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Oh the Joy of being an INTP...

FireRose

Scribe
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On Earth, unfortunately.
I lie! There's not a fun thing about it sometimes! I can't express myself lovingly, I don't know how to have a normal crush. I suck at communicating my thoughts and ideas and I cant find a guy that matches my personality to save my life. LET ALONE MAKE FRIENDS! My twin sister is and extrovet and completely opposite of me. She has more friends, is popular and people barely remember my name.


Most of you guys are INTPs! How did you live through high school?
 

J-man

Cobra Kai
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It was really helpful for me to look at things rationally. If I wanted to be confident I might remind myself that no one is actually better than me (because nobody is actually better than anyone else). Another good one is to picture someone sitting on the toilet taking a smelly poop. If you're afraid to express your feelings, just remember that the person you're talking to poops. And sometimes it smells really awful. My therapist called this The Great Equalizer.

I think we INTPs have a tendency to think people will appreciate us more if we are perfect (or can appear perfect). On the contrary, it's when we are being real that people can appreciate us. This means not covering up imperfections (though not broadcasting them).

Side note: I thought your title was serious. I think that we have the potential for a very joyous life, free from things that most people seem to be burdened by. "Must you value what others value?"

Everyyyybody pooooops. Sometiiimes.
 

StevenM

beep
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It gets easier (in the social aspect), as you finish highschool and start in new endeavors. Then again, this also depends on where you are I guess.

I like what J-man says, especially about trying to get a realistic grip on things.

What is it about others that makes you feel very different?
Does everyone have this characteristic?

I learned just recently, is that I try to find qualities that I like in people that I meet or encounter. Instead of focusing really hard on our differences, I take a look at what we have in common, and get curious about the person. When I find the right time, I might introduce myself, and ask questions about the person to get to know them better.

I also like what J-man said about letting go of our imperfections. For instance, so what if I behave passively. So what if I really act out of the norm. I'm weird, and introverted, and I've come to enjoy that about me. If someone gives you a look and says "you're weird", smile and exclaim "yup!".

Making a new connection with someone is going to be like playing poker. Most hands you get dealt may seem awful and others may seem good. Yet, it's all in how you play your cards, which determines a good play. And there will be an infinite amount of chances you'll get to make a difference. Know when to get your foot in, know when to walk away, know when to bluff a little. There is usually a way to turn any bad situation into your favor.
 

Jaffa

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High school is unfortunately a bad place for introverts (it was in the UK, anyway) – It just isn’t designed with people like you in mind.

It gets better as you get older. As you are given more independence you’re ultimately allowed to grow into your introversion properly. At least that’s my take on things.

Just put your head down and give yourself the best start in life now, school relationships aren’t forever. I only have one or two friends that I’ve taken through life with me from school, most of my friends and colleagues are the same.
 

Jennywocky

Creepy Clown Chick
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Yes, I mainly survived high school by... surviving, one day at a time, and hiding in the music department and otherwise doing a lot of reading in my spare time.

But high school doesn't really define life. The longer after you graduate, the less it means. (And interestingly, sometimes when you run into your own high school classmates 5-10 years later, well, most people have changed and expanded their experience base, so you might actually find you have some stuff in common. And if not, you will likely have met some people more like you by that point through work or college or whatever.)
 

StevenM

beep
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I can almost assure you this:

You aren't the only one in your school having a hard time. You aren't alone in your struggles. :smoker:
 

Anktark

of the swarm
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I don't remember struggling in high school (though that doesn't mean I didn't). I remember lots of reading, some coding and INTPland. I didn't get the memo that high school includes a social aspect until at least a couple years after graduation. That idea makes sense now somewhat.

Now that I think about about it, I remember maybe two people from high school (as in, I am quite sure they were there, not their exact names), but that's probably because we often sat at the same tables in classes. I remember about three teachers- the ones who were able to keep my attention.

What's wrong with people barely remembering your name? Or did I get the context clues wrong?
 
Local time
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Canada, eh?
Ah, high school. I'm also an INTP female in high school, but I'm not quite as concerned with the social aspects as you.

Can't express emotions effectively? I've come to accept that as inevitable, as have my friends.

Not particularly popular? As an INTP, people tend to be pretty indifferent to me, for the most part. I'm definitely quiet and awkward unless I'm in a good mood, but I get along fine. I don't want to be at the centre of attention anyway.

I suppose I'm fortunate in that I know several people that are a good deal like me. I'm also great at communicating ideas....just not emotions.

Just keep good friends around, try to force yourself to be social now and then and keep on top of your academics. You'll be fine!
 

Direwolf

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Im still in highschool and the only social aspects i have are my friends that i have known for a decade, before i really started to become introverted but as the years went on they became used to me and realised i wont contribute much to conversation except for the occasional input as well as expecting a high amount of eccentricity. thus social circles became limited to who wasnt freaked out by me. I'm similar to you firerose in almost all cases except for the name department. Those people just aound rude.Im the guy everyone goes to when they need help. So thats about 140 people. However as years went on i lost my ability to help people in english an other "feeling subject because i didnt understand them. In all other subjects its just gotton to the point where its assumed i know the answer so if you need help" ask [my real name]". At the begining of high school people would be like " oh dude tour the smart kid how do you do this?" If they didnt know my name i wouldnt help. Soon they all did.

However because i was different and a "nerd" i had a target on my back early on from the "brutes" of my year. They would try and beat me up, i would analyse the shit out of what they were doing and make them realise why it wouldnt end well for them. But still the biggest problem is the feeling department.
 

RaBind

sparta? THIS IS MADNESS!!!
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Saw the title, thought "hardly" and find out op was being sarcastic. I wander if cynicism is part of what makes it annoying sometimes to be an intp.

I spent highschool mostly being bored. Had a handful of close friends that made it easier to get though but thats about it. It help to like what you're doing as school, but thats hard to influence when you have no say in it.
 

JansenDowel

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I am from New Zealand. Our high schools are not the same as American high schools. Library geeks are generally admired here.
 

EditorOne

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High school is particularly bad for a lot of reasons, including hormones, social pressure and a system designed, apparently, by rabid ESTJ personalities. Just remember to turn that inside out: Others are also being affected by their hormones and those social pressures and their demeanor toward you is a sometimes just a vile product of intractable pressure on their particular personality. In the best possible sense, for your sanity, "This is not all about you." Other people are flopping around like fish on land and occasionally you'll get smacked by a tail or find yourself staring into a mouth that is opening and closing but no communication is forthcoming. Very disconcerting.
The good news is that it does end.
 

ZenRaiden

One atom of me
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Between concrete walls
Been to seven different high schools including US. I didnt like it and I think high school doesnt prepare you for higher education at all. Do your best and try not to take it seriously. Most of what you learn in high school is just crap. I wish someone has told me that its that bad. Adult life is lot more different.
 

eagor

Senior Executive Lab Monkey
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i'm a prize in a cereal box near you, so buy, BUY,
I spent most of my time in detention, it was a quiet room where i could finish my work in peace and read to my hearts content when I was done. You may not want to try this aproach though if you don't think your parents will understand, even with a thorough explanation.
 

Primeval

Redshirt
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I lie! There's not a fun thing about it sometimes! I can't express myself lovingly, I don't know how to have a normal crush. I suck at communicating my thoughts and ideas and I cant find a guy that matches my personality to save my life. LET ALONE MAKE FRIENDS! My twin sister is and extrovet and completely opposite of me. She has more friends, is popular and people barely remember my name.


Most of you guys are INTPs! How did you live through high school?

Hello.

Registered to answer this.

If read correctly the aforementioned contains four concrete relationship statements, one mental concern.

The second is arguably simple so I'll address it first. Do you suffer lack of coherence when attempting to enlighten others or do you find your vocabulary insufficient to impart a particular concept?

If the former, this is relatively expected. Depending on situational social pressures, interference caused by perceived judgement can cause your thought process to "seize up." This is generally observed when a subject is around another whom she likes or knows dislikes her, for example. Unfortunately this is symptomatic of the type. Fe becomes relatively dominant, and its underdevelopment/lack of maturity leads to babbling or stuttering. tl;dr: Solvable only with concerted effort to increase what are essentially public speaking skills.

If the latter, the honest answer is read. Read anything and everything. I experienced the same issue when I was in the first year of middle school. Being annoyed to no end by this, my simplistic solution was to "learn more words." Objectively, this was accomplished, but caused issues of its own, namely a lack of understanding among some of those I now have to interact with. It's depressing how often I hear the phrase "Stop using big words."(Obligatory note: I in no way profess to be a word smith. The above could easily be viewed as arrogant. This is not intended.)

Relationship statements

Considering the subject of this board, a near complete lack of deep empathic understanding on my part may be excusable. That said, the objective aspects of your statement lend themselves, in my mind, to certain conclusions. A "normal crush" implies an attempt on your part to mold your relationships to an accepted social standard. To be blunt, this is guaranteed to fail. You, and we(mostly), are incapable of "normal" relationships. Note that this is entirely different from "incapable of having relationships." Yours will simply be different. And more difficult to find.

A perceived inability to "find a date" during your highschool period is unsurprising. This does not imply a defect, merely that your available sample size is...insufficient. While this is technically solvable by enlarging the sample(going out and being social) it is unlikely you would be comfortable with this.

Our type is rare. One to four percent of the population, depending on the source. Efforts to match the "normals" in behavior patter is unwise. It is inherently unfair to yourself. In all likelihood you will have to interact with someone for quite a while before they/you "make a move." Imagine this as dropping breadcrumbs for one or the other to follow. It takes time to reach the end of the trail.

It is very possible that you go through the entirety of highschool without ever going on a date. I did. I took the related harassment in stride. As someone mentioned above, hormones are a primary driving force of this behavior. True emotional connection at this stage is generally secondary, if considered at all.

Acquiring friends can indeed be problematic. Interestingly, I think I found a solution to it. It's failure is quite embarrassing, but when it succeeds is does so admirably. The downside is it takes considerable personal courage, something I, among others, struggle mightily with. Attempt this successively wherever people congregate. It is preferable if they are seated. Essentially, one eavesdrops. Find an excuse or reason to sit near another group of people, preferably small, and listen to the conversation. The vast majority will be uninteresting babble. Rarely, however, you may hear something that piques your interest. I specifically listen for an intelligently phrased point. More specifically, someone correcting another in a serious manner, as if attempting to clarify. If this happens, listen for a while longer. If that person takes little or no further part in the conversation(or whose input is mostly of this type), you have a potential friend. You may perhaps interject with a precision remark about the subject in question, or ask a detailed, specific question as the person walks by/leaves. I find that a logically framed query about a technical aspect of a subject immediately captures the attention of one like us. Note: This is for "instant" friends, as types close to each other "click" quite quickly. For the others, in my experience only the breadcrumb method has an acceptable chance of success.

And now a client called. I might remember to finish this. Unlikely.
 
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