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Nancee Adams-Taylor: The Facebook Quizzes We Hate to Love

Apr. 9, 2014:  Which Dickens character are you? Which color (cookie, song, dance, country--fill in your favorite) is most like you?

In recent months, quizzes such as these have flooded Facebook feeds. Like most people, I resisted at first but eventually succumbed to their allure. Why are these so popular?

For one thing, they're easy and short, and there's no right answer. Test takers can see immediate results after eight short clicks. For those who like to cross things off lists, these quizzes offer a quickly completed task.

Then there are the curious among us. These test takers want to see what is out there and can't resist just one more click, for fear of being left out or simply to kill time. "Hmm, if I don't click, I'll never know." Click.

It might just be that some want to be entertained. Facebook itself offers an escape for people from the routine and repetition of life. The popularity of these quizzes might be that they are easier to complete and require less mental energy than clicking on a long YouTube clip or political rant. Need a distraction? Take a quiz!

I suspect, however, there is a deeper pull to these quizlets. I've come to realize that Facebook is a haven for people who are lonely, bored, or extroverted. Even the voyeurs among us are on for a reason that involves some type of connection.

The "click-and-see-who-you-are" quizzes provide a way to connect with others. Got the same color? Great. We can be friends. (*Like and comment*) Going to live on some remote island? Hmm. I'll rethink that coffee next week. (*Like*) Disney princess? Definitely not going to meet for drinks. (*Consider blocking*)

People like categories. We like to identify ourselves with others and differentiate in clean, neat ways. We like to show off on Facebook--after all, that's what it was all about when it was founded. We like to connect, even if it is over some meaningless quiz that can be effortlessly shared across the world.

But do I really need to know which Disney princess I am, and more directly, does the rest of my Facebook community (friends, acquaintances, or even the full public *gasp*) need or care to know? I think not, but I'm sure I'll continue to take the quizzes. And if I happen to post my results, feel free to *like* them.

Pictured here: Sixth grader Eileen Marshall at the computer.

Photo by Eileen Marshall, mother of 6th grader Eileen Marshall

Government & History Directory

Bronxville Overview

Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.

While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.

Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.

The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.

Bronxville Village "One Square Mile" Newsletter and Government Directory

Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter

December 2024

Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends

Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours

Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
Open 9:00am - 4pm excluding holidays and weekends

Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400

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