Morlans says:

    To add a few…

    1. Taking Mollies vs Being The Sober Outcast
    2. Being Healthy vs Being Malnourished
    3. Being Fit vs Sedentary
    4. Being Multilingual vs Being Monolingual
    5. Giving Others The Benefit of The Doubt vs Being Emotionally Selfish
    6. Sensual vs Hasty

    1. Sensual vs. hasty is an interesting contrast to draw. Would you elaborate upon that one? Are you talking, perhaps, about the idea of building sexual tension vs. rushing things?

      As for #1, that’s sort of painting non drug-users into a corner somewhat unfairly, I’d say. Many would argue that sobriety is more fun.

      1. Bonjour! I am a French woman and I love this article because it can definitely apply to women as well. Men love a fun,smart,relaxed, easy-going yet principled woman. Life is really too short to not think outside of the box, try new things,take risks and live fully.
        P.S: this drinking thing puzzles me: I never drink, but people always assume I do because I’m told I am fun. When did drinking alcohol become synonymous with being fun?!

        1. Yes, absolutely. I should have been clear in the post that none of this is gender-specific. Good call.

        2. Right on. I enjoy a good alcoholic drink every now and again, but when it gets to the point of impairment it also impairs the FUN. And it’s totally not gender-specific.

      2. Amen to that (not that I’m all that religious). Because how do you know if you’re having fun if you’re only semi-conscious.

        1. Some would argue that taking pain away is equal to having fun. But yes, I agree with you 100%.

  3. I don’t drink anymore, and trust me when I did I never knew what would happen.

    I’m on the fun side of your list …. Live music and Dancing, Starbucks, My own business, BBQ,ETC ….. It doesn’t seem fun sometimes, I’m a bit sedate, but I’m always in the thick of it, and having a blast with life

    1. Well, to be sure NOBODY can be all about fun all the time. Even people you see on Facebook and Instagram who post unbelievable pictures still have to take out the trash, make the bed and change the oil (or worse, wait for someone else to do it).

  4. Insulting you jokes vs. Retelling funny stories

    Or something like that, don’t know how to put it into words. How do you think?

  5. The only one I read and thought might actually be of concern to me was #2.

    I work a lot and live on my own, so on my days off I usually try to take of laundry or other things, so it doesn’t feel like I ever have time to get out and do things.

    People in general like to be around me at work, and I’m told I’m extremely funny. The “problem” is that sometimes I’m so sarcastic I’ve had to explain to someone that I was kidding.

    1. Well, we’ve all got to do the mundane things in life. Even the most free-spirited among us have to do the laundry.

      It’s great to be funny, but yes…you do have to watch the sarcasm lest it go too far. That’s no fun when that happens, for sure.

  6. Right on about sobriety getting a bum rap. I consider myself a “holistic hedonist”, in that my aim is to maximize fun in the long term. Sustainable fun, if you will, and there’s even a bit of humor in my intentionally technical wording of things, and sometimes mixing of highfalutin’ and utterly crass (“I’m so fucking ethical”).

    Something that makes one feel great for hours and like crap for days – or worse yet can literally impair the brain’s capacity for joy permanently, like some drugs such as meth and cocaine – is not a good deal.

    Also, the more authentically free-spirited one is, the less one needs “medication” to loosen up, or be creative, for that matter.

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