i mean, why is it that different people have different favourite characters? why are people attracted to different traits? i was thinking, do people like characters that remind them of themselves? or do they like characters whose traits seem admirable to them? i don't think its the second one as many of my friend's favourite characters are villains, and they don't really seem like the type to want to destroy the world.
crimsonjinxed
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i mean, why is it that different people have different favourite characters? why are people attracted to different traits? i was thinking, do people like characters that remind them of themselves? or do they like characters whose traits seem admirable to them? i don't think its the second one as many of my friend's favourite characters are villains, and they don't really seem like the type to want to destroy the world.
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The same ways people choose their favorite anything.
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People will always like different things, but sometimes there are overlapping traits that the majority likes.
I'd say the most universally popular character, from my experience, in a fictional work is Tyrion Lannister. I have not met a single person who watches Game of Thrones who would not call him or even consider him their favorite character. People of a different opinion probably exist but I have yet seen a single one.
I have a hard time choosing favorites. It's most often a group of favorites or my favorite depends on what mood I'm in. Using the Game of Thrones example again. I too like Tyrion Lannister a lot, but if there's one character I enjoy more it's Jorah Mormont. They are two extremely different characters (an ENTP and ISTJ) but I like them both for different reasons. Tyrion is fun to watch on screen because of his wit and cleverness. Meanwhile I enjoy Jorah more because of the constant struggles he goes through and his story line is all about redemption.
How people choose their favorite or favorites will always be vary. They can like a character because they relate to him or her. They can like a character because he's entertaining to watch. Maybe the arc the character goes through it what makes that character gripping.
There is no definite answer here.
I'd say the most universally popular character, from my experience, in a fictional work is Tyrion Lannister. I have not met a single person who watches Game of Thrones who would not call him or even consider him their favorite character. People of a different opinion probably exist but I have yet seen a single one.
I have a hard time choosing favorites. It's most often a group of favorites or my favorite depends on what mood I'm in. Using the Game of Thrones example again. I too like Tyrion Lannister a lot, but if there's one character I enjoy more it's Jorah Mormont. They are two extremely different characters (an ENTP and ISTJ) but I like them both for different reasons. Tyrion is fun to watch on screen because of his wit and cleverness. Meanwhile I enjoy Jorah more because of the constant struggles he goes through and his story line is all about redemption.
How people choose their favorite or favorites will always be vary. They can like a character because they relate to him or her. They can like a character because he's entertaining to watch. Maybe the arc the character goes through it what makes that character gripping.
There is no definite answer here.
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I don't know if I count since I don't watch the show, I read the books. But just in case, Tyrion is so, so very much not my favorite character. He was initially likeable (not favorite), and now I have a rather dim view of him (oh, LORD, not another whiny Tyrion chapter! Argh!)
My favorites are usually those that manage to be both entertaining and act in reasonably ethical ways (McCoy from Star Trek, for example). Grim, self-absorbed (MY FEEEEELINGS!!!!!) characters played straight annoy me (HI TYRION).
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For me it's usually aspirational characters, people who are similar to me but somehow better, wittier, more calm, more elegant, etc. I tend to always like the same type of character and my friends will tell me, 'You'll love character _____' because I'm that predictable about it. I'm especially partial to dark haired Victorian ladies of that type (like Vanessa Ives) because they're my physical aspiration/ideal, too.
Severus Snape is my favorite of all time. It's a complete obsession; I'll leave the details out for your collective sanities. I wish people could figure out what type he was so I could investigate why. (I've read lots of threads on it and there does not seem to be any consensus, just the same 4-5 types repeated evenly.)
Is there an aspirational MBTI 'type' for us? Is that a thing? I could be on to a theory as to why I prefer certain characters, if so. ISTJ is the benefactor to our beneficiary according to socionics, and that's one of the types I see tossed around for Snape. But that can't be right...my mom is an ISTJ and she's awful. Sweet Jesus, don't let Snape be an ISTJ. Maybe I have to draw a line between 'dumb' ISTJ and 'intelligent' ISTJ. My mom only cares about seatbelts church luncheons, and is oblivious to the finer details of conversation, implications, life, etc. Snape would hate her. I just brain vomited all over this post, so, the end.
Severus Snape is my favorite of all time. It's a complete obsession; I'll leave the details out for your collective sanities. I wish people could figure out what type he was so I could investigate why. (I've read lots of threads on it and there does not seem to be any consensus, just the same 4-5 types repeated evenly.)
Is there an aspirational MBTI 'type' for us? Is that a thing? I could be on to a theory as to why I prefer certain characters, if so. ISTJ is the benefactor to our beneficiary according to socionics, and that's one of the types I see tossed around for Snape. But that can't be right...my mom is an ISTJ and she's awful. Sweet Jesus, don't let Snape be an ISTJ. Maybe I have to draw a line between 'dumb' ISTJ and 'intelligent' ISTJ. My mom only cares about seatbelts church luncheons, and is oblivious to the finer details of conversation, implications, life, etc. Snape would hate her. I just brain vomited all over this post, so, the end.
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Kill count.
I explore other people's headcannons, then take their fanfics and turn them into exercises of perversion and depravity... and when they recoil in terror, threatening to track me down and skin me alive to the tune the lion sleeps tonight... my latest favorite is born.
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I think most people like characters that represent the type of person they aspire to be, or find appealing. For example, I fell in love with Sherlock Holmes as a child, because that's what I wanted to be, I wanted to be able to look at something and formulate accurate theories about the circumstance in a single stroke of genius. Granted, that never happened, but it was a nice thought.
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I don't know, my favorite characters are pretty diverse in terms of personality. For example, my favorite in Star Trek: TNG is Picard (probably INTJ), but my favorite in Harry Potter is Ron (probably ESFP), and I don't like Snape at all. Granted, the reasons I like Picard (he is intelligent, loves to learn, ethical, classy, and generally keeps his cool in ways that would make humanity so much better if everyone could emulate) are mostly different from the reasons I like Ron (I love the caring interior inside of an entertainingly emotional exterior). Also, I would aspire to be Picard, whereas I'm entertained by Ron. But, they are both my favorites in their respective stories.
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Picard! Basically the perfect person. It think you're right, 'aspiration' isn't quite the right word, because you're right that I would rather be Picard than Snape, and I would agree that Picard is objectively better. I LIKE Snape more though, a fact for which I have no understanding or defense.
Also, Ron? Possibly my least favorite characters in Harry Potter, other than maybe Wormtail. How weird that we have such opposite reactions! Personal preference (outside of type) goes a long way, it seems.
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I'd say it mostly has to do with the ideals embodied by the character. Here's one of my longest-standing all-time faves:
![Image]()
![Image]()
Michael Biehn as the original Kyle Reese.
Michael Biehn as the original Kyle Reese.
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