Precision in INTPs

[walfin]

It is said by several personality descriptions (among others, Portrait of an INTP, An INTP Profile) that precision is one of the hallmarks of being an INTP.

Recently I do not find that I have any interest in pinning down the definitions of terms, finding out what people are trying to say exactly, etc., but rather, trying to infer what they mean generally, through analogical reasoning. My thought remains precise (to me), though. I am rarely truly confused (which may not be a good sign).

What value do you place on precision in thought and speech? Have you encountered times where you simply do not care about it, or care about it less?

 

[intuitivet]

It doesn't really bother me so long as people understand what I'm saying and I understand them. If it causes communication issues then I value precision.

 

[Dormouse]

Well, in speech I'm pretty relaxed, though I do nitpick about sentence structure much to the chagrin of my friends and family.

Writte, though... Suffice to say I have composed my own lexicon of meanings. Every word has a different flavour, and I detect very different connotations from certain ones meant to infer the same idea.

 

[Deckard]

For me it's more about precision of ideas. Which can sometimes look like pedantic nit-picking of definitions and semantics. But the reason for that is to ensure the meaning of the idea is communicated precisely and unambiguously.

 

[Black Rose]

I like to go step by step in my explanations. When a person is confused by my semantics I just relate to them in another way in which I believe they will understand. What really bothers me though is when I asks others to explain their semantics but in return I get the same ambiguous garbage as before.

 

[asmit127]

For me it's more about precision of ideas ... the reason for that is to ensure the meaning of the idea is communicated precisely and unambiguously

This is me - it's important to try and get what's on my mind out there without the need for interpretation which often blurs it. Much as I hate people doing it to me like the OP I try to infer things from what others say; if I give enough precise detail I hope that everyone will take it at face value and know what I mean. No-one does, which leads to another INTP need - the need to find someone who "gets me".

One day...

The only times I don't try so hard are when with someone who I know will ask when they don't get it or if the subject at hand is humourous, when so long as they laugh it's all good.

 

[Juno]

If I am working with others on a subject I try to be accurate but not precise. Those that work with me can fill in the blanks.

If I am asked about a book that I am reading...well...sit down with your food because I can get pretty damn precise. And my explanation may take a while.

 

[Irishpenguin]

I have actually just started to notice this recently. I noticed that I will hear or read a word, and totally have a pretty good grasp on what it means, but I would know that if I were actually asked "What does that word mean?", I wouldn't be able to give an answer. This has caused me many trips to Dictionary.com to find out definitions to words that I was already right about, at least in the general idea behind it ...But the doubt....That dang doubt gets me every time


And as for as explaining things go. Well I can't really say much, but I know that their are times where there's a word, and I know that there's a word, that will be perfect for a segment of the explanation, but I can never remember what it is. So it kind of goes like

Friend: "Dude, what are you trying to say?"

Me: "Okay no! There is a word for this God damnit! and I'm not continuing this explanation until I figure it out!" *Stomps around and collapses in a chair to comfortably contemplate.

Yea. I usually figure the word out a couple hours later, after everyone is gone, and when I really wasn't even thinking about it, and even then I decide it wouldn't have been the right word....dang......double

 

[asmit127]

Me: "Okay no! There is a word for this God damnit! and I'm not continuing this explanation until I figure it out!" *Stomps around and collapses in a chair to comfortably contemplate.

Haha! So true... even in a number of posts on here I've left a gap, written the rest of what I was going to say, triple checked it all and added *insert word for something like ... but not ...* because I can't think of the word or define it without a negative side. Sometimes the word comes to me later, others I move on. In talking I generally don't start a sentence explaining something without having completed it in my head so I avoid looking completely mad (no offense )

 

[Jennywocky]

It doesn't really bother me so long as people understand what I'm saying and I understand them. If it causes communication issues then I value precision.

In general, I'm usually "flexy" and interact via N as my preference.

But if I'm having a discussion / sifting through ideas with others on a serious level (not just a casual level), then I switch from N-style "connective" communication style to "Ti precision" style, where I have to tweak and adjust nuances of the argument(s). if they are making a specific truth claim and I think it's wrong or vague, I'm going to challenge it.

I think when I was younger, I did the Ti-style conversation even in inappropriate/casual situations, which isn't good. I eventually developed a more casual style reflective of what the intent of the conversation was.

 

[Words]

Expressing hopefully accurate logic in an accurate manner...hopefully. Me statements stated as fact that are argumentative is feared a bit.

 

[Adymus]

Yes, I definitely relate to this. It sometimes makes people angry, because they will begin talking about something, and I am not sure where they are going with it, so I will start correcting them on negligible details, because to me they appear to be details that have something else based on them. But to them it just looks like I am arguing with them over every little thing they are saying.

Also, when I teach a person something, it is usually me making the original statement, and then they say back what they think i meant, and I correct them till they got it right.

 

[Adymus]

In general, I'm usually "flexy" and interact via N as my preference.

But if I'm having a discussion / sifting through ideas with others on a serious level (not just a casual level), then I switch from N-style "connective" communication style to "Ti precision" style, where I have to tweak and adjust nuances of the argument(s). if they are making a specific truth claim and I think it's wrong or vague, I'm going to challenge it.

I think when I was younger, I did the Ti-style conversation even in inappropriate/casual situations, which isn't good. I eventually developed a more casual style reflective of what the intent of the conversation was.

Intuition has nothing to do with connecting nor communicating with people.


Bam, you just got Precisioned'ed.

 

[Jedi]

Intuition has nothing to do with connecting nor communicating with people.


Bam, you just got Precisioned'ed.

I beg to differ

 

[Adymus]

I beg to differ

As if that is going to make a difference.

 

[Jedi]

As if that is going to make a difference.

I didn't think istp and intp types were so similar in communicating. We don't use intuition just a little bit for this purpose?

 

[Adymus]

I didn't think istp and intp types were so similar in communicating. We don't use intuition just a little bit for this purpose?

Actually INTPs and ISTPs are almost exactly alike in communication, Both being Dom Ti and with an Fe inferior (Fe is what we use to Articulate btw.)

Obviously INTPs and ISTPs are going to have different content that they communicate. However, we are not talking about the content of what you are communicating, we are talking about connecting with the other person. The point is, it is Fe that we use to connect with other people, Ne actually has nothing to do with it.

 

[Trebuchet]

I would have to say that I do care about precision, but not in all circumstances.

During casual conversation, I have long since got over the need to correct people. I found that being right wasn't anywhere near as charming as I thought it was, but I still notice errors in grammar and logic and fact, even if I don't say anything.

During a debate or dialectic discussion, precision is crucial. Fortunately, my nearest and dearest feel the same way so I don't usually run into conflict. It certainly matters greatly to me that a conclusion follow from the assumptions, much more than it matters if the conclusion happens to be right. If a conclusion is right for the wrong reasons, I find it intensely irritating.

For anything that isn't logical, I don't care about precision. I mix different shades of black when I choose clothes, and I don't care if one portion of food is not identical to another when I am cooking, and I don't get upset if someone is 5 minutes late. Driving instructions only have to be precise enough to get me there, but a phrase like "go about a mile" is fine.

 

[transformers]

I'm precise about the meaning of words and sentences, but not necessarily their structure.

 

[walfin]

The point is, it is Fe that we use to connect with other people, Ne actually has nothing to do with it.

I agree with you that Fe is what determines communication style, but I would think that content does affect connection.

Do you not feel that this forum is exceedingly polite for the most part? [unrelated]

 

[hperowne]

Precision is certainly a hallmark of my personality, in that it is what I strive for in communication and in attempting to understand another person, thing, or idea. Precision is different than accuracy, however. When thinking about these two ideas, precision and accuracy, I think back to a college level lab textbook depicting a bullseye. Accuracy is how close one gets to the target, where the target of a communicative action, is an idea as it is intended in its pure form. This is a potential pitfall for INTPs, as INTPs have the potential to understand everything if they have all the details and time. However, these ideals are impossible to reach, and often errors in "hitting the target" occur when supplied with insufficient details. However, the INTP is always precise (thinking back to the bullseye, this is the equivalent of arrows hitting somewhere on the dartboard, not necessarily at the target, but always in the same place), in that they are always striving for logical correctness, where the logic is constructed by their intuition, which frees them from conventional logic that must obey earthly norms. This is why it is possible for the INTP to think abstractly about new rules or ideas that might not adhere to "common sense" but rather an intuitive sense of the INTP. Anyways, no more time to explore these ideas this evening, but I wholeheartedly agree that precision is certainly something INTPs strive for...

It is said by several personality descriptions (among others, Portrait of an INTP, An INTP Profile) that precision is one of the hallmarks of being an INTP.

Recently I do not find that I have any interest in pinning down the definitions of terms, finding out what people are trying to say exactly, etc., but rather, trying to infer what they mean generally, through analogical reasoning. My thought remains precise (to me), though. I am rarely truly confused (which may not be a good sign).

What value do you place on precision in thought and speech? Have you encountered times where you simply do not care about it, or care about it less?