Odd Confessions?

[IzlaRoza]

Ok so there is alot of things that i do that i guess would be considered weird and i was wondering if it was normal for other INTPs do "weird things" or is it just me?


For Example:

1. I have to sleep naked. (if not naked then the closet thing to it because i feel trapped and tangled in clothes under covers)
2. I sleep curled up on my side 99.9% of the time & thats when i get the best sleep.
3. I can't sleep with pillows. (i find i sleep more comfortably without pillows)
4. I always find myself entranced with thought.. like i just stare off, as if i were hypnotized, for minutes at a time in deep thought. I cannot recall anything anyone did or said while "hypnotized".
5. I think wayyy faster than i speak.
6. I have very weird dreams (some seem to tell the future and i notice alot of "deja vu")
7. I have a high intolerance for stupid people.
8. I have zero tolerance, or even sympathy, for ditzy people.
9. I cant sleep without a blanket

Is any of the above "normal intp" behavior or is it just my weirdness?

Also, if there's anything you guys have that you're wondering if it is INTP behavior or just you, feel free to share.

 

[Mello]

4,5,6,7 and 8 are normal behavior for intps.

 

[Fallenman]

I don't share your sleeping rituals although I will concede that if I am hot I strip until I am comfortable, but never in the nude (this may have more to do with the fear of someone popping in on me than anything else). And I don't dream very often. All the rest is pretty characteristic of INTP's.

I choose my closest friends based on how well they can understand my thought processes?

 

[bananaphallus]

Ditto on #1, and for the same reasons.

I once whizzed crazily in my backyard as a small boy, in-sight of neighbors (or it would've been if they had happened to be looking that way), and then went inside and told my mother (who had no idea what I'd done) that the dog, 'Rocky', had just peed. It didn't strike me, at the time, just how weird it must've sounded for my mom to hear me 'report' something like that.

 

[snafupants]

judging by your admission in number four, it seems like you could be quite ditzy yourself. do you hate yourself?

fallenman - thats a stupid comment to say you dont dream very often. everyone dreams a lot, some people are just better at recalling their dreams in the morning. i would like to hook you up to an eeg or lie detector test.

 

[cheese]

eww, you people sleep naked!!!

 

[Silas]

i must say I confess to sharing all the same habits. Especially naked, curled up with no pillow!
Perhaps we miss the womb.

Now for a theory. I always, have always, slept on my right side. I actually feel more able to drift into sleep when my head is to the right. Once I try putting my head on the left, it seems wrong, uncomfortable, weird.
So, is that because being a right-brainer, I put my head on the right so that I get more blow draining into that side of my brain?
I should check to see if it's harder to think or do maths better on my left, either way, would blood (due to gravity) drain into one side?

 

[Jennywocky]

I sleep flat on my back.
Then again, I'm dual-hemisphered, last time I looked.

In regards to the OP otherwise,
- I don't sleep naked, but I have to have noise (a fan of some sort) or I can't fall asleep.
- #4-8 fit me too. I don't mind ditzy people if they're just screwing around (I can act really goofy sometimes myself and can come across as a ditz if I want to), I just don't like people who are habitually stupid or clueless especially in situations where they need to be smarter.
- I tend to take the unrepresented side in a discussion, even if I have no preference.
- I sometimes laugh when no one else is even realizing something funny happened. (Basically, something IRL triggered a leapfrog of thoughts someplace else entirely, the end result of which I find funny... but no one obviously followed my intuitive impulse.)

 

[IzlaRoza]

judging by your admission in number four, it seems like you could be quite ditzy yourself. do you hate yourself?

Im the furthest thing from ditzy. Maybe I didn't make it clear enough. It mainly happens when i'm surrounded by nonsense. (Like when having to watch trash tv {Mtv, Vh1, BET, etc} or when with friends and they're talking about the most trivial nonsense {such as fashion, musicians, and describing every moment of their day}. It's as if i block out everything that, in my opinion, turns the brain to mush. Ideas come to mind quickly for me so zoning out happens in no time.

i must say I confess to sharing all the same habits. Especially naked, curled up with no pillow!
Perhaps we miss the womb.

Now for a theory. I always, have always, slept on my right side. I actually feel more able to drift into sleep when my head is to the right. Once I try putting my head on the left, it seems wrong, uncomfortable, weird.
So, is that because being a right-brainer, I put my head on the right so that I get more blow draining into that side of my brain?
I should check to see if it's harder to think or do maths better on my left, either way, would blood (due to gravity) drain into one side?

It's the exact same for me: sleeping naked, curled up no pillow on the right side.
I'm also a right brainer and that is definitely an interesting theory to propose. I never thought about it like that.

I sleep flat on my back.
Then again, I'm dual-hemisphered, last time I looked.

In regards to the OP otherwise,
- I don't sleep naked, but I have to have noise (a fan of some sort) or I can't fall asleep.
- #4-8 fit me too. I don't mind ditzy people if they're just screwing around (I can act really goofy sometimes myself and can come across as a ditz if I want to), I just don't like people who are habitually stupid or clueless especially in situations where they need to be smarter.
- I tend to take the unrepresented side in a discussion, even if I have no preference.
- I sometimes laugh when no one else is even realizing something funny happened. (Basically, something IRL triggered a leapfrog of thoughts someplace else entirely, the end result of which I find funny... but no one obviously followed my intuitive impulse.)

I have to agree with the last 2 points.

 

[Lobstrich]

Sleeping naked is weird? Nah. I don't do it myself, but why would it be weird? Being naked is wonderful.

 

[MidnightGino]

I can relate to all except 3. But maybe that's just because I've never tried sleeping without a pillow. I'll try that tonight.

I love sleeping naked (who in the world was born with clothes?), but sometimes I don't do it because I'm afraid that someone will come in. Hey, I see a lot of INTPs like to do that, I would've never imagined that. Just wondering... What's your underwear choice (this is for anyone)? Let's just say I don't like it that much... If you know what I mean.

Does anyone else like sleeping hugging a pillow? Anyone?

 

[IzlaRoza]

I can relate to all except 3. But maybe that's just because I've never tried sleeping without a pillow. I'll try that tonight.

I love sleeping naked (who in the world was born with clothes?), but sometimes I don't do it because I'm afraid that someone will come in. Hey, I see a lot of INTPs like to do that, I would've never imagined that. Just wondering... What's your underwear choice (this is for anyone)? Let's just say I don't like it that much... If you know what I mean.

Does anyone else like sleeping hugging a pillow? Anyone?

I don't sleep hugging a pillow but when i'm relaxing (like watching tv or on the computer) I notice this is something i do.

Its interesting to know that im not the only person who likes to sleep naked... i feel a lot less weird

 

[MidnightGino]

I don't sleep hugging a pillow but when i'm relaxing (like watching tv or on the computer) I notice this is something i do.

Its interesting to know that im not the only person who likes to sleep naked... i feel a lot less weird

Hey! Everytime I play video games, or watch TV, I hug a pillow too. I sit on my bed with my legs crossed and a pillow in my arms. Weird, INTP habits?

 

[IzlaRoza]

Hey! Everytime I play video games, or watch TV, I hug a pillow too. I sit on my bed with my legs crossed and a pillow in my arms. Weird, INTP habits?

Could be. Lol this is really cool.

Ok so here's another question:
When sitting down (like on a couch or somthing) how are you usually positioned?

For example, I find that i can never just sit straight, with my arms in my laps or legs side to side (unless im in a professional setting, like a job interview, or somehwere that i am not supposed to feel too comfortable at). I usually find that im sitting on one of my legs, or am sitting "indian style" or with my legs crossed. Is it just me or is this another INTP thing?

 

[Mello]

Could be. Lol this is really cool.

Ok so here's another question:
When sitting down (like on a couch or somthing) how are you usually positioned?

For example, I find that i can never just sit straight, with my arms in my laps or legs side to side (unless im in a professional setting, like a job interview, or somehwere that i am not supposed to feel too comfortable at). I usually find that im sitting on one of my legs, or am sitting "indian style" or with my legs crossed. Is it just me or is this another INTP thing?

I do that too.

 

[MidnightGino]

When I said with my legs crossed I was meaning indian style, in case you didn't understand. I didn't think about the different meaning it has.

Yes Me neither, I just can't sit straight. I sit indian style, with one leg crossed above the other one in a 90 degree way, or occasionally in a fetal position, sometimes only one leg up. Depends on what kind of chair I'm sitting on.

I know this is said a lot here but... Is this just me (well, us) or is this an INTP thing?

Another question... How do you stand normally? Does anyone tell you constantly to stand well?

I, for example, stand with my shoulders somewhat going forward, sometimes with my arms crossed and sometimes with my arms behind me (my hands touching). I just can't find where to put my arms.

 

[KazeCraven]

Only agree with 4, 5, and 6, though I would think that everyone has 5 and 6. I think it was only a couple nights ago that I found out there were rhinoceroses in my dream house. I was going to fly when one came out and charged me, but I caught caught in a no-magic zone, so I got gored and woke up.

And yeah, I often go to sleep in jackets and jeans when it's cold out.

Does anyone else like sleeping hugging a pillow? Anyone?

Not me, but several of the people I know at my university sleep hugging pillows. My roommate included, though he soon replaced that pillow with something a little more animate...

 

[IzlaRoza]

When I said with my legs crossed I was meaning indian style, in case you didn't understand. I didn't think about the different meaning it has.

Yes Me neither, I just can't sit straight. I sit indian style, with one leg crossed above the other one in a 90 degree way, or occasionally in a fetal position, sometimes only one leg up. Depends on what kind of chair I'm sitting on.

I know this is said a lot here but... Is this just me (well, us) or is this an INTP thing?

Another question... How do you stand normally? Does anyone tell you constantly to stand well?

I, for example, stand with my shoulders somewhat going forward, sometimes with my arms crossed and sometimes with my arms behind me (my hands touching). I just can't find where to put my arms.

When just standing i usually cross my arms or hold one arm at the bending point (dont know the technical term for the front of the elbow). I also usually stand with my feet slightly pointing towards each other.

How about when you walk? How is your posture?

For me: I've always been told that i have pretty good posture. I walk pretty straight. I notice that my feet go inward a little (not ridiculously). I walk a little fast and take little steps (or so i've been told). A few people have told that i have a unique walk, and i have been asked if i perform because of the way i walk & my posture. I usually put my hands in my hoodie or jacket pockets.

 

[MidnightGino]

I don't pay that much attention to the way I walk, but usually I have my hands in my pockets too. Often while I'm walking I have my phone in my hand (not for talking, mind you, I'm listening to music with headphones).

I don't know about any of you, but I hate doing house chores. I know, most people hate it, but I hate it more than most people.

 

[Fiddling Lass]

I absolutely cannot sit with both my feet on the floor for more than a few minutes.

I'm highly self-conscious about the weirdest things like watching a movie on my own but with other people in the room, sewing, and preparing food when others are in the kitchen.

I also can't let my hands just hang at my sides. If I don't have pockets I cross my arms or even hold my hands behind my back.

I never wear pajamas. :B That is, I always sleep in my clothes.

 

[Cavallier]

If I'm not clothed then I'm not prepared to deal with emergencies.

I absolutely can not sleep naked. The only time I ever slept naked was when I almost passed out from lack of food while showering and even then I drug myself (literally) out of the shower and into the neighboring room where I could pull the blankets down on top of myself.

I feel deeply vulnerable at night with no clothes on. What if something were to happen and I had to deal with it naked? No. Nope. Nuh uh. I wear at least a shirt and underwear and when the house burns down I'll be the only one pre-clothed and prepared to deal with inclement weather.

 

[MidnightGino]

I absolutely cannot sit with both my feet on the floor for more than a few minutes.

I'm highly self-conscious about the weirdest things like watching a movie on my own but with other people in the room, sewing, and preparing food when others are in the kitchen.

I also can't let my hands just hang at my sides. If I don't have pockets I cross my arms or even hold my hands behind my back.

I never wear pajamas. :B That is, I always sleep in my clothes.

Yes.
Yes.
Yes!
And... Not me.

I feel really self-conscious too when I'm watching TV, using the computer or playing video games, and someone is doing something else in the same room. I just don't feel comfortable until they leave. I also get self-conscious when I'm standing in the middle of a crowded place alone (even in a group), I'm more comfortable leaning against a wall alone.

Also, when I'm somewhere shopping for clothes, games, books, etc., I'm very indecisive about what should I buy and what not, so I walk around the place, and come back to exactly the same place and observe the exact same things before I decide if I should or not buy it.

Paranoid? Maybe a little. Or does anyone think it's normal?

 

[MidnightGino]

If I'm not clothed then I'm not prepared to deal with emergencies.

I absolutely can not sleep naked. The only time I ever slept naked was when I almost passed out from lack of food while showering and even then I drug myself (literally) out of the shower and into the neighboring room where I could pull the blankets down on top of myself.

I feel deeply vulnerable at night with no clothes on. What if something were to happen and I had to deal with it naked? No. Nope. Nuh uh. I wear at least a shirt and underwear and when the house burns down I'll be the only one pre-clothed and prepared to deal with inclement weather.

May I suggest, why don't you sleep with a robe besides your bed? If anything happens, you grab it quickly and put it on, it doesn't take that long.

 

[KazeCraven]

I'm not sure why sleeping naked would ever be preferable if you've gotten used to wearing clothes to bed, but that's an idea.

 

[MidnightGino]

I'm not sure why sleeping naked would ever be preferable if you've gotten used to wearing clothes to bed, but that's an idea.

Because, you haven't tried it before, have you? I understand what you say, you've got a good point, but I can't give it much validity.

Let me give you another example... If all your life you wore a suit, everywhere, when you wore casual clothes, would it still be preferable to wear a suit? It's not that good of a comparison, but I hope you get the point.

 

[IzlaRoza]

I don't pay that much attention to the way I walk, but usually I have my hands in my pockets too. Often while I'm walking I have my phone in my hand (not for talking, mind you, I'm listening to music with headphones).

I don't know about any of you, but I hate doing house chores. I know, most people hate it, but I hate it more than most people.

I also listen 2 music as i walk. (a major pet peeve of mine is when my music is interrupted for nonsense).

I hate house chores 2. It is an INTP thing because i remember reading somewhere that although we INTP's are usually relatively easygoing, because all we really do is observe, we can be really stubborn when our principles are violated or when being told/forced to do somthing. (and thats me EXACTLY: I won't do it just because i'm being forced to and if i absolutely have to, then i won't do it all the way right; just so that its done but not the way the person who told me to do it wanted it... then i'll claim thats the best i can do. lol I feel like such an @$$ for admitting to that.)

I'm highly self-conscious about the weirdest things like watching a movie on my own but with other people in the room, sewing, and preparing food when others are in the kitchen.

I'm very conscious about alot of weird things too.

Like I can't watch tv unless i know where the remote is, even if the volume is fine and its on the channel i want to watch, I have to have the remote near.

I hate being on the phone with other people in or near the room im in. It doesnt matter who it is or what we're talking about, i have to be away from everyone when im on the phone. Also i dont like people in the house to know that im on the phone, but thats mainly because they either find every reason to come into the room im n or seem to need me much more than when im not on the phone. Also because i dont like people listening to my conversations.

I'm EXREMELY claustrophobic. When I go to class, i always pick a seat either near the door, on the end of the row, or by the window. If im sitting in the very middle of the row and there's 2 people on both sides of me and 2 or rows in front and behind me i'll feel really trapped and all the possible disasters start to come to mind and i'm usually spending the class time thinking about how i would get out, especially since i usually feel like im surrounded by idiots.

If I'm not clothed then I'm not prepared to deal with emergencies.

I absolutely can not sleep naked. The only time I ever slept naked was when I almost passed out from lack of food while showering and even then I drug myself (literally) out of the shower and into the neighboring room where I could pull the blankets down on top of myself.

I feel deeply vulnerable at night with no clothes on. What if something were to happen and I had to deal with it naked? No. Nope. Nuh uh. I wear at least a shirt and underwear and when the house burns down I'll be the only one pre-clothed and prepared to deal with inclement weather.

LOL. I do sometimes think about emergencies. Also I dont live alone so when i do sleep naked, i usually have something i can slip on on my bedside table.

 

[MidnightGino]

I also listen 2 music as i walk. (a major pet peeve of mine is when my music is interrupted for nonsense).

I hate house chores 2. It is an INTP thing because i remember reading somewhere that although we INTP's are usually relatively easygoing, because all we really do is observe, we can be really stubborn when our principles are violated or when being told/forced to do somthing. (and thats me EXACTLY: I won't do it just because i'm being forced to and if i absolutely have to, then i won't do it all the way right; just so that its done but not the way the person who told me to do it wanted it... then i'll claim thats the best i can do. lol I feel like such an @$$ for admitting to that.)




I'm very conscious about alot of weird things too.

Like I can't watch tv unless i know where the remote is, even if the volume is fine and its on the channel i want to watch, I have to have the remote near.

I hate being on the phone with other people in or near the room im in. It doesnt matter who it is or what we're talking about, i have to be away from everyone when im on the phone. Also i dont like people in the house to know that im on the phone, but thats mainly because they either find every reason to come into the room im n or seem to need me much more than when im not on the phone. Also because i dont like people listening to my conversations.

I knew it! Now I have my INTPness to blame when someone says I can't do anything I'm asked to do at home. When it's house chores day, I usually try to stay quiet and not move (like a wall) so I won't be asked to do something, and just observe.

And I also hate when I'm talking on the phone and someone is near and may listen to what I say. The worst part is after the call, when they ask (especially my mother), "who was it? What did he/she want? What did he/she say? Oh you're so bad at expressing yourself! You don't know how to talk on the phone! Today's youth is so bad at communication", when the cause I couldn't speak well was because someone was listening. Not that I'm that good at talking on the phone anyway. And, if you were wondering, my mom is an ESFJ, so imagine how hard is a regular day with her for me. Actually, right now she's blah blah blah, it seems like I can never have a moment of silence when she's around.

ESFJ mother, the worst INTP nightmare.

 

[cheese]

I knew it! Now I have my INTPness to blame when someone says I can't do anything I'm asked to do at home. When it's house chores day, I usually try to stay quiet and not move (like a wall) so I won't be asked to do something, and just observe.

And I also hate when I'm talking on the phone and someone is near and may listen to what I say. The worst part is after the call, when they ask (especially my mother), "who was it? What did he/she want? What did he/she say? Oh you're so bad at expressing yourself! You don't know how to talk on the phone! Today's youth is so bad at communication", when the cause I couldn't speak well was because someone was listening. Not that I'm that good at talking on the phone anyway. And, if you were wondering, my mom is an ESFJ, so imagine how hard is a regular day with her for me. Actually, right now she's blah blah blah, it seems like I can never have a moment of silence when she's around.

ESFJ mother, the worst INTP nightmare.

With things like this, it can be useful to consider if there's any truth in what they said, once you get past their abrasive personality (in relation to yours, anyway). Could you improve in the areas they've mentioned? Would that be helpful in your life? You could take it as an opportunity for growth, instead of excusing your perceived shortcomings as a 'personality trait'. They may indeed not necessarily be shortcomings, but your mother's (or anyone else's) biased feedback is still feedback - it's information you can work with, even if you're not happy with the source. Maybe your social skills aren't the 0/10 she's thinking, but perhaps you could move it up from 7 to 8. That way you improve, your mother nags less, and you cover any blind spots (ie perhaps you really are shit on the phone but can't tell - this way at least you're making effort to move away from that). Everybody wins.

I find this tends to be a more productive way of approaching negative feedback, even when the value judgement seems terribly skewed. Of course, it's very difficult to successfully do all the time. And perhaps sometimes it's just more useful to move away from extreme, unabating negativity (not referring to urmom).

 

[IzlaRoza]

I knew it! Now I have my INTPness to blame when someone says I can't do anything I'm asked to do at home. When it's house chores day, I usually try to stay quiet and not move (like a wall) so I won't be asked to do something, and just observe.

And I also hate when I'm talking on the phone and someone is near and may listen to what I say. The worst part is after the call, when they ask (especially my mother), "who was it? What did he/she want? What did he/she say? Oh you're so bad at expressing yourself! You don't know how to talk on the phone! Today's youth is so bad at communication", when the cause I couldn't speak well was because someone was listening. Not that I'm that good at talking on the phone anyway. And, if you were wondering, my mom is an ESFJ, so imagine how hard is a regular day with her for me. Actually, right now she's blah blah blah, it seems like I can never have a moment of silence when she's around.

ESFJ mother, the worst INTP nightmare.

OMG we have the same life story. My mother is also an ESFJ and its like living with satan. She does the same exact thing to me. I try to explain the MBTI thing to her so maybe she could have a little more patience when it comes to our extreme differences & she doesn't really care because she's not as passionate about retaining new info like i am because she doesn't have the T or the P.

Another thing, I HATE going out with ESFJ's (believe it or not my mother is not the only ESFJ in my life. Unfortunately, My boyfriend is also an ESFJ) They stop and talk to every single person they pass and reveal too many details about themselves to complete strangers and it drives me nuts. They're hugging every body they see and expect me to be as caring about total strangers as they are. And they are so anal and cant compromise and everthing has to be their way. Those two people are the main reason i joined this forum. They make me feel like im the crazy one and i needed to know if there were more people like me out there.

 

[MidnightGino]

With things like this, it can be useful to consider if there's any truth in what they said, once you get past their abrasive personality (in relation to yours, anyway). Could you improve in the areas they've mentioned? Would that be helpful in your life? You could take it as an opportunity for growth, instead of excusing your perceived shortcomings as a 'personality trait'. They may indeed not necessarily be shortcomings, but your mother's (or anyone else's) biased feedback is still feedback - it's information you can work with, even if you're not happy with the source. Maybe your social skills aren't the 0/10 she's thinking, but perhaps you could move it up from 7 to 8. That way you improve, your mother nags less, and you cover any blind spots (ie perhaps you really are shit on the phone but can't tell - this way at least you're making effort to move away from that). Everybody wins.

I find this tends to be a more productive way of approaching negative feedback, even when the value judgement seems terribly skewed. Of course, it's very difficult to successfully do all the time. And perhaps sometimes it's just more useful to move away from extreme, unabating negativity (not referring to urmom).

Well my social skills are not as bad as I probably made you think they were, they're good enough for me. I don't suck that much on the phone, but my mom is a very extroverted person, so she expects me to talk on the phone like she does. I used to have some problems with the phone thing before, but now the only thing people tell me is that my voice sounds different on the phone, I can speak well enough.

And about the house chores... I don't think I could do much better, since most of the time it's not lazyness that prevents me from being more helpful, but a lack of energy. I get tired too easily while doing house chores. It's not that I can't do what others order me to, because even if I don't like having other people tell me what I have to do, I still do it, because I can't see any advantage in not doing it, since she'll just keep asking and asking me to do it, so I'll have to do it sooner or later (the sooner the better, since she gets in a bad mood when others don't do what she says ASAP).

 

[MidnightGino]

OMG we have the same life story. My mother is also an ESFJ and its like living with satan. She does the same exact thing to me. I try to explain the MBTI thing to her so maybe she could have a little more patience when it comes to our extreme differences & she doesn't really care because she's not as passionate about retaining new info like i am because she doesn't have the T or the P.

Another thing, I HATE going out with ESFJ's (believe it or not my mother is not the only ESFJ in my life. Unfortunately, My boyfriend is also an ESFJ) They stop and talk to every single person they pass and reveal too many details about themselves to complete strangers and it drives me nuts. They're hugging every body they see and expect me to be as caring about total strangers as they are. And they are so anal and cant compromise and everthing has to be their way. Those two people are the main reason i joined this forum. They make me feel like im the crazy one and i needed to know if there were more people like me out there.

Same here, except that with me, I might be in the process of being posessed by some demon or Satan, and she's the good angel. And I'm not making that up, those are her words (except for the good angel part) When I try to explain her the MBTI and tell her she's an ESFJ, she says "PFJ what!?" and doesn't care. She thinks HER way is THE way.

An ESFJ boyfriend? I won't even ask how did you get in such relationship They are the socialite people, and expect us to be the same. You want alone time? Oh my, you must be depressed and have mental issues, I'll take you to a psychologist (yes, unfortunately she does). You don't express your feelings? You must be repressing them for fear of getting hurt. You have some things on your bed? You're a pig. You have imagination? You're so aloof, shut up about your imagination and let me talk nonsense and gossip (not that she asks for permission anyway).

Sorry for that little rant. This forum does the same thing with me, it makes me feel sane after having people telling me I'm so wrong.

 

[IzlaRoza]

I like to hear other INTP's experiences, it helps me feel even more sane.

my life is exactly the same, in those aspects. I've got it worse because not only do i have to take it from my mother, my bf calls me a weirdo and criticizes me for being the way i am too. Its like, the few people that i do try to share my life with (family and bf) are the people who criticize me the most. And i hate when he comes over b/c my mom, my bf, and my sis (who is an ESTP) triple team up against me and call me out on my weirdness. I mean its expected from people who dont know me but i dont expect this from them. They're supposed 2 love & support me the most. If i cant get that kind of care from them, where else am i supposed to look? & the thing that bugs me the most is they wonder why im so cold, heartless & unemotional. They're the ones who put me through h3ll. Imagine how we INTP's get treated out in the world by strangers if our families treat us this way. an ESFJ couldnt live 1 day as an INTP.

 

[cheese]

Gino:
Maybe it's all true though! This is what drives me so insane. Just because there are others like us doesn't mean we're automatically not nutters. Maybe we're just a particularly large collection of skewed perspectives. Maybe we're a personality disorder.

And the source of contention doesn't matter - an ENTP told me for years I lied and was full of shit, so of course I had to consider it. It may well be true, I dunno. I didn't think it was, but there's always nagging doubt, and now I've all but accepted it.. I often feel like Zaphod Beeblebrox, with part of my brain sectioned off, like there's a wall in my head that I can't get past, like there's another cheese in there I can't quite get to. Maybe behind that wall is the mastermind of my gloriously miserable fate. Good fucking job, idiot. Maybe pick Hitler next time, ok?

 

[pjoa09]

i sleep with a pillow, a thick blanket, and comfortable clothes on.

i never remove my seat belt while in the car, and always put it on.

i try to sleep straight, end up sleeping on my hand with drool on my pillow. its as if i am trying to be normal but i cant.

since i got my ipod touch sleeping... has been rather difficult. *stupid thought* have to google

i think my mom is ESFJ now. just wished that she would stop talking to strangers and pray so much.

the saddest thing though, is that i try to communicate, i try to get a little 'extroverted' but whenever i do, i get disappointed.
everyone is just a cardboard face with a big "" on it.

and i get fucked up dreams

always in some sort of war,drowning, in a ghost town. and its almost never a sunny nice day.

 

[MidnightGino]

I like to hear other INTP's experiences, it helps me feel even more sane.

my life is exactly the same, in those aspects. I've got it worse because not only do i have to take it from my mother, my bf calls me a weirdo and criticizes me for being the way i am too. Its like, the few people that i do try to share my life with (family and bf) are the people who criticize me the most. And i hate when he comes over b/c my mom, my bf, and my sis (who is an ESTP) triple team up against me and call me out on my weirdness. I mean its expected from people who dont know me but i dont expect this from them. They're supposed 2 love & support me the most. If i cant get that kind of care from them, where else am i supposed to look? & the thing that bugs me the most is they wonder why im so cold, heartless & unemotional. They're the ones who put me through h3ll. Imagine how we INTP's get treated out in the world by strangers if our families treat us this way. an ESFJ couldnt live 1 day as an INTP.

I've never been able to type my brother, but I think he's an ExxP. Probably ENFP or ESFP. Oh and how much I hate it when he teams with my mom to criticize my antisocial behavior, geeky tendencies and aloofness. Most of the time I just ignore them, think "so what?", or tell them "and it affects your life because...?", but it still is bothersome. Perhaps, one day, we'll show them how amazing we are and they'll shut their mouths. It's not like we criticize them all the time, so why do they do it to us? Fortunately, we don't care that much about criticism, but they sometimes can make us doubt ourselves, which isn't a good thing in this case.

 

[dreamoftheunknown]

I like to hear other INTP's experiences, it helps me feel even more sane.

my life is exactly the same, in those aspects. I've got it worse because not only do i have to take it from my mother, my bf calls me a weirdo and criticizes me for being the way i am too. Its like, the few people that i do try to share my life with (family and bf) are the people who criticize me the most. And i hate when he comes over b/c my mom, my bf, and my sis (who is an ESTP) triple team up against me and call me out on my weirdness. I mean its expected from people who dont know me but i dont expect this from them. They're supposed 2 love & support me the most. If i cant get that kind of care from them, where else am i supposed to look? & the thing that bugs me the most is they wonder why im so cold, heartless & unemotional. They're the ones who put me through h3ll. Imagine how we INTP's get treated out in the world by strangers if our families treat us this way. an ESFJ couldnt live 1 day as an INTP.

Yeah, I'm with you. I dated an ESFJ (at least, I strongly suspect he was) in high school. He seriously had me thinking that I actually was crazy. He always wanted me to hang out and make nice with his friends, but I went to a completely different school, so I didn't know them. Of course, he was always on my case about that. I eventually got to know some of his friends, and after a while even they started telling him to leave me alone and let me do my thing. One summer, I and he and a lot of his friends went on a retreat, and they had us take a personality test. It was the one with colors (green, gold, blue, and orange). Most people came out blue (feeling type). There were only a handful of greens (rational types), and I was one of them. And he made fun of me to no end about it. My family's interactions with him were pretty interesting. I found out later that my mother (ISTJ) couldn't stand him, but she never said anything to me. My sister (INFP or ENFP) kind of teamed up with him, at first. One time, he and I had gotten into a fight, and she asked me what it was about. I told her that he wouldn't stop pestering me about smoozing with his friends. And she asked me if I didn't like his friends. I replied that I barely knew them, that they weren't all that interested in me, and in any case, I was indifferent. She asked me why I was protecting my indifference. [Seriously, what kind of a question is that?] Eventually, she came around, but it took me a long time to find a way to express that he was the problem, not me.

As for my family, our interactions have always been kind of weird. Despite some major issues between us, my Mom and I got along fairly well, but I learned at an early age not to discuss off-the-wall ideas with her. I'd only be met with the response, "Get your head out of the clouds and back in your schoolwork." And frequently, when I talked to her, I realized that she wasn't listening because she was organizing lists in her head. It annoyed me a lot. She's gotten better now, though. Now, I can ramble on and on about my work, and even if she doesn't understand, she listens and remembers. My sister and I clashed some when we were younger, mainly because she didn't appreciate me frequently correcting her when her logic was flawed. Neither of them really got me, and honestly, I didn't understand why I was so different, either. In college, I took the MBTI, got INTP, and when I read the description, it started to make sense. I haven't mentioned him, yet, but I also have a brother, who I've always had a great relationship with. He took the MBTI twice and got INTP the first time, but something completely different the second time. I strongly suspect that he's actually INTP, though. We connect pretty well, as far as I can tell, and he always seemed to appreciate my cool logic to my sister's emotional responses.

Perhaps, one day, we'll show them how amazing we are and they'll shut their mouths.

But that would imply doing something...

 

[Fiddling Lass]

I feel really self-conscious too when I'm watching TV, using the computer or playing video games, and someone is doing something else in the same room. I just don't feel comfortable until they leave. I also get self-conscious when I'm standing in the middle of a crowded place alone (even in a group), I'm more comfortable leaning against a wall alone.

Also, when I'm somewhere shopping for clothes, games, books, etc., I'm very indecisive about what should I buy and what not, so I walk around the place, and come back to exactly the same place and observe the exact same things before I decide if I should or not buy it.

Paranoid? Maybe a little. Or does anyone think it's normal?

Yesssssss. Video games I can play without wanting to hide, but that's it.
And also, in addition to the whole shopping thing, I always feel like I have to buy something if I go into a store. It must be something about the penetrating gazes of the salespeople or something... bleh.

 

[MidnightGino]

Yesssssss. Video games I can play without wanting to hide, but that's it.
And also, in addition to the whole shopping thing, I always feel like I have to buy something if I go into a store. It must be something about the penetrating gazes of the salespeople or something... bleh.

Me too o.o And I absolutely don't like when some employee asks me "Can I help you?" I know it's their duty to do that, but I don't want someone following me around and telling me information about the products. If I want something, I'll ask them.

Maybe I should buy a t-shirt that says "Leave me alone."

That would be convenient.

 

[Fiddling Lass]

Me too o.o And I absolutely don't like when some employee asks me "Can I help you?" I know it's their duty to do that, but I don't want someone following me around and telling me information about the products. If I want something, I'll ask them.

Maybe I should buy a t-shirt that says "Leave me alone."

That would be convenient.

Good idea. xD Although something tells me my mom wouldn't let me wear it.
And this might be weird for an INTP (especially with Thinking at %100), but at some places I feel bad if I don't buy something, like if the people are genuinely friendly and helpful.

 

[Agent of Chaos]

Ok so there is alot of things that i do that i guess would be considered weird and i was wondering if it was normal for other INTPs do "weird things" or is it just me?





For Example:

1. I have to sleep naked. (if not naked then the closet thing to it because i feel trapped and tangled in clothes under covers)
2. I sleep curled up on my side 99.9% of the time & thats when i get the best sleep.
3. I can't sleep with pillows. (i find i sleep more comfortably without pillows)
4. I always find myself entranced with thought.. like i just stare off, as if i were hypnotized, for minutes at a time in deep thought. I cannot recall anything anyone did or said while "hypnotized".
5. I think wayyy faster than i speak.
6. I have very weird dreams (some seem to tell the future and i notice alot of "deja vu")
7. I have a high intolerance for stupid people.
8. I have zero tolerance, or even sympathy, for ditzy people.
9. I cant sleep without a blanket

Is any of the above "normal intp" behavior or is it just my weirdness?

Also, if there's anything you guys have that you're wondering if it is INTP behavior or just you, feel free to share.

I confess, most people think I'm odd.

Ditzy people I just tune out since they rarely make sense to me.
Stupid people drive me over the edge.
People say I notice and say some of oddest things (to them maybe, but it makes perfect sense to me and trying to explain it to others is infuriating).
I sleep better if I'm sleeping on my left side.
Vivid dreams when I actually am able to sleep but I can't sleep when I'm cold, even in the middle of summer I need a heavy blanket.
I do need some sort of background noise(music or idiot box) a fan just won't cut it.
And I have a real problem with being told what to do by people who are clueless (bosses, relatives, teachers and co-workers included).

I swear that some people are so dense that you can see light warp around their heads.

I sometime feel as my life is a movie (The Truman Show type thing but I've been like that even as a kid, now I'm in my mid-forties and think most of it wound up on the editing room floor).
Most of the time I think people should have their IQ checked before being allowed to procreate.
How many here has even the slightest stutter because your body can't keep up with your mind?

 

[Ermine]

And if I'm eating in a restaurant if the waitstaff bothers me while I'm trying to eat I tend to get testy, the more they bother me the worse I get.
How many here has even the slightest stutter because your body can't keep up with your mind?

Yep. Waiters drive me nuts to no end. Why in the world do they have to ask me so many times how many times how I like the food? If I don't like it, I won't come again. If I really don't like it, I will report it. In any other case, it's fair to say I'm enjoying the food.

And that would be me. When I was younger, my "stuttering" was bad enough that I had speech therapy. But it's not like I have a speech impediment, so there wasn't much the therapist could do other than make me aware that people might not understand me the way I was talking. It's gotten a bit better now that I'm more self aware and acutely aware of my tendency to think much faster than I speak. In fact, I even "stutter" in my writing. My handwriting is characterized not only by the handwriting itself, but the multitude of scribbled out fragments of words and sentences, even if I'm writing in pencil. I just keep getting ahead of myself and sometimes write what I was supposed to write in the next mental paragraph. The same kind of thing happens in my speech. My head is going a mile a minute, but everyone else is going at a speed where their mouths can keep up. Unless I take a good long while to think about the exact syntax of what I'm going to say, I end up making abrupt pauses and stopping mid word or sentence in order to say what I meant to say.

And responding to the thread in general, sleeping naked is very nice. However, I usually don't do that because

- I share a room with my sister
- there have been a few cases where my siblings ripped the sheets off my bed when I slept in too late. That would be really awkward if I were naked
- I also have the vague anxiety Cavallier mentioned. What if the house burns down? What if I have to get up and do something in the middle of the night. So even if I do sleep naked, I have clothes beside me on the bed ready to go.
- I have a loft bed. Since I have to climb in and out of bed, it's no small task rolling out of bed covered in my sheets. It usually doesn't work.

 

[Chimera]

And that would be me. When I was younger, my "stuttering" was bad enough that I had speech therapy. But it's not like I have a speech impediment, so there wasn't much the therapist could do other than make me aware that people might not understand me the way I was talking. It's gotten a bit better now that I'm more self aware and acutely aware of my tendency to think much faster than I speak. In fact, I even "stutter" in my writing. My handwriting is characterized not only by the handwriting itself, but the multitude of scribbled out fragments of words and sentences, even if I'm writing in pencil. I just keep getting ahead of myself and sometimes write what I was supposed to write in the next mental paragraph. The same kind of thing happens in my speech. My head is going a mile a minute, but everyone else is going at a speed where their mouths can keep up. Unless I take a good long while to think about the exact syntax of what I'm going to say, I end up making abrupt pauses and stopping mid word or sentence in order to say what I meant to say.

I didn't have a problem with this when I was younger, but now I do. Horribly. I get a vague idea of what I want to say in my head, then skip to the next topic while my lips are still trying to form words. I don't actually stutter, but my grammar and the subjects of my sentences get very mixed up when I'm talking. And I pause a little more than I should.

I've never slept completely naked; I have to wear underwear. There's usually some clothes lying around on or near my bed, so I'm not really worried about being "unprepared". But usually I wear either a shirt or pajama pants or both.

I have to sleep with my back to the wall. Doesn't matter which side it's on.

I can't get out of bed when there's someone else in the room.

I fidget with things. All the time. If I'm not chewing on something, then I'm twisting a ring around my finger, or messing with bracelets, or tapping my fingers, or curling my toes, or bouncing my leg up and down.

I like to carry something like a book or an ipod so I can stare at it and not have people ask me "what's wrong". Because when I stare into space otherwise, people get testy.

I'm highly self-conscious about the weirdest things like watching a movie on my own but with other people in the room, sewing, and preparing food when others are in the kitchen.

I can't watch movies with other people nearby, at least not comfortably. (Somehow it doesn't matter in a movie theater. Possibly because I'm more absorbed in the film?) I also don't like to play music (performed by me or not) if I think someone is listening.






​

 

[Gather_Wanderer]

When it's extremely hot and I sometimes get the uhh...the midnight wood....then I sleep naked. I'm comfortable with my body though I do think sometimes I need to be prepared for whatever may come through the door. If I sleep naked, I'll hide my undies in the sheets with me.

I absolutely require pillows. Sleeping without them is extremely uncomfortable and gives me back problems. Blankets as well.

Was said before, but I think all INTPs are always entranced in thought... or mostly anyway. Makes me wonder why I haven't been fired from my job as a waiter yet, because I've made colossal mistakes at times while zoning out. Guess it goes to show the relative low standards of the place.

I try not to speak while I'm thinking; I'll let someone finish their script, then "go in". If I vibe the other person and they don't seem to be truly interested in conversing, or not truly interested in what I have to say, and/or only interested in reinforcing their point or stance.... then I'll back away.

OP you didn't mention this, but I do get caught "talking to myself" sometimes at work. I've read here and other places that this isn't uncommon.

I've learned to try and laugh with/at everyone (It's the only way to make it through the day at my particular restaurant. Really. You'd go crazy trying to have even a normal conversation with people.), so "stupid" people don't bother me as much. Only if they're affecting my surrounding area....
....I mostly laugh at them.

 

[IzlaRoza]

All very interesting things to read that others do. Very similar to things i find myself doing. I've also realized i had more confessions. Lol. Here we go:

• I am obsessed with foreign cultures & Languages
• I find that I sometimes talk to myself. (because sometimes i have to hear my thoughts) (and if someone walks in on me while im conversing with self, i will request that i get like 10 minutes to finish up my conversation)
• I always carry around a notebook. (I like to be able to record my thoughts. Also, I usually write the time and date that the thought occurred because my way of thinking may change and i like to be able to see how i mature over time.)
• I often find myself doodling (on myself or on random books & papers)
• I cant eat without something else occupying my mind. (such as reading a newspaper, magazine, writing, etc)
• I cant leave the house without having a bottle of water in my purse and a pair of sunglasses on my face (in hopes of not being recognized by those i dont want to encounter, helps me to remain antisocial)
• Im kinda messy (i have a hard time finding my when they're all tucked away neatly.)
• I feel the need to rearrange my room every few months
• Im very quick to judge people, based on how they look, what they're wearing, and the vibe i get from them... and the sad part is, im usually right.
• I love children because they're not full of $h!t yet.
• I sometimes wish i could go play tarzan and jane in the jungles of honduras to escape the corruption.

 

[RubberDucky451]

I am obsessed with foreign cultures & Languages

I am too. I haven't found a polite way to ask everything about their culture yet.

I always carry around a notebook. (I like to be able to record my thoughts. Also, I usually write the time and date that the thought occurred because my way of thinking may change and i like to be able to see how i mature over time.)

I do the same thing, but I record my notes on my phone.

I cant eat without something else occupying my mind. (such as reading a newspaper, magazine, writing, etc)

Yes, this.

Im very quick to judge people, based on how they look, what they're wearing, and the vibe i get from them... and the sad part is, im usually right.

I'm the same way. I tend to get along with people that are very straightforward and carefree.

I love children because they're not full of $h!t yet.

I love how kids appreciate creativity. You can make up the most random things and you'll have whole conversations about it.

 

[AlisaD]

If I'm not clothed then I'm not prepared to deal with emergencies.

Cavalier - always ready to come to the rescue

I usually sleep naked, and don't really have much of a problem with nudity in general, so in case the house burns down, well... I suppose my neighbours would just get one hell of a fun show

 

[Agent of Chaos]

Here's one that some find a bit strange...I own quite a few books, cd's, and movies but I rarely re-read the books, listen to the music more than a couple of times or watch the movies more than once. Since I already know what's going to happen what's the point. Yes, I know in an earlier post I said I had them on but only for background noise when I'm trying to sleep(There is a difference between just having them on and actively paying attention to them).
And yet I can't seem to be able to get rid of them because as soon as I do I'll want to read, listen or watch them.

 

[IzlaRoza]

Here's one that some find a bit strange...I own quite a few books, cd's, and movies but I rarely re-read the books, listen to the music more than a couple of times or watch the movies more than once. Since I already know what's going to happen what's the point. Yes, I know in an earlier post I said I had them on but only for background noise when I'm trying to sleep(There is a difference between just having them on and actively paying attention to them).
And yet I can't seem to be able to get rid of them because as soon as I do I'll want to read, listen or watch them.

Same for me... mainly the part about as soon as you get rid of it you'll want to use them... Thats how it is for me for everything. For example, if i gave away r threw out some old clothes, about a week or two after getting rid of them i'd have the sudden urge to put them on... which is why i have a serious problem with getting rid of things.

 

[Causeless]

I have no idea how I got to this thread, but I do sleep naked.