Foibles anyone?

[Huh!?!]

I’ve become aware of late of some peculiar behavioural traits I seem to have acquired over the years. I have no idea when these things started or why, and although they’re definitely not at OCD levels they appear to make my little world that bit more comfortable for me. A couple of examples would be:-

1. When tearing paper from a roll i.e. kitchen towel, loo roll, the tear must be exact. If, for example, a piece of the torn sheet remains behind on the roll or vice versa, I have to go for the next perforation until it’s right.

2. Duvets must be in their covers properly i.e. corners & sides must line up with the corners & sides of the cover. It doesn’t matter to me if the bed never gets made but the duvet has got to be fitted correctly.

I could probably think of dozens more but won’t. Just wonder if anyone else has weird traits or if it’s just me , it’s not a problem apart from I seem to get through an inordinate amount of toilet paper!


p.s. found out that foible has a second definition as well …
foible (n.) the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip – curious.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

More then even i can begin to list

i have developed many OCD's to start with
i used to be afraid to show my feet
whether it is a heatwave or massively sub zero - i wear the same clothing

sorry, way too many

 

[Toad]

1. I never step on a crack. My left and right feet must cross a crack/line in pavement equally.

2. I count to 10 ten on my fingers all day. I starting with my middle finger to my thumb(1-3), then my ring finger to my thumb(4-6), then my index to my pinky(7-10). I will also replace the numbers with sentences.

3. I have to add license plate numbers in my head while I drive

 

[RubberDucky451]

Like toad i have an odd obsession to add numbers. I will look at a calculator and think of the combination the numbers make. I'll also look at home addresses and try to find combination or similarities between the numbers by adding certain ones.

 

[Ermine]

I don't have any foibles that I know of, except that I absolutely have to go to the INTP forum every time I go online, whether I post or not. Thanks a lot, guys.

 

[Agent Intellect]

1. I never step on a crack. My left and right feet must cross a crack/line in pavement equally.

i do that, too. i told my friend about it once and he thought i sounded like a crazy person.

i also have an obsession with symmetry. if i step on something with my right foot, i have to step on it with my left so that it feels even. if i rub one eye, i have to rub the other to even it out, or if i scratch an itch on one arm, i have to scratch the other even if its not itching, just so the feeling is symmetrical.

i compulsively crack my knuckles, my neck, my back, and my wrists. i'm constantly making strange faces. its strange, because this is not involuntary, but it feels like i have to do it; i could not do it, but it would drive me crazy.

this leads me to believe i have Tourette's syndrome, especially after reading the link. it seems to describe the things i experience almost perfectly (although mine seems more mild then a lot of cases).

 

[truthseeker72]

I indulge in several OCD behaviors,but my quirkiest is probably spending several minutes tucking my dress shirt just so as to avoid the tent-effect. (I refuse to hop on the untucked-shirt look bandwagon).

 

[Toad]

If I turn my body clock-wise, I must turn it back to normal, counter-cockwise, then back to normal.

AI. Yea most of my quirks are symmetry based.

Are these little OCD quirks signs of INTP'ness?

 

[didyouknow]

I have the same 'foible' with the perforation on toilet paper.

My books must be stacked from largest on the bottom to smallest on the top. If all are the same size they must be arranged with the least used on the bottom, the most used in the middle and the most referenced on the top. The second rule is only arranged if it does not interfere with the first rule.

Pages must be completely flat, I cannot stand folded edges.

When arranging items on a surface, the largest items are in the corner of the desk and the smallest the closest to me with symmetry and as close to the sides of the desk as possible.

If listening to music while walking, if possible, I must walk at the same pace as the music and can endeavor to breathe at the same pace at times.

 

[snafupants]

I also, like many of you folks apparently, have some OCD (maybe the personality disorder though). I suppose it centers around worries of contamination, preference for even numbers, perfectionism, and some ritualized behavior. Also, in my estimation I have full-fledged Schizoid Personality Disoder. Great first date material, right? Finally - and this is the kicker - I have bouts of pretty furious anger. I actually, and disgracefully, physically attacked a family member last time it flared up. When it was going down it felt like the twilight zone, unreality, weird.

I have pretty poor eating habits, drink coffee very regularly, and dabble in alcohol. I think most drugs are counter-productive and silly though. Frank Zappa said most druggies feel it is a license to be an asshole, and I totally agree. Off topic, deflection.

 

[EditorOne]

"If listening to music while walking, if possible, I must walk at the same pace as the music and can endeavor to breathe at the same pace at times."

I do that. I think it's from the living history hobby, though, not INTPness. Anyone who has been in a marching band or the real military probably also has at least a comfort level, if not a compulsion, with "marching to the step."

Other than that, what Ermine said. I also have to check in here at least once a day. Even if I don't post, the level of discussion, the repartee and the comfort level are addictive. It kind of fits the definition of "home": The place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in, because it's where you belong.

 

[echoplex]

I know I have a few. Speaking of music, I can't possibly talk on the phone if music is around. It's as if the 'rhythm' of the conversation is competing with that of the music. I guess I could try talking (singing?) along with the music, but I guess I'd rather the person on the other end not think I'm (too) insane.

A few other things:
- Tags in music files have to be correct, capitalized, etc.
- If any device has a volume setting, I have to touch it even if I have no desire to actually change the volume.
- Apparently the headphone cord is never quite in that headphone jack good enough to suit me. I keep touching it and 'pushing it in', even though it's already in.
- Odd numbers are evil, unless divisible by 5. Don't know when this was decided.
- Let's not even talk about dishwashing.
- I also do the crack (heh) and number-adding thing. In fact, I try to avoid numbers if I don't have the time to obsess.

And despite this, my living space is mostly messy and I don't care.

 

[Lostwitheal]

Lots of familiar territory here...

Odd numbers - whenever I change the volume on my car stereo it has to end up at an even volume setting - 8, 10, 12 etc.

i also have an obsession with symmetry. if i step on something with my right foot, i have to step on it with my left so that it feels even. if i rub one eye, i have to rub the other to even it out, or if i scratch an itch on one arm, i have to scratch the other even if its not itching, just so the feeling is symmetrical.

Couldn't really have explained that any better myself. Thank you, sir!

Again, someone mentioned the duvet having to be in the cover correctly - I'm guilty too. In exactly the same way I never make the bed, though.

The thing is I can recognise these things as being completely irrational and unnecessary, but i do them anyway.

I'm sure there are probably others too. We're all fooking loopy.

 

[TheHmmmm]

The only compulsions that come to my mind are my constant fidgeting, pacing, and my habit of walking on tiles in the pattern of a knight's movement on the chessboard. My friends say I always mess with things with my hands too, which is weird since I'm not a handsy person.

 

[Red Devil]

-I tend to pace whenever I'm made to wait for someone.
-All tags have to start with capital letters.
-I have this habit of lightly touching my nose or my neck or something while talking to people.
-I avoid window seats for some reason.

That's all I can remember right now..

Also I'm NEVER on time or before time. Even if I make the effort to get ready and leave before time, somehow I'm always late.

 

[5k17]

Apart from some of the things already mentioned, when I set my digital alarm clock, the numbers must be symmetric or otherwise form some kind of pattern/mathematical sequence, e.g. 6:06, 5:43, or 9:31.

 

[snafupants]

the foible which is most pervasive and related to others is probably my lack of trust in people. even when they say "i would never hurt you" or assure me that their intentions were not malicious, i have my own (maybe beguiled) ideas of what went on.

might as well make a full fledged confession here: i am incredibly indolent and sometimes unwilling to help people because of this laziness and laxed attitude towards life. the root cause is probably my feeling that life is a cosmic joke and wild statistical anomaly.

in the end, i know fate and other people are waiting to be kind, but opening up to people and letting go of preconceptions is something that is challenging me right now.