I am curious to hear how other INTPs act day-to-day.

[DCS]

I know this has probably been touched on before, and it is most likely a repeat. However, I am looking for some fresh feedback. Also, there are a few questions I have to other INTPs and the way they fulfill daily tasks.

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

Most of the time I find myself thinking of other tasks when I try to begin one.
i.e.(I was about to begin reading "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks. Then I found myself wondering how other INTPs went about reading books without interruption.)

I prefer to read web articles and discussions rather than actual books due to the length of them. For my New Years resolution I decided on reading at least one book a month until the end of the year. So feel free to recommend any books that you think I should take a look at.

How indecisive are you?
You can answer this on a scale of one to ten, or give me a descriptive answer if you want.

Being indecisive is usually irritating for people I am around daily. However it is not a problem for me, and it allows me to keep my options open. When I finally decide on something it is usually I think to myself, "What the hell, go for it." Even as I type this post I am thinking about not actually posting it for numerous random reasons.

How badly do you over think or complicate things?
I find myself weighing every single possible outcome of something to the best of my knowledge before doing it. I put things off if I feel that I will fail at it. I often look back and reflect on things I have done poorly on. Even though they don't matter anymore.

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?
I see myself as an experimental artist, and my indecisiveness causes me to change my mediums every so often. Usually I am able to pick up fast on an art style using my own techniques. However, if I find myself unable to excel in that area I lose my motivation and put off art for a while.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

Currently I am majoring in psychology, but I am not certain which branch I would like to be a part of. Criminal psychology seems like an interesting field, but I would also like to help people through emotional situations.

The reason I chose psychology because human behavior intrigues me. Other careers that interested me were architecture, politics, and becoming a freelance artist of some type.

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I tend to be reserved to both friends and family. However, I am more open with friends due to the similar interests we share. I feel that family members are judgemental, jump to conclusions, and more likely to impact your life in a negative way. I don't care much for big family, but one day I would love to start a family of my own.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

For me people who talk to themselves out loud is bothersome.
Also, I do not like being asked something more than once or twice.

Do you play video games?

I find myself unable to commit to video games for long periods of time. I'd much rather spend my time browsing the internet for something new to learn, or just to see funny picture of a grumpy looking cat.

If I play a video game it is usually only for 30 minutes, and then I become bored and wander off to do other things. Game types I do like are; sports, racing, and sometimes simulation. Games like the sims however, I would often just build houses. I would never commit to taking care of the sims. In fact, I dislike games with any type of forced story line to them.

What are your hobbies or interests?

For me I love astronomy/stargazing, art, and learning something new.
​

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply.

 

[Architect]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

Depends, mostly I'm just reading, something I think about other stuff. When I was younger I had less developed concentration and my mind would wander.

How indecisive are you?

Very little, 0 or 1. The hard part is implementing something, rarely deciding.

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

Rarely. I'm an engineer, too much practice finding simple solutions

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

Music and photography. Almost became a professional musician, photography is a hobby. I could probably go professional with photog but I have no interest in that.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

Music which I left for physics. I had zero background in science (had flunked algebra several times) so physics might seem odd, but I developed a fascination for General Relativity and everything Einstein related, so I jumped and got into grad school for GR (or wanted to, the school that offered me the most money and was the best wasn't the GR school)

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I used to Ne/Fe for both. Now I'm pretty much myself (reserved) and analytical. Big family, getting smaller. These days I prefer being alone, between work and family I rarely get any alone time. I can't imagine spending much time with friends, too much of an extra burden.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

The madness and stupidity of crowds exemplified in the present state of financial markets, the housing market, and the Federal Reserve.

Do you play video games?

No, except with my kid

What are your hobbies or interests?

Music, photography, some astronomy. Many 'work hobbies'. Presently focused on Quantified Self/life blogging & augmented reality via google Glass, memoto, MetaWatch, etc.

 

[Affinity]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

Depends how good the book is. I enjoy a good fantasy book as it allows me to get completely immersed in it.

How indecisive are you?

Very, maybe an 8. I have a hard time deciding what to eat, what to cook, or when to begin my day.

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

Over think maybe but that's only as to not over complicate things... If that makes sense

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

Music and photography. Learning music and have a firm grasp on photography. On/off relationship with both but I always do come back to them.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

Current major is CS. It was something I've been wanting to do since I was in elementary school but wrote off as being too difficult when I tried it in high school. It took several years, many majors later, an existential meltdown, some inspiration from a friend, and a spiritual revelation on mushrooms for me to finally return to this path but I feel it's one of the best decisions I have ever made.

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I say I act about the same around family and friends.
More of a loner with a few friends.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

Inconsiderate people. Stuff like people changing lanes without the use or turn signals or people who don't turn on their headlights in poor weather conditions. The fact that they can't see past their noses pisses me off.

Do you play video games?

On/off. Mostly shooters as I have a hard time committing to anything more in depth.

What are your hobbies or interests?

Producing music and photography as mentioned. Also, very big on traveling when funds and time to do so are available. My latest interest is snowboarding.

 

[Tony3d]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

When I am reading, I don't think about anything else. But I don't read very much anymore because I usually want to be actively doing something, and when I do want to relax, I can think of several more relaxing activities than reading.

How indecisive are you?

I am super decisive on things of a logical manner, and pretty decisive on emotional matters as well, though emotionally I feel the need for external validation before deciding on stuff because of insecurity.

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

I will go to great over complicated lengths in order to simplify things. I will spend days creating a system that will save me a few hours, and only use that system once or twice. It in the end takes up more time, but the journey, the search for a more simplified system is rewarding to me.

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

I am mostly a 3d artist, more technical than artistic in a lot of ways. I build environments for 3d worlds such as videogames and movies. I also do sculptures and stuff, I enjoy doing charcole drawings, I like building costumes. I have played guitar in several bands over the years. I also like to write stories, one of my passions is "interactive storytelling" which is becoming more popular in videogames.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

I have a Bachelor of Art in Game Art and Design. I wanted to be an artist, art fascinates me because it can never fully be understood, but the journey of trying to understand it better is gratifying to me. I however, am a technical person by nature, so the job of creating art for videogames allows me to use my technical skills to create systems to make the best art possible for the type of game I am working with.

Plus, I don't fit in well with the normal world.

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I have an incredibly small family. I am more friendly but a lot less open around my family than I am around other people.

I have 100s of casual friends that like being around me and talking to me, but don't really care about me.

There are only a few people that I actually care about, but they all end up hurting me in the end, so at the moment I don't have even one close friend.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

Going back to the previous question... People who don't realize that friendships are investment in another person. If you think you can just not care about a person for months at a time and then get back together with them and be friends on the same level you were, then you are a bad person.

Catchy music.

People in a position of authority that don't have the leadership abilities to merrit their power over people.

Places that put mayonaise on cheesburgers.

Crowded places.

Anyone who when asked, "what do you do with your free time?" says that they just like to "hang out with friends" because that is just a total waste of a life if you have nothing else going on other than "hanging out"...

Overly large people who have no situational awareness and don't realize that not only are they wandering into peoples way and inconveinincing them, but their overly large size is making them affect 3 times as many people with their carelessness than an average person.

When you play "Hungry Hungry Hippos" and you get stuck with the hippo that doesn't want to come up right after you have it bite down.

Do you play video games?

I design videogames, I think they are a great new medium for storytelling. I am fascinated by the way you can put the player into someone elses shoes and let them go through the decision making process of that character.

I am not as interested in the whole "game" aspect though. I honestly don't play a lot of games except for things like Mass Effect.

What are your hobbies or interests?

Playing guitar or bass, perferably with a band, but usually not.

Hiking.

Building stuff, especially when I get to use power tools.

Studying applied psychology.

Making digital art.

Motorcycles.
​

 

[Arc.Demi]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

i wont read a book that doesn't interest me so i stay focused until i feel tired, on the other hand i cant stay focused more than 15 minutes when i read for "studying" so i tend to write summaries for the subject while reading ~

How indecisive are you?

i can decide fast when i have some space to think and no one is bugging me but i find it hard under pressure , however when it comes to accomplishing tasks i work better if there is a deadline .

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

as long as there is an easy answer for the problem ill go with that ..

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

i like drawing and sketching whatever i see is beautiful and unique , and sometimes its just imaginary stuff , however am not that good at it to call myself an artist but i really like doing that and am working on it to get better ..

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

am going for Architecture soon ( buildings architecture ) , there is allot of logic in it and i think its where i can set my mind free and be creative , plus it includes many kinds of art and my passion for art , especially drawing make it the best profession for me .

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

am more outgoing with family than i am with friends , even the clause ones ..
i don't hesitate before saying anything to a family member although i don't spend much time with my family ..
with friends i tend to be a bit reserved and i feel a bit troubled when it comes to talking but i prefer being with a few clause friends than being a loner and i really enjoy hanging out with them and hearing what they say .

What are some of the things that irritate you?

nagging , people who talk allot about stupid stuff (ex: the weather , nails breaking, and asking " how are u " after every 5 words in a conversation in every possible way ) , complicated clothes and people who try hard to draw attention

Do you play video games?

i used to play allot of MMORPG games but i got bored so fast .. now am addicted to Guitar Hero :P .. when i was younger i was addicted to PS2 games like final fantasy, devil may cry, resident evil ... etc
i prefer games with a story line to it or the ones that develop a certain skill
simple games make the feeling that am wasting my time stronger ..

What are your hobbies or interests?

am interested in music , psychology , arts , physics , martial arts and my hobbies are drawing , reading and to experience new things ..

 

[Duxwing]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

When I read good fiction, I'm engrossed. I use my imagination to render imagery as I read it, attempt to guess what will happen next, and develop my opinions of characters-- all in real time. People can walk by, give orders to the group that I'm in, or even get into arguments, but little short of directly contacting me will cause me to resurface. Moreover well-written fiction can make me feel, so I also use it as Fe food from time to time.

When I read non-fiction, conversely, I relentless analyze every statement to ensure that I understand it and don't end up believing something that isn't true. I look for subtle tone, emphasis, and adjective cues to seek out bias and remove it from my analysis. In history this process goes into overdrive and I'm always bracing myself for another "Go America!" argument. In genres whose bias, if present, goes over my head anyway (e.g., technical journals, medical journals, scientific journals) I just try to understand what the author is saying by using my Ne to fill in any vocabulary gaps.

How indecisive are you?

0. The actual moment of deciding is as easy as Sunday morning. However, constructing the logical apparatus that makes the decision for me can be difficult if not impossible given the constraints of time, resources, or even logic itself (see my writings on existentialism and nihilism).

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

Over-thinking is fun: I get a kick out of logic, and, if surrounded by illogical people, being contrarian. In fact, the greater the emotional load, the more I tend to do it-- either to escape the fogginess of my own feelings or to get irrational people wound up even further for my own amusement.

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

Yes.

I write, write, and write some more. My protagonist is often ruthlessly logical in the face of danger and faces absurd, bizarre enemies: zealots, thieves, trees the size of the star ship Enterprise. There's nothing quite like watching Ti mop the floor with Fe.

I also draw people; the detail-work and shading can be quite relaxing.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

I am not yet in college, but, provided that I overcome my existential troubles, I plan to pursue physics for reasons similar to those of Architect. The thought of making a discovery makes jump up and down smiling.

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I'm wild around family, close friends, and little kids. Pillow fights, anti-jokes, random hugs, all of this and more can be found at my house. At school, however, I'm often the picture of logic.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

1. Illogic
2. Illogical people
3. Inconsiderate people
4. Emotional outbursts unjustified by their stimulus
5. Seeing gas-guzzling cars driven by a single person
6. Social rules (e.g., you MUST wear a suit to enter)
7. The absence of arbiters in intpersonal disputes
8. "Hollywood" movies

Do you play video games?

Quite extensively, actually. I experience narrative-style elements, like single-player campaigns, as art to be interpreted and appreciated like a good book. I also play shooters and engineering games like Battlefield 3 or Kerbal Space Program, respectively.

What are your hobbies or interests?

Philosophy, sailing, video games, contemplating the wonders of nature, and drawing.

-Duxwing

 

[Katy]

What is reading a book like for you? Are you focused on the book, or thinking of other tasks you have in the future?

Depends on the book. For the most part, I'm absorbed into it 'til I hit a concept I question, then mull over that while I'm still reading. In some cases, I'll wander off and research it (especially with SF novels).

How indecisive are you?

I use to be fairly bad then realised I'm entitled to be changeable, as long as nobody gets hurt. I trust my instincts a lot more these days and they haven't steered me wrong sooo *shrugs*

How badly do you over think or complicate things?

I use to constantly but have realised, once again, instinctual over reasoning. It's kinda like something in the back of your brain gives you the answer and you just flow with it.... if that makes sense.

Are you artistic? If so, what is your medium/how do you express your artistic abilities?

Yep... I usually use pencils or oil paints. I'm limited by my physical disabilities so painting is becoming a lot harder, hence forces me to stay with pencils.

What was your major in college? Why did you choose it?

I chose Sociology and Religion (I was doing a double degree) because it was easy for me. I'd been studying people as a hobby for years and just wanted a piece of paper to say I could do it, so I could try and find a career. Was looking at going into counselling but that's out of reach now so *shrugs* I draw

How does the way you act around family differ from the way you act with friends?
Are you a big family person, small family, or do you prefer to be a loner / with friends?

I have a small family and...hmmm.. we get along but only because I modify my behaviour around them to a certain degree. They consider me eccentric but for the most part, harmless.

I have a child and one is enough. He's a good kid - don't get me wrong. And I don't have any regrets. I'd just like to live for me now that he's on the cusp of adulthood.

What are some of the things that irritate you?

lol.. that could take awhile :P

Do you play video games?

I'm a bit like you. When I could play them, it'd be for maybe an hr or two max. Now, I'm hooked on puzzle games

What are your hobbies or interests?

Gardening, herb lore, occult, gardening, felines, human behaviour, religious studies but more so going into superstitions and magical practises.



and you're welcome

 

[Proletar]

Well. I would probably sum up my life to that of an anti-hero. I work in the telemarketing-business. We call people from 16 to 21, collecting fees. Currently, I've been working hard. I arrive at the place either right on time or one minute late, and I score loads of sales. Yesterdays goal was 4, and I got 8. I know all the rules and I know exactly how to make people spill their beans and selling to them, far better than the average. I was the king yesterday, and even though I'm new at the place, people have been giving me names of grandeour. They call me The Killer on the Dance-floor, the worlds greatest lover, The Cunning Man, and so on. And I let it slide and secretly let it feed my urges for greatness. I secretly encourage it.


After work, I go home to my messy appartment and watch stuff on the internet. I may read books or play games or cook food or drink some wine, do some drugs or absorbing some music. It varies from time to time. but if something is sonynomous for me, it's that I do things to their extreme. I'm though notorious for not completing what I'm starting. The books are never finished and the food is scrapped half way through. Lasagne is turned into spaghetti with pasta-sauce, as soon as I find something more interesting to turn my attention to. But when I find something that really interests me, I get absorbed way into it. I've had a few of those fields of research before, and if I would list them they would be (in chronological order) videogames, music and playing guitar, bending the rules and getting away with stuff (my gangster-period) the legality of drugs and the effects of narcotics, World of Warcraft, biology and food, marxist politics and now finally psychology. Those fields, grasped into over a period of ten years. I think I know everything about them since I've devouted so much time to learning them.

I hold true to the things I find important, truth being one of them. I like to express myself in what I percieve as absolute truths, at least as long as I'm not being sarcastic. Even when I go to work being a used-car-salesman, I tell the truth. And even though my job is to screw people over, I treat them good. I tell them to contact our customer-service if they should reconsider, meaning that they could cancel their fees. I do whatever I can with the tools I have to make things better, even though my tools are made for the sole purpose of getting money to the company.


That's my life.