Unscientific survey - why are you a pilot?

In rec.aviation.student Doug Semler wrote:
Do you have a "family history" of aviation/piloting?

Nope. My uncle flies, but I got him started (long before I earned a
rating) rather than the other way around. His continuing presence as an
active pilot might have helped nudge me along, though.

Are you an adventure seeker (anything from "true" adrenaline junkee to
"every day is different and brings a new challenge")

A year ago I would have said no, now I'll say yes. Cross country soaring
is more adventure than I bargained for and I love every minute.

Are you constantly seeking new challenges?
(subpart) Do you find that you get bored easily?

Yes to both.

Do you have a "thirst for knowledge" (e.g. would you rather be in
school than working)?

Your parenthetical is broken. While I mostly enjoyed school (university,
not this juvenile hall they call school for children), my "thirst for
knowledge" is in many ways better satisfied now that I'm no longer
learning officially.

(subpart) Do you find yourself constantly seeking out new things
about flying regularly or do you only look it up when you run across
something you don't know.

Constantly seeking out new things, frequently followed by going out and
doing them.

Are you a "control freak" (type-a)?

Nope.

Do you have hints of "delusions of grandeur?" or is it more like "I'm
on top of the world when I fly"

On top of the world. I've done some really amazing things but I know I am
but a dust mote compared to the really great pilots.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

If given the choice, would you rather read fiction or an aviation
oriented book?

Probably the fiction. I prefer flying over reading about flying, although
doing research in advance of trying something new is always a good thing.

(For those that use the radio) Do you find that you have always had
good communication skills?

Not good, but passable. When I was much younger and doing power flying the
radio was always intimidating. Now it's no big deal, partly because I'm
never talking to ATC, and partly because I just don't have the anxiety
about it I used to.

Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?

Real far left. Programmer by trade, specializing in things so esoteric
that I can't even explain what they are to most people.

Or am I missing something soooo obvious that I'll die of embarassment
when it's pointed out to me? Or even worse, is there no measurable
psychological correlation to flying and I'm just out to lunch
(wouldn't be the first time g)

It has been noticed many times in my club that we are extremely heavy in
engineering-type disciplines and advanced degrees. Usually this is pointed
out when we have four or five people with PhDs standing around all trying
to figure out how to get the glider on its dolly so it can go in the
hangar, but that makes it no less true.

Note:
I was thinking about including education history (e.g. are pilots more
likely to be college graduates) but that introduces 2 biases (age and
income) into it. However maybe a question along the lines of "while
in school did you consider yourself to be a good student" would be
better.

Perhaps the simple fact of obtaining a degree isn't relevant (although we
seem to have more advanced degrees than I would expect) but the subject of
those degrees definitely should be. You still have the income bias there,
but not as much. For the record, Computer Science here.

--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software