In South Korea rock-paper-scissors isn’t just a kiddy game for preschoolers. Nope, it’s practically a national pastime. Unlike back home in the states where an occasional instance of RPS happens every so often if the circumstances allow, in Korea, people use RPS so much so that I’d be surprised if someone somewhere isn’t playing every thirty seconds.

At school the kids will break out the RPS to decide the winner of a tie, who goes first to last, who wins a prize, which becomes the leader and a dozen other scenarios. It really is the great equalize that cuts out biases. As a teacher this is a god send. Who gets that last piece of candy? RPS. Who must collect the homework? RPS. Arguing practically disappears!

And it’s not just students either. I’ve seen grown men whip out the RPS at a moment’s notice. Who pays for the first round of drinks? RPS. In fact it’s such useful tool that I think Hilary should fly into Pyongyang and Rock Paper Scissors Kim Jong Il over his uranium enrichment plans. That’ll settle that. Iranian Presidency in dispute? Rock Paper Scissors. Can’t decide if the US health care system should be single payer? RPS. The sheer number of world ending disputes and conflict can be waylaid with just a few hand gestures that have nothing to do with the middle finger. How awesome is that?

Even better is that the constant use of RPS has been analyzed to determine which of the three options most reflect a person’s personality. Decades of research has gone into this study in order to most likely determine the choice a person will first make in a duel of Rock Paper Scissors.

Say that you favor the rock. Well, that means that you’re a dependable and trustworthy person. You’re there for your friends and family and people count on you. However you’re also a bit stubborn and bullheaded. You like to do things your way and if people have a problem, well, too bad because it’s going to be your way.

Now, on the other hand, if you are a scissor person then everything is all about you. You’re most like quick witted. You love to talk and socialize, usually about yourself, but sometimes you feel generous enough to indulge other peoples’ opinions and thoughts. You like to get things done, efficiently and quickly. You don’t have time for laziness or procrastination. You’re a go getter.

This is completely at odds to the paper folk. These guys are the homemakers and homebodies who wouldn’t be out of place behind a stove with baking mittens, cooking over a hot boiling pot of something or other. Paper people want to comfort you with food or hugs or even just a friendly smile. They’re givers, making sure everyone around them is taken care of and content. Some might say they are smothering and overindulgent, usually the scissors say this, but overall even those prickly types can’t begrudge the paper people their cheery aura no matter how sugar sweet.

Once you can recognize those character traits in your RPS dueling partner then it should be a snap to defeat them! Now get out there and start changing the world!