Taking Orders

[MEDICaustik]

Sometimes, I will be planning on doing a task (ie. the dishes), without any issue. But then somebody will come to me, and say "Hey, can you do the dishes?" (ie. my roommate). And instantly I decide the dishes are the very last thing on my list of things I would like to do at the moment.

I do my job well. In fact I do it very well. I like to be left alone to do what I need to do. The moment my boss checks in with me, or pushes me for a response beyond "I'm working on it", I instantly mentally check out of the issue. Even though I have told him many times I work best with minimal management.

I can't stand being "managed". Like a tool. Or a dairy cow. Constantly monitored for productivity. I get paid salary, yet I'm required to submit a timesheet (which I generally fabricate, not because I don't do 40 hours of work, but because I have no interest in wasting my time tracking myself when it makes no difference).

I think I once read it is a general INTP trait. When someone tells me to do something, I can suddenly name a million terrible things I would rather do at that very moment.

I imagine some of you can relate?

 

[Czech Yes or No]

Possibly, but it seems more like just an xxxP trait rather than just an INTP one.

 

[Cognisant]

Yeah, I think it goes with our whole independent thought thing, when at work the first thing I do is check in with the boss to see what needs doing and when I've done all that I check back again to see what else needs doing, so I take orders in the very literal sense that I prompt whoever is managing me to manage me when I deem the guidance to be necessary. I like it that way, but I don't like it when I'm being managed as I'm already busy doing something else, especially micromanagement, for me being told what needs to be done and left to figure out when/how to do it for myself is much better than being told exactly what to do and when to do it.

 

[MEDICaustik]

I imagine a large percentage of people dislike being micromanaged.

I think what I'm talking about more though, is how receiving an order instantly makes me resent it.

Sometimes I will go out of my way and make things a bit harder, rather than concede and perform a task "as ordered".

Childish rebellion?

 

[EditorOne]

I'm not seeing childish rebellion, merely impatience with officiousness in most cases. As in the OPs example, when it's clear what needs to be done and everyone is in the process of doing it, what's with the little f-head who comes up and starts ordering people around? Phooey. Why fill out a time sheet when you're on salary? You're paid for a result or a responsibility or for accountability, not for the amount of time you spend. "So who let that record keeper be in charge anyway? He doesn't get it."

Obviously I relate to resentment of authority. I am an equal opportunity resenter, resenting authority even when it is not abused. One of my favorite lines from the movies is Marlon Brando a motorcycle hoodlum in "The Wild One" when a girl asks him "What are you rebelling against, Johnny?" and he answers "Wadda ya got?" That seems reasonable to me. Poorly developed social skills, I guess.

 

[MEDICaustik]

I'm not seeing childish rebellion, merely impatience with officiousness in most cases. As in the OPs example, when it's clear what needs to be done and everyone is in the process of doing it, what's with the little f-head who comes up and starts ordering people around? Phooey. Why fill out a time sheet when you're on salary? You're paid for a result or a responsibility or for accountability, not for the amount of time you spend. "So who let that record keeper be in charge anyway? He doesn't get it."

Obviously I relate to resentment of authority. I am an equal opportunity resenter, resenting authority even when it is not abused. One of my favorite lines from the movies is Marlon Brando a motorcycle hoodlum in "The Wild One" when a girl asks him "What are you rebelling against, Johnny?" and he answers "Wadda ya got?" That seems reasonable to me. Poorly developed social skills, I guess.

Having narrowly avoided joining the military, I understand now why I would not have thrived in that environment. That's not to say everyone should avoid the military.. but it's not the best job to have if you desire working alone, being autonomous and thinking.

It's not so much a resentment of authority as much as it is against authority in circumstances where it is either a) superficial, lacking actual authority or b) inconsequential, as in small business where I find it is often abused, or misused. That, and I generally find business to be inconsequential to the grand scheme of things.

 

[A22]

I respect my superior's decisions if they are logical, but my lack of discipline and my stubbornness will probably get me in some trouble by the end of the year if I get drafted. If it happens I'm likely to get arrested - and arrested again for resisting arrest.

 

[Vrecknidj]

...And instantly I decide the dishes are the very last thing on my list of things I would like to do at the moment.

..., I instantly mentally check out of the issue.

I can't stand being "managed". ...

I imagine some of you can relate?

Sure.

But, your reaction is still under your control. You don't have to like what other people say or do. You also don't have to shut down.

If you were planning on doing the dishes, and your roommate brings it up, you can, if you want to, say "Sure," and leave it at that. You don't have to shut down. You don't have to get inflamed. You don't have to snap back with a comment.

All that is totally up to you.

You were going to do the dishes anyway.

Equanimity is a choice. (As is compassion, and joy and love, but, one thing at a time.)

Dave

 

[Dapper Dan]

I've noticed that the tone of the request/order matters quite a bit, so I'm guessing this is an Fe thing. Asking directly (and giving me a chance to respond) tends to get a much better reaction out of me than the passive-aggressive "such-and-such could use some work" approach.

 

[Words]

My version of sentiment is more of a philosophical issue but it is an issue rooted in cognitive function. Ti is all about "my way". Decisions become a part of the self. Taking orders, for the large part, means applying the decisions made by someone else, ignoring your personal decisions, thus ignoring your "selfness." Getting into that kind of job is like a sweeping decision to deny many of your future decisions.

 

[pernoctator]

Sometimes, I will be planning on doing a task (ie. the dishes), without any issue. But then somebody will come to me, and say "Hey, can you do the dishes?" (ie. my roommate). And instantly I decide the dishes are the very last thing on my list of things I would like to do at the moment.

I do this. Sometimes I'm oddly methodical about it too. Like, I'm planning to do something at 2:00; someone reminds me to do it; okay, that thing is now rescheduled to 2:30.

 

[MEDICaustik]

I do this. Sometimes I'm oddly methodical about it too. Like, I'm planning to do something at 2:00; someone reminds me to do it; okay, that thing is now rescheduled to 2:30.

Thank you. Exactly how I do it.

Because I just don't want that person to think I did it because they wanted me to. Lest they make a habit of giving me orders.

 

[Fghw]

You imagine correctly, sometimes its bad to the point that merely imagining someone's response can completely turn me against a task.