Curious about this trait

[retorick]

I've read that if one sees a person smile or laugh to himself with nothing apparently funny in the vicinity, it's likely that person is INTP--presumably because INTPs are good at placing sensory data encountered in their immediate surroundings in an imagined, humorous context.

Another reason for private amusement visible to the outside world is the recollection of a funny scene from a book or movie, though it might be difficult to trace the path that led to this recollection. (Mind wandered from who knows where, didn't bother to leave breadcrumbs.) Of which type would this be characteristic?

Or maybe it's not characteristic of any type but simply a wayward mind uninterested in engaging with the "real world" and seeking an escape .

(And anyone else a little bugged by the unaesthetic white pixelation surrounding the smiley face that doesn't match the page background?)

--Rick

 

[Hawkeye]

Interesting subject.

I think every personality types does that but INTP's seem to do it more frequently. I for one am always doing it.

I also think INTP's tend to move on to other funnier things where as others will keep the same idea in their heads for longer. Perhaps this is why INTP's do it more frequently.


As for the smiley face issue. Yes it bugs the hell out of me. I've changed the colour theme to Woodland and the effect is nowhere near as bad as it was.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

I've been caught doing that. Some people equate it with talking to myself but it's really just a matter of my mind making me laugh. I laugh while lying in bed trying to sleep alot. It can be troublesome sometimes.

I never noticed that pixilation until now. Thanks for pointing it out </sarcasm>

 

[retorick]

I think every personality type does that, but INTP's seem to do it more frequently. I for one am always doing it.

Nice to know this resonates with others .

Gotta ask--just because I'm Rick: what's the basis for your opinion that every personality type does this but that INTPs seem to do it more frequently?

I also think INTP's tend to move on to other, funnier things, whereas others will keep the same idea in their heads for longer. Perhaps this is why INTP's do it more frequently.

...Implying, it seems to me, that INTPs aren't naturally inclined to focus on the same idea for as long as other types. Again, this isn't a trait I recall having read about. Is it a well known INTP characteristic?

I not infrequently find that my mind has gone AWOL while I've been working on something--practicing piano, studying French, diddling around with a computer program, or even reading something in which I profess an interest. I may come to realize that my mind isn't focusing on what's in front of me, but the realization isn't strong enough to act on and enable me bring the mind back to the thing I've set myself to do.

At such times, the mechanical aspects of the process continue--generally unimpeded--but the mind is unfocused. So, for example, I'm conscious of the words on the page, but my mind isn't processing the symbols. Or I'm aware of my fingers moving on the piano keyboard but am not consciously working to refine my technique. I know this but seem unable to find my mind and bring it back.

I've generally taken this to mean that I've gotten bored what I'm doing, even though it's something I believe myself to be interested in, and that I've not disciplined my mind well enough for it to stay focused even if it's tired of the thing.

But perhaps it's simply an INTP trait? I trust it's not early senility.

 

[retorick]

Thanks for pointing it out </sarcasm>

Oooo, Sarcasm. In that case, my apologies for pointing this out, and I'll be careful not to draw your attention to this anymore . (NEVER use sarcasm or irony myself, of course.)

 

[echoplex]

I do this alot. There is always something funny going on in my head. It definitely seems like a Ti-Ne thing where Ne comes up with something absurdly funny and Ti laughs it off for being so silly. Occasionally Ne might get offended and insist that it's silly idea is really worth considering. In these cases Ti may organize a small trial to settle the matter, which often consists of hilarious testimony from both sides.

 

[Hawkeye]

Nice to know this resonates with others .

Gotta ask--just because I'm Rick: what's the basis for your opinion that every personality type does this but that INTPs seem to do it more frequently?

Well, my brother does it as do my parents and friends. none of them are INTP as I recall. Both my Mum and my brother are ENFJ's.

When they do it its usually because they are reminiscing a funny event that happened during the day. An embarrassing moment in the work place for example. I have not once asked them and found that they were thinking of something abstract like a squirrel being catapulted into a grand piano. Its always something they have witnessed.

I do it a hell of a lot because I do think of abstract situations like the said squirrel scene.

Statistically this is how I see it anyway.

...Implying, it seems to me, that INTPs aren't naturally inclined to focus on the same idea for as long as other types. Again, this isn't a trait I recall having read about. Is it a well known INTP characteristic?

I not infrequently find that my mind has gone AWOL while I've been working on something--practicing piano, studying French, diddling around with a computer program, or even reading something in which I profess an interest. I may come to realize that my mind isn't focusing on what's in front of me, but the realization isn't strong enough to act on and enable me bring the mind back to the thing I've set myself to do.

At such times, the mechanical aspects of the process continue--generally unimpeded--but the mind is unfocused. So, for example, I'm conscious of the words on the page, but my mind isn't processing the symbols. Or I'm aware of my fingers moving on the piano keyboard but am not consciously working to refine my technique. I know this but seem unable to find my mind and bring it back.

I've generally taken this to mean that I've gotten bored what I'm doing, even though it's something I believe myself to be interested in, and that I've not disciplined my mind well enough for it to stay focused even if it's tired of the thing.

But perhaps it's simply an INTP trait? I trust it's not early senility.

I love the double negative

well, I got this from my own experience and fired it into the discussion without any evidense of it being true to all INTP's (I do this a lot). It seems that you confirm the way I feel and so far my statement has been true

 

[Venture]

This happens also to me alot. I will sometimes laugh till I cannot breath. I get looked at like I'm crazy or something.

I even find hard to believe when someone laughs at something and finds extremly funny they cannot laugh about it the same later.

 

[Enne]

I've read that if one sees a person smile or laugh to himself with nothing apparently funny in the vicinity, it's likely that person is INTP--presumably because INTPs are good at placing sensory data encountered in their immediate surroundings in an imagined, humorous context.

Another reason for private amusement visible to the outside world is the recollection of a funny scene from a book or movie, though it might be difficult to trace the path that led to this recollection. (Mind wandered from who knows where, didn't bother to leave breadcrumbs.) Of which type would this be characteristic?

Or maybe it's not characteristic of any type but simply a wayward mind uninterested in engaging with the "real world" and seeking an escape .

(And anyone else a little bugged by the unaesthetic white pixelation surrounding the smiley face that doesn't match the page background?)

--Rick

I do that A LOT...especially in transit at school...Then people get the idea that I'm good natured, friendly and worst of all..APPROACHABLE.

 

[Artifice Orisit]

Yeah the approachability is a problem, only an hour ago I was buying some groceries and for whatever reason I ended up having a five minute conversation with some random guy about some particular comedic play coming to town.

How does all jet black clothing not say "F-off"; I must be smiling or something...

 

[chocolate]

I do the laughing to myself thing a lot. I have a pretty witty relationship with my imagination/self/daydreams/recollections and also with 'stuff' (anyone else feel like the world is winking at you every now and then?). Or else I'm just crazy...

 

[meshram.alok]

I do it a lot too, even when talking in a group, and have been labeled as "Having no control over his feelings". I've even been told by parents to stop doing it because it makes me look crazy. I think it's a good thing unless it is hampering your normal activities (sometimes I've had unstoppable laugh bouts).

As for the "winking world", It's your sense of wonder. One of the most precious of assets, in my opinion.

As for getting bored while doing something to the point of finding yourself mechanically continuing to do it, without processing anything: I thought that was some kind of a problem with me. I override it by finding out why I began that activity in the first place: and that is usually to build information into some model in my head or just plain quest for competence. It is usally the latter when I get bored easily.

 

[brain enclosed in flesh]

It would seem to me that all of this could be attributed to Ne/extraverted intuition. We're usually taking in external information from multiple directions. Being open to all possibilities can both distract you from the task at hand and make you laugh at what others may consider to be 'nothing'. I know I do this all the time. For example, I was thinking this while I was reading other people's posts and now that I've written it, I vaguely remember that maybe someone else mentioned it? Ah well, if they did, I'm reiterating.

 

[The Lurker]

I recall or (usually) create humorous/weird thoughts a lot in public, though this usually only invokes a smile or a quiet snicker because of my efforts to control it. If a good friend happens to be with me I'll even tell them about it, and we'll get a good laugh.

 

[retorick]

Well, my brother does it as do my parents and friends. none of them are INTP as I recall. Both my Mum and my brother are ENFJ's.

When they do it its usually because they are reminiscing a funny event that happened during the day. An embarrassing moment in the work place for example. I have not once asked them and found that they were thinking of something abstract like a squirrel being catapulted into a grand piano. Its always something they have witnessed.

OK, so in their cases, it sounds as though the internal amusement ties to a recent experience, not to something humorous that they've simply created in their imagination.

I do it a hell of a lot because I do think of abstract situations like the said squirrel scene.

Right: trait looks the same on the outside but the nature of the cause is different.

well, I got this from my own experience and fired it into the discussion without any evidense of it being true to all INTP's (I do this a lot). It seems that you confirm the way I feel and so far my statement has been true

Fair enough .

 

[requiem]

I do that A LOT...especially in transit at school...Then people get the idea that I'm good natured, friendly and worst of all..APPROACHABLE.

Isn't that the worst?

I've always done this a lot too, and 99 percent of the time I won't realize it. For me I think it's because I'm such an absentminded person, so I tend to just drift off and think about random things. It kind of comes in handy when I have to look like I'm enjoying a useless conversation.

 

[Enne]

I do the laughing to myself thing a lot. I have a pretty witty relationship with my imagination/self/daydreams/recollections and also with 'stuff' (anyone else feel like the world is winking at you every now and then?). Or else I'm just crazy...

You're not crazy. The world is winking at you. For real. Like when you go to see the head of your engineering department and you catch him doing yoga on the waiting room floor....Or another time you go to see him and he jumps out at you from behind the door. Or another time you're just walking by, minding your own business and he emerges from the women's bathroom. And you, only you, see him when he's weird. I mean WEIRD.

Like those times, for instance.