So what are we good for?

[jewels]

Being an INTP, I feel my general purpose is to be of use, to get something accomplished, to help in some way. I feel a drive to do something. As I search for this something to do, I get completely lost in so many different avenues. I have my Associates of arts degree, I've dabbled with art, music, geology, mathematics, logic, architecture, drafting, criminal justice, and just about everything I can think of. Daily, it feels like I have a new drive to try something new. But what does this do in a society filled with the status quo of obtaining a bachelors and living your life under one heading for one career. Personally, I wouldn't be able to stand doing one thing my entire life, let alone a week or so. So then, being an INTP and having the desire to learn about so many different things, and also having the desire to be useful at some point, what, in the end, are we good for? What is it that we have the abilities to do and others don't? What is our general purpose in this life and amongth the other 98% of the population?

 

[SEPKA]

Good for adaptability? Perhap you can hold a bunch of obscure skill and use it at the moment when all hopes are lost. Or change job instantly when you don't like it anymore without serious economics problem.
I remember there is a famous guy name "... Frank..." (I can't remember the name) who juggle over a dozen jobs, good at it and are famous because of it.
I think you can write book, then you can really explore vast area of knowledge as you like, research independently. It is getting harder and harder to do independent research nowaday but not impossible. The little money for selling book is enough to feed your daily living. If one and even one of the book turned out to be the solution to the world problem, you had already proven yourself useful.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Get a BA or BS in whatever seems interesting to you (I went with philosophy), go to law school, and then get into politics.

There aren't enough INTPs in politics.

This will allow you to be useful and good for something.

Besides, I don't have the stomach for politics.



Dave

 

[Ermine]

Well, lately, it seems that the workforce is looking for creativity more than they used to. Now that the less creative jobs are being shipped overseas, it's very valuable to be a creative problem solver. And I think this is what INTPs do best. Because of this trend and my tendencies, I think I will go into Graphic Design, since it combines many of my skills (art, writing, problem solving, and others), and pays pretty well.

They say that the BFA is the new MBA, so this could be a good idea for me.

 

[EditorOne]

I knew an older fellow who had a business card that said "consultant." (He was in fact relatively unemployed, doing some kind of guided-tour gig in a tourist town irregularly and also working as an extra in various movies.)

I asked him what he consulted in, and he gave the answer Marlon Brando gave in the Wild Bunch when he was asked what he was rebelling against: "What have you got?"

Bet he was INTP.

He'd found a way to survive without getting in a rut.

He was not, however, wealthy, pretty much one step up from a hobo.

It ain't always easy being us.

 

[Claverhouse]

Say it, Say it, Say it. War !



Claverhouse

 

[Berkeley]

I feel like intp's are cursed to be good at just about everything. However, we can never find the motivation to continue to do it.

Isn't it strange how skillful we are at certain things, yet a good portion of us will be considered useless to society as a whole.

 

[sotired34]

I really am having a hard time of it lately. As far as hobbies and interest, I am never at a loss. It's the job thing ya see... The same thing every day!! NO!!!!
I don't want to do that hobo thing either. I am so tired, and I don't know what I am good for. This is my first post, hope I didn't screw it up.

 

[cuterebra]

I felt like that a few years ago--wasn't sure what I wanted to do, just that I didn't want to get bored.

Medicine and science in general don't get boring--at least, they won't if you choose the right path to specialize in.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

Society doesn't know how best to utilize us. We don't fit well into the patterns laid out and that is our struggle. Diversifying is good for planning your stock portfolio but to enter the job market means you have to go by their rules. I think under present circumstances it is best if you can work for yourself and change what it is you do at your pleasure. A lot easier said than done but nothing worth having blah blah blah.....you know the rest.