Lurking no more... Hi.

[BYOS]

I've been viewing this forum for a few days, but I have only just worked up the energy and desire to make an account, and to reveal my presence. It is dubious whether or not this newfound energy and desire will continue and manifest in posts.... Worth-reading posts at any rate.

As to my type... The first time I took an MBTI test I was seven and I received the type ENTJ (a right little dictator I was ). Second time, when I was eleven, I received ESFJ (no idea how I managed that one). Third time (at the age of twelve), INTJ, which was close, but after being honest with myself I came to understand INTJ was my—guilty—ideal. Was.

For the seemingly countless times I've recently taken "the" test (past year or so), I've typed as INTP.

The countless-ness of the times I've taken the test is more to do with my inability to count very high, though, and not that I've been obsessively analyzing myself because I. must. know. (/cough)

I do diverge from descriptions of INTPs in that:

- I'm average intellectually. I grasp most concepts quickly, but there's a certain "level" (I can't find a more appropriate word) of information/material that I can't fully comprehend, no matter how slowly I read it and/or research any unfamiliar material. At least to the extent that I would like to understand....

- My brain is... barely processing on a regular basis. I don't have many original thoughts rolling around at once, and I don't think as deeply as I think most INTPs do.

- I generally "need"/"use" external stimuli to create something original, though the connection isn't usually obvious (I'm know as "Tangent" within my family). From what I understand, that's not INTP-ish. The needing external stimuli thing.

I've noticed the digression.

- I'm scared of social interaction and not just disliking of it. I also have an impressive number of thoroughly irrational phobias, though this could fall under paranoia, which might be accurate.

That's it. I'm not sure what response I'm looking for, or if this even merits a specific response to any specific points made, but, yeah.

And if it's unclear why I'm on here: the discussion and variety of post topics is fascinating, and this is the one place that has ever made me "laugh", that is, mentally guffaw and physically wheeze. Silently.

I look forward to being further enlightened by you all.

 

[a detached retina]

"tangent" could be INTPish if your Ne is running well.

If you're scared of social interaction and not just disliking of it, then consider ENTP

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Welcome to our humble abode.

 

[MissQuote]

Hello.

I think it is interesting how you list all of the reasons you probably aren't an INTP and not much in comparison as to why you are, in fact INTP. (not that I know much about these things) but I think you are sealing your fate more by doing this than if you listed all the ways you are. (<-joke, intp is the first "diagnoses" I've come up with in an entire lifetime of searching for what was wrong with me that actually made me feel like there was in fact nothing wrong after all which obviously means it needs picking apart at every seam.)

Well, welcome.

 

[BYOS]

"tangent" could be INTPish if your Ne is running well.

If you're scared of social interaction and not just disliking of it, then consider ENTP

I've taken the keys2cognition test, and I got 46.2 on Ne.

I've considered ENTP, but it's just so wrong in too many places (Also, no way I'm an "E").

I think it is interesting how you list all of the reasons you probably aren't an INTP and not much in comparison as to why you are, in fact INTP.

It's because I connected so much to the type INTP that I felt minority traits (the differences) should be listed, to see whether or not they were particularly damning to my INTPness. That decision made better sense in my mind last night.

Here's a few though—traits—that I believe make me more an INTP than anything else:

- I am "messy". (There's a system to it!) My family knows that they'll probably wake up in the middle of the night from the sound of books falling off my bed. The sound is somewhat muffled by the books, papers, et c. on the floor, though.

- I'm a Grammar Nazi. Right now it's bothering me that in my opening post I wrote "know" when it should have been "known". After I read it over so many times! I feel like a hypocrite....

- Logical fallacies kill me, they really do. And lack of precision. I've never felt so strongly about anything else, which is bad. Probably.

- I detest being the center of attention. This is more an all-encompassing "I" trait, maybe. I especially hate it because when/if you're in the thick of things and people know you're in the thick of things and give you their varied and partial "thick" on the "things", it's harder to be impartial as opposed to if you are an observer looking in without biases. *deep breath* That could have been better worded....

- I am a master procrastinator.

- I am confused by social norms/customs/rules. Saying, "This is boring me, so I'll go be boring by myself. In silence, which is an improvement," is apparently a grave offense, despite it being obvious that I was joking. Just a bit. (Or is that just me being mean?)

That's just the start.

- It's very difficult for me to keep hobbies/interests, because once I can do it well enough, I move on. Sometimes I just know I can do something well, so I don't even do it. It's a testament to how many things I've tried that I still, after all that weeding, have a fairly large and varied amount of interests and hobbies.

^ If any of those aren't INTP traits, is that sufficient to type me as something different?

I don't really mind whether or not I'm INTP (though you all are so cool ). I do mind walking around thinking that I am, and not really being one.

Welcome to our humble abode.

From my lurking forays, I realize that the only appropriate response is to bow.

 

[nexion]

The countless-ness of the times I've taken the test is more to do with my inability to count very high, though, and not that I've been obsessively analyzing myself because I. must. know. (/cough)

Seems rather INTP to me.

- I'm average intellectually. I grasp most concepts quickly, but there's a certain "level" (I can't find a more appropriate word) of information/material that I can't fully comprehend, no matter how slowly I read it and/or research any unfamiliar material. At least to the extent that I would like to understand....

I don't think this is type-related.

- My brain is... barely processing on a regular basis. I don't have many original thoughts rolling around at once, and I don't think as deeply as I think most INTPs do.

Meh. Could go either way. "Barely processing information," I can at times identify with. Every so often, I may go hours or days literally doing no thinking or anything whatsoever.

- I generally "need"/"use" external stimuli to create something original, though the connection isn't usually obvious (I'm know as "Tangent" within my family). From what I understand, that's not INTP-ish. The needing external stimuli thing.

Everyone "needs" external stimuli to generate internal thought or creativity, whether consciously or unconsciously.

- I'm scared of social interaction and not just disliking of it. I also have an impressive number of thoroughly irrational phobias, though this could fall under paranoia, which might be accurate.

Being scared of social interaction is more indicative of a social disorder rather than any particular type, but I could maybe see some overlap in moderate cases. By the way, I could reasonably label myself as paranoid as well.

Just to continue...

- I am "messy". (There's a system to it!) My family knows that they'll probably wake up in the middle of the night from the sound of books falling off my bed. The sound is somewhat muffled by the books, papers, et c. on the floor, though.

I am messy, but I doubt that messy. At any rate, I don't think this is necessarily type-related, but such seems to be prevalent in INTPs. Let us differentiate between correlation and coincidence, though.

- I'm a Grammar Nazi. Right now it's bothering me that in my opening post I wrote "know" when it should have been "known". After I read it over so many times! I feel like a hypocrite....

This seems to be quite common among INTP's as well. Especially that part about reading over long posts many times...

Don't beat yourself up too much over misspelling the word though. It's just that the site is fascist and therefore only gives you 24 hours to edit posts. Many times have I wanted to edit something on this forum... Truthfully, I was utterly destroyed when I found out about it.

But you can still edit your OP.

- Logical fallacies kill me, they really do. And lack of precision. I've never felt so strongly about anything else, which is bad. Probably.

Hahaha, agreed.

- I detest being the center of attention. This is more an all-encompassing "I" trait, maybe. I especially hate it because when/if you're in the thick of things and people know you're in the thick of things and give you their varied and partial "thick" on the "things", it's harder to be impartial as opposed to if you are an observer looking in without biases. *deep breath* That could have been better worded....

Also agreed. For some reason, I also hate it when people give me compliments.

- I am a master procrastinator.

Another quality which is common among INTPs, but may not be type related.

- I am confused by social norms/customs/rules. Saying, "This is boring me, so I'll go be boring by myself. In silence, which is an improvement," is apparently a grave offense, despite it being obvious that I was joking. Just a bit. (Or is that just me being mean?)

Yes. Though, I at least pretend to follow them so that I don't offend anyone too much. Except for some that I am wholeheartedly against. I passively rebel against those. People who particularly care about upholding social norms make no sense to me. I know someone like that, who tries to make me follow them. She probably thinks she is really helping me, but I just get annoyed and then when I leave her presence I never bother with it.

- It's very difficult for me to keep hobbies/interests, because once I can do it well enough, I move on. Sometimes I just know I can do something well, so I don't even do it. It's a testament to how many things I've tried that I still, after all that weeding, have a fairly large and varied amount of interests and hobbies.

I honestly don't think this is type related. I have had numerous hobbies in the past five or six years (probably at least ten that I really got into), and I stayed into some of them for a while and then quit others rather quickly. But in my intellectual pursuits, I have core interests with fluctuating auxiliary interests.

I relate so well to not doing something when I know I can do. That's just the INTP's conservatism. If I know I can do something, there's just not much point in doing it unless it accomplishes something productive. Some people are so bewildered by that aspect, and some assume that I simply cannot do it (poor, misguided fools...).

 

[BYOS]

I don't think this is type-related.

I should have understood that no single type is by definition possessing of above-average intellect, but INTP being my intellectual ideal, I confused not being intellectual as not being INTP.

I apologize for the mistake.

Everyone "needs" external stimuli to generate internal thought or creativity, whether consciously or unconsciously.

A logical oversight that could've been fixed after reading the post twenty more times! Very true, though I still feel as if I draw more off of existing material than truly create (for example, my tendency to write fanfic as opposed to original fiction).

Being scared of social interaction is more indicative of a social disorder rather than any particular type, but I could maybe see some overlap in moderate cases. By the way, I could reasonably label myself as paranoid as well.

I have mild social phobia. It generally manifests in literally not being able to watch when someone is being humiliated, even if it's justified, and, while I'm fine making conversation if I'm forced, after it's over, I sometimes physically chatter for no discernible reason (as of now; when I understand, I shall overcome!). And then I feel stupid for doing so, which doesn't help.

But otherwise, I'm perfectly healthy!

And I'm interested about the paranoia... Is it supposed to be just general, all-encompassing paranoia, or are there specific points where INTPs are, as individuals, not as a group, paranoid about certain things?

I'd also like to say, as a general note, that I appreciate all the responses and welcome's. For once my introductory post hasn't gone down in uncomfortable silence.

Whoa, I might become an "F" over this, guys! :smiley_emoticons_mr

(Ignore the bats, I just like the grin on that smiley better.)

 

[nexion]

I should have understood that no single type is by definition possessing of above-average intellect, but INTP being my intellectual ideal, I confused not being intellectual as not being INTP.

I apologize for the mistake.

No need to apologize for that. The association was perfectly reasonable, given the bias present in many type descriptions concerning the temperaments.

A logical oversight that could've been fixed after reading the post twenty more times! Very true, though I still feel as if I draw more off of existing material than truly create (for example, my tendency to write fanfic as opposed to original fiction).

Alright, I understand. I don't have much to say to that though.

I have mild social phobia. It generally manifests in literally not being able to watch when someone is being humiliated, even if it's justified, and, while I'm fine making conversation if I'm forced, after it's over, I sometimes physically chatter for no discernible reason (as of now; when I understand, I shall overcome!). And then I feel stupid for doing so, which doesn't help.

I don't think I've ever had such an experience. My social quirks are just that- quirks. I'm definitely not comfortable witnessing someone being humiliated, though.

And I'm interested about the paranoia... Is it supposed to be just in general, all-encompassing paranoia, or are there specific points where INTPs are, as individuals, not as a group, paranoid about certain things?

I don't know on that one. For some things, I consider it more likely that particular types may be affected by something. It may be probabilistic.

I'd also like to say, as a general note, that I appreciate all the responses and welcome's. For once my introductory post hasn't gone down in uncomfortable silence.

I dislike silence on a forum (which, when I think about it, seems rather oxymoronic). I find that just acknowledgment of my posts raises my self-esteem a little. lol. But I don't like all-out compliments. If anything, a constructive or thoughtful response to one of my posts shows me that my post was good enough to deserve such a reply. But if someone just compliments me, I wonder if it is sincere and then get somewhat annoyed at the lack of productivity or development in an idea... It is much the same way in real life. Wow. No wonder nobody understands me. Everyone tries to give me all-or-nothing, but what I want is moderation. I could never actually tell anyone that though...

Whoa, I might become an "F" over this, guys! :smiley_emoticons_mr

I have considered becoming an INFP before. I think it would be interesting.

(Ignore the bats, I just like the grin on that smiley better.)

I think you could be an F type for that. :smiley_emoticons_mr

(bats completely intentional)

 

[Da Blob]

Welcome!

IMO - tangential thinking is one of our greatest atributes/liabilities. One will note how few threads remain true to the Opening comment but rather quickly diverge/derail along some tangent.

In fact i have to be careful that i do not go off on a tangent when i am writing a comment. I start to say one thing, but i get distracted by another thought - at the same time i am trying to record a previous thought...

 

[BYOS]

I am messy, but I doubt that messy. At any rate, I don't think this is necessarily type-related, but such seems to be prevalent in INTPs. Let us differentiate between correlation and coincidence, though.

I would like to say that my messiness is induced, and not consciously encouraged (when it gets obstructive, I straighten some things up). I can't fit two more bookcases in my room, though, so the books go on the floor (front-side up, at least, and I've put a fairly nice quilt over some hard covers and nice paperbacks in the corner to protect them, though that might aid in yellowing the pages, what with the added humidity).

And I assumed (stop. doing. that. BYOS!) messiness to be an example of INTPs disinclination to exert effort when it's absolutely not necessary, so excellent point. Just because I consciously prefer using my forefinger to scratch my left eyebrow when it itches, and you do, too, doesn't make it an INTP trait.

I dislike silence on a forum (which, when I think about it, seems rather oxymoronic). I find that just acknowledgment of my posts raises my self-esteem a little. lol. But I don't like all-out compliments. If anything, a constructive or thoughtful response to one of my posts shows me that my post was good enough to deserve such a reply. But if someone just compliments me, I wonder if it is sincere and then get somewhat annoyed at the lack of productivity or development in an idea... It is much the same way in real life. Wow. No wonder nobody understands me. Everyone tries to give me all-or-nothing, but what I want is moderation. I could never actually tell anyone that though...

Exactly my thoughts!

To your intentionally batty bats, I, have an elephant on a wavy treadmill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In fact i have to be careful that i do not go off on a tangent when i am writing a comment. I start to say one thing, but i get distracted by another thought - at the same time i am trying to record a previous thought...

It's been said in cleverer ways, but: get out of my brain, please. There's already twenty-one of us in here, and we like being divisible by three. "Two" and "eleven" as our prime factors would be neat, but not as neat as "three" and "seven" are.

Oh.... (spots estimated, correctly or incorrectly, 70 million INTPs) I should add myself then, and not the other way around.

 

[Claytoe]

I think social phobia goes too far for me, its more of an aversion to the imposition of other people and their randomness. Watching people get humiliated is physically painful for me as well though, as is my preference to be bored quietly by myself rather than bored with other people. I think that that may have something to do with me always feeling pretty amused and feeling like I must refrain from going into my own head when things get dull or I feel like I should be sharing how amazing everything is with them. "Hey did you know that a whole new phylum of life was discovered only a few years ago, micro-organisms that live in sand and in fact are partly responsable for keeping sand clean? Thats pretty rad isn't it!" I am certain this tries on some people.

I am really glad that I didn't discover typing of this Variety until I was too busy to pay it much heed in my development and I had people around who were interested in keeping me part of their world. Time,Isolation and a strong reaction to an external system of identity can really pull you away from become who you want to be and living the way you want. Don't let your predisposition rule you, use them to become the person you want to be not vice-versa.

By the way, an orignal thought isn't a thought that has no outside influence, it doesn't even have to be original to anyone else. If you with benin information can devise up with a system of understanding something that is creativity. Creation of any kind is never something to look our noses down at. I know its hard to apply that kind of thinking to yourself sometimes, especially when all you want is to be the best at whatever you are doing and reality proves that you aren't and may never be. My heart still ache sometimes when I think all of the things I will never be, but you can't be everything (theory not yet proven)!

 

[nexion]

I would like to say that my messiness is induced, and not consciously encouraged (when it gets obstructive, I straighten some things up). I can't fit two more bookcases in my room, though, so the books go on the floor (front-side up, at least, and I've put a fairly nice quilt over some hard covers and nice paperbacks in the corner to protect them, though that might aid in yellowing the pages, what with the added humidity).

And I assumed (stop. doing. that. BYOS!) messiness to be an example of INTPs disinclination to exert effort when it's absolutely not necessary, so excellent point. Just because I consciously prefer using my forefinger to scratch my left eyebrow when it itches, and you do, too, doesn't make it an INTP trait.

It could also be due to a difference of interpretation. I tend to downplay external examples of type because I don't believe type is meant to describe external occurrences. It is all about what happens in the mind, and while many things do specifically manifest in different types, I do not focus on those things. The thought processes are what I am concerned with. Of course, thought processes usually have implications on external actions, which is why a behaviorist interpretation can usually accurately determine a type.

In the matter of messiness, I doubt that someone who is neat and organized is an INTP (they truthfully seem to be among the laziest of types), but I just don't think it is specific to INTP. You are right about INTP not wanting to exert unnecessary energy, from my understanding, anyway.

It is easy to see this kind of stuff in the "You know you're an INTP when..." thread. Some of the items are spot-on INTP, but some (or even most) of the items are not particular to INTP, but perhaps also not generalizable to all types as well.

Meh. I'm picky like that though.

To your intentionally batty bats, I, have an elephant on a wavy treadmill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[AlisaD]

You seem to beat yourself over silly little things. It's never good beating yourself up, even about big things, like beating yourself up. So stop that.
Also you seem a bit too... what's the word? What was it? I hung around here for so long that I completely forgot it What was it?
Oh yes! Modest. I think that's the word. Yes, modest. You're one of those. Stop that too. It's confusing and won't do you any good.
Other than that, you seem real nice.
Welcome

 

[The Gopher]

You seem to beat yourself over silly little things. It's never good beating yourself up, even about big things, like beating yourself up. So stop that.

You just beat other people up *sniff*

But hey welcome a little late but I am not a fan of socialism anyway.

 

[Yet]

HI BYOS
welcome

 

[AlisaD]

You just beat other people up *sniff*

Oh Goph, are you being jealous again? Have I not tortured you enough lately?

 

[digital angel]

Welcome.