When you have a problem you can't figure out

[dark+matters]

What do you do? How does it affect you?

 

[Grayman]

Make it someone else's.

Doesn't affect me at all.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Just put it off like every other decision.

Just kidding... I usually work through all the possibilities and options first, and then put it off hoping the problem loses patience first.

 

[redbaron]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNWyBXBC0E

 

[Seteleechete]

How do I stop procrastinating?
How do I motivate myself?

..... no clue, I am just kinda stuck in limbo until I do find an answer or the answer becomes irrelevant.

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

If I can't do anything to solve a problem then either it's not a problem or I will have to eventually learn to live with it.

It depends, if it's internal/personal then I don't give up (I make it my goal to find the way to deal with it), if it's external then I prefer to forget about it or avoid.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

How do I stop procrastinating?
How do I motivate myself?

..... no clue, I am just kinda stuck in limbo until I do find an answer or the answer becomes irrelevant.

Holla. The sucky caveat is that the waves are beyond control, the cool caveat is their authenticity when they do appear. It's only a working strategy to adopt when one knows that they themselves are in constant flux, and only one's main strategy when stochasticity is high and variance is massive. To kill the wave is to sell one's very soul.

Spoiler

*EDIT: I'm speaking for myself, not necessarily implying that this is some hard and fast rule.

 

[Vrecknidj]

Depends. What's the problem? How important is it? What hinges on its being solved?

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

Never accept that there's a problem you can't solve.
Never entertain this idea in the first place.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Never accept that there's a problem you can't solve.
Never entertain this idea in the first place.

Thanks for this.

 

[Ex-User (9062)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XRMrMdn0NQ


C A E S A R S

 

[Grayman]

Thanks for this.

Really?

I never took INTP as the type to embrace false beliefs/hope in order to achieve success



There can be benefits to such point of views but such a structure of beliefs has no place in my world view. To me problems are not like problems as others see them. Problems are but a single door closed in a hallway of doors and I don't spend all my time trying to unlock the one when there are so many more that are promising.

 

[Pyropyro]

*Study case studies that are similar to my predicament and shape my own solutions from them
*Get advise from people IRL who has successfully solved similar problems (hence why I hang out with married people)

 

[redbaron]

Really?

I never took INTP as the type to embrace false beliefs/hope in order to achieve success

There can be benefits to such point of views but such a structure of beliefs has no place in my world view. To me problems are not like problems as others see them. Problems are but a single door closed in a hallway of doors and I don't spend all my time trying to unlock the one when there are so many more that are promising.

Real INTP's want to learn how to pick the lock to the door, if only to say that if they wanted to they could open it.

It's not really false hope anyway. Any problem really can be solved, given the time and resources.

 

[QuickTwist]

@OP, it drives me insane. No pun intended.

 

[Seteleechete]

Holla. The sucky caveat is that the waves are beyond control, the cool caveat is their authenticity when they do appear. It's only a working strategy to adopt when one knows that they themselves are in constant flux, and only one's main strategy when stochasticity is high and variance is massive. To kill the wave is to sell one's very soul.

I have absolutely no clue what this is supposed to mean...

Though if it has anything to do with lying to myself in order to motivate myself I have strict personal rules against that.(I don't really have motivation issues nowadays since I really want to do everything that I have to nowadays, just a lot of discipline issues now)

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

Never accept that there's a problem you can't solve.
Never entertain this idea in the first place.

Essentially this. Life is a war in many aspects.

 

[Seteleechete]

Never accept that there's a problem you can't solve.
Never entertain this idea in the first place.

If I was religious I would consider this blasphemy. But I am not and this would be a good solution for most other people.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Really?

I never took INTP as the type to embrace false beliefs/hope in order to achieve success



There can be benefits to such point of views but such a structure of beliefs has no place in my world view. To me problems are not like problems as others see them. Problems are but a single door closed in a hallway of doors and I don't spend all my time trying to unlock the one when there are so many more that are promising.

At the time I thanked him I'd convinced myself that I was unable to solve a current problem and forgotten that I really can't know if I can solve a problem or not unless I actually try first.

I have absolutely no clue what this is supposed to mean...

Though if it has anything to do with lying to myself in order to motivate myself I have strict personal rules against that.(I don't really have motivation issues nowadays since I really want to do everything that I have to nowadays, just a lot of discipline issues now)

Wasn't in the best frame of mind when I responded. But I think I described my experience decently. TLDR I do what you do/did, but perhaps not because of the same reasons or process.

 

[Grayman]

Real INTP's want to learn how to pick the lock to the door, if only to say that if they wanted to they could open it.

(Solution/ Idea) -> door b) Higly improbable
door a) probable
door c) Highly probable

I don't see problems only probability.

I do think locked doors are fun but not really a good route when real life is chasing you.

It's not really false hope anyway. Any problem really can be solved, given the time and resources.

You cannot change the past. Just an example of the many problems you cannot solve. No, you just look for new doors.

 

[Grayman]

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you just leave the locked door alone instead of getting frustrated and spending too much time on it and instead look around and try the other paths near it, a lot of the time you will find yourself on the other side of that same locked door by accident. Then you realize that is the side it unlocks from.

 

[EditorOne]

Sometimes it helps to recast the problem. I'm struggling to convey what I mean, but it's sometimes helpful to look at the problem from someone else's perspective.

Another way to get out of a mental rut with a problem is to ask yourself questions: What will happen if I don't solve this? What would have prevented/avoided this problem in the first place?

Both of those boil down to "more information." If you're struggling with a solution, going over the same ground again and again won't move you forward. Find something to add to the equation, either perspective, or going upstream to consider all the things that created the problem, etc.

Sometimes the paradigm that works best is not "what's the solution?" but "which problems would I rather deal with?"

 

[redbaron]

Grayman, then you never learn how to pick locks or kick doors down.

You're basically just talking about ignoring or circumventing a problem until you come across the solution.

I'm talking about finding creative ways or learning new skills to get to a solution. They're not mutually exclusive. The only sane answer to how one approaches a problem is that it depends on the problem but for various reasons I prefer the creative/learning route because I am #truintp and life can't catch me.

 

[Grayman]

Grayman, then you never learn how to pick locks or kick doors down.

You're basically just talking about ignoring or circumventing a problem until you come across the solution.

I'm talking about finding creative ways or learning new skills to get to a solution. They're not mutually exclusive. The only sane answer to how one approaches a problem is that it depends on the problem but for various reasons I prefer the creative/learning route because I am #truintp and life can't catch me.

I think you're pinocchio.

Maybe a more concrete example...

Often when I am making an application I run into some issues and it starts to feel like I am trying to run in water getting my program to function the way I want. By setting it aside and writing other programs that are not fully related to the original I discover new things that I could then implement in the first and the solution to the original problem suddenly gains clarity because I have more experience.

I am not talking about ignoring a problem but instead tackling the most achievable until your experience catches up to you and the less probable becomes more probable.

I don't think it an INTP thing really. I prefer to see it as a balanced approach to solving problems. Perhaps the Ne/Ti medium if I had to MBTI it.

 

[redbaron]

Yeah so in your example you circumvent (or bypass if that fits better) the problem until you come across the specific solution.

I am not talking about ignoring a problem but instead tackling the most achievable until your experience catches up to you and the less probable becomes more probable.

That still falls under the umbrella of circumventing a problem.

You're all like, "No. What you said is wrong because I agree with you entirely."

??????????????

If it's not obvious the 'real INTP' comments were made tongue-in-cheek.

 

[Grayman]

Yeah so in your example you circumvent (or bypass if that fits better) the problem until you come across the specific solution.



That still falls under the umbrella of circumventing a problem.

You're all like, "No. What you said is wrong because I agree with you entirely."

??????????????

If it's not obvious the 'real INTP' comments were made tongue-in-cheek.

Yes, circumventing. You confused me when you used the word ignoring because it would indicate I am avoiding my issues instead of dealing with them. I must have misunderstood your usage of the word. It is impossible to circumvent and ignore an issue at the same time.

 

[redbaron]

Yes in retrospect it's a poor use of the word ignore. As a token of peace between us I'm going to snort some wasabi on my lunch break as punishment for misrepresenting you.

 

[Plopsypoodle]

I usually get frustrated and say "I'll figure it out later" XD


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[Yellow]

If I've tried to solve it and get stuck, I take a break. Not a huge break -- just long enough that I can view it with fresh eyes. If that's not enough, then the problem is either an actual lack of knowledge, or reluctance to see an unpleasant truth. In the case of the latter, I work to rip away my blinders and look at the problem/solution head on. In the case of the former, I get to studying, and keep the problem in mind as I learn.

 

[Ariel]

Try using the I Ching for guidance in decision making. It can be surprisingly effective when conducted correctly. There's an online version at http://www.ichingonline.net/index.php. Note - one must be reflective, focused and respectful when using it. Throwing for a second answer is discouraged, and going in for a third answer is just wrong. If the answer provided is confusing, sleep on it and then re-read the next day or so.

It's not a system for yes/no. It provides perspective from which you can discern the answer.

Another approach I use is to pretend that a friend is asking me the same question, and then I can more objectively analyze and get to good answers.

 

[Pizzabeak]

It saddens me.
st

 

[StevenM]

If I've tried to solve it and get stuck, I take a break. Not a huge break -- just long enough that I can view it with fresh eyes. If that's not enough, then the problem is either an actual lack of knowledge, or reluctance to see an unpleasant truth. In the case of the latter, I work to rip away my blinders and look at the problem/solution head on. In the case of the former, I get to studying, and keep the problem in mind as I learn.

Good answer.

I find taking a small break helps too. Just like the word that you have on the tip of your tongue, but can't recall, it comes when you're not thinking about it.

I've found a challenge almost impossible until I've decided to retire for a night's sleep. Within minutes of my morning coffee, the problem is near effortless to resolve.

Your possible explanations sound accurate. Usually, the unpleasant truth is that I don't actually know, or have enough knowledge to continue.