Why are INTPs always called 'the nerds'?

[yogurtexpress]

I'm sick of going to other MBTI boards and seeing INTPs labeled as 'lazy nerds,' 'MMORPG addicts,' and '50 year old virgins living in their mothers' basements.' Well, actually, there's some truth to the latter, but I'm gonna dispute the first two.

For one thing, I doubt that any INTP would fit into the 'classical nerd' image perpetuated by society and the media--the gawky kind of dweeb who plays Warcraft all day and can fix your computer. Playing Warcraft is a routine like any other; it's something that the INTP's scattered mind doesn't bear too well, and it's something that isn't favored by P in general. For instance, I played Warcraft for about three months before I got sick of it. It was so fucking repetitive that I didn't get back into it. It's not a game where you have to think much either, and after all we are the thinkers.

I also don't think we're really the computer fixers--software engineers or computer analysts, maybe, but we don't exactly have the mechanical skills to build a computer, much less fix one.

Most of us probably spend too much time on the computer, but nowadays that's everyone thanks to Facebook and YouTube. When someone else enters the room, it almost doesn't matter whether you're on Facebook or on INTPforum, because it all looks the same: someone sitting in a chair sending messages to people online.

INTPs also tend to question authority and neglect their schoolwork (at least anything pre-college), which aren't exactly nerdy attributes. When I think 'nerd,' I think ISTJ: the person who follows the rules unquestioningly. Or the ISTP: the person who would actually have the mechanical skills to fix a computer.

But INTPs, nerds? Nah. We're the old men living by ourselves who know everything about philosophy, or the editors of history books, or the writers of fortune cookies. We're weird, lonely, and think too much for our own good. But we aren't exactly nerds or geeks. Just highly detached loners.

 

[Roran]

Stereotyping is always bullshit. Well, almost always.

 

[GYX_Kid]

ISTJs have some of the nerdiest people, at least the ones you mentioned that would get all A's in early school just because "you're supposed to" and tell on you for doing something against the rules.

I wouldn't actually enjoy beating up most of those unless it was personal.
INTP would get lumped in with that category, if it was either bully or nerd. Because people tend to think in one-vs-other categories. Especially the awkward or asocial thing, definitely an aspect of one.

If possible categories were all nerd or athlete or slut or dropout or skater or thug or player or cat and what have you, INTP would most likely start out as "other/outcast" or basically someone that doesn't fit into an accepted category and is likely attempted to be put into one so that it can be identified as "something". Then you can grow and adopt skills associated with any or all types, (and ones you made up), and confuse people with your renaissance-man-ishness.

(The moral of the story is fuck SJs, nerds, INTPs and MBTI and go be anything)

 

[yogurtexpress]

I agree.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

The INTP's don't have a large enough representation in the population to be differentiated from some superficially similar types. True story.

 

[Umenneske]

I sadly don't know any other INTPs in real life, so I can only speak for myself. But what you said sounds pretty accurate to me.

I never played World of Warcraft, but several other MMORPGs. No game longer than a month, because it starts to bore me.

My mechanical skills suck. I wouldn't call myself a nerd, even though I sit in front of my laptop the whole fucking day. Inevitably I got pretty good computer skills, know some hints, etc., more than 90% of the computer users would know. But I don't write programs or even know a programming language. So I'm not a nerd. The reason why I'm sitting in front of my computer the whole day is, so I guess, because the internet contains so much knowledge, immediately available. Fuck Facebook.

Questioning authority? Yep. Neglecting schoolwork? Right now.

I suck at typing (yet), so I'll skip that paragraph.

Oh, and I'm neither a virgin, nor do I intend to stay any longer than 1 year here at my moms' basement. (How do you know my room is in the basement anyway?! Is it an INTP-thing?) Can't wait to get out of here when my university time starts. Being independent and having my peace. Yeah.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

INTPs are pretty nerdy. Name one who isn't.

 

[GYX_Kid]

I dunno.
They do tend to obsess in narrow detail about their interests a lot, and have some aspergery traits.

Uh...
Cake

I pick you for not being so nerdy

 

[yogurtexpress]

Narrow interests? INTPs are the ones who have the most interests.

 

[sammael]

There is always a grain of truth in, or basis for stereotypes. INTPs are intelligent, have an affinity for books, computers and knowledge, and are generally loners. No, this doesn't make us foolish, inept, unattractive or any of the other things commonly associated with the word 'nerd', but I can see why people call us that. I do agree we are far from single minded, nor are we simple, but we are typically very independent and non-social. I don't think many people understand that more often than not the world inside our heads is infinitely more interesting, and we have no want or desire to socialise.

I think we must accept we are complicated individuals, and difficult if not impossible to understand. Really, what can we expect from people but to label us somehow in order to feel they understand us, to judge us by their own standards so they can feel superior. It's human nature

 

[EditorOne]

What Dr. Freeman said.

A lot of people have a compulsion to classify. If it doesn't quite fit, they jam it into a category anyway. Ignore them. Worrying too much about what other people think of you can be stressful. (If they start to think you're a psychopathic serial killer, OK, worry. Nerd? Not so much.)

 

[yogurtexpress]

Now that you mention it, the INTPs are probably most likely to become psychopathic serial killers.

 

[Roran]

Now that you mention it, the INTPs are probably most likely to become psychopathic serial killers.

Maybe. But rationality would say otherwise. Sure, INTPs kinda fit the freaky loner archetype but if you get to know us, maybe we aren't so creepy. And anyway, extroverts (or at least halfway sociable people) make much better criminals because you need a network to illegally acquire things. And MBTI does not work properly for those with mental disorders (supposedly). And, as I have said before, INTPs are not emotionless robots. They (we) have emotions, they (we) just don't like to show them (fuck, that is pretty much what IxTx is all about) for it is their (our) weak point.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Society probably sees all Introverted Intuitive types as one big formless pile of nerds.

 

[GYX_Kid]

Narrow interests? INTPs are the ones who have the most interests.

Fixed post to be more accurate

Now that you mention it, the INTPs are probably most likely to become psychopathic serial killers.

IN** or **TJ is my vote. Different types of killers and for different reasons.

 

[Zionoxis]

In all actuality, INTP's would make the best criminals as we would be the most likely to develop the best plan of action to carry out the task. Sadly, upon doing so, you consider the worth of action being carried out and completely abandon the task on those grounds.

We would do the best job of planning, but in the eyes of rationality, there is too much risk, too much work, and too little chance of success for such an action.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

Narrow interests? INTPs are the ones who have the most interests.

They have many interests (within a narrow spectrum).

Extreme Ti w/ low Fe = Aspergers. Less pronounced Ti dominants get on fine. The nerd stereotype is just that - a stereotype. Ti-Ne is very broad.

 

[Zionoxis]

They have many interests (within a narrow spectrum).

Extreme Ti w/ low Fe = Aspergers. Less pronounced Ti dominants get on fine. The nerd stereotype is just that - a stereotype. Ti-Ne is very broad.

Within a narrow spectrum? Define.
My interests range from anime, learning languages, computer languages, computer networking, psychology, philosophy, art (drawing), lockpicking, video games, etc. Many of these tasks are completely unrelated. What narrow range are you referring to?

 

[Dapper Dan]

Half the problem with this is that the terms nerd, geek, dork, etc are so poorly defined. Everyone has different definitions for each of these, and they range so widely across the people spectrum that they've lost all meaning.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

Within a narrow spectrum? Define.
My interests range from anime, learning languages, computer languages, computer networking, psychology, philosophy, art (drawing), lockpicking, video games, etc. Many of these tasks are completely unrelated. What narrow range are you referring to?

Nerd interests. ; )

 

[GYX_Kid]

In all actuality, INTP's would make the best criminals as we would be the most likely to develop the best plan of action to carry out the task. Sadly, upon doing so, you consider the worth of action being carried out and completely abandon the task on those grounds.

We would do the best job of planning, but in the eyes of rationality, there is too much risk, too much work, and too little chance of success for such an action.

The best plan of action minimizes risk, and maximizes chance of success.
Actually ENTJ, the INTP turned inside-out, is good at this. But they "care" about doing shit a lot, so they go actually carry out destructive genius plans that remain just risky enough to be practical.

INTP would find the whole endeavor less necessary, and may be more elaborate about the actual one mission itself than the objective.
Plus they would care more about the individual target than the ENTJ would, making it less "convenient" but more "righteous" in contrast to a possible random drive-by.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

The best plan of action minimizes risk, and maximizes chance of success.
Actually ENTJ, the INTP turned inside-out, is good at this. But they "care" about doing shit a lot, so they go actually carry out destructive genius plans that remain just risky enough to be practical.

INTP would find the whole endeavor less necessary, and may be more elaborate about the actual one mission itself than the objective.
Plus they would care more about the individual target than the ENTJ would, making it less "convenient" but more "righteous" in contrast to a possible random drive-by.

Listen to this man, for he speaks the truth.

 

[Trebuchet]

I also don't think we're really the computer fixers--software engineers or computer analysts, maybe, but we don't exactly have the mechanical skills to build a computer, much less fix one.

I assembled my first computer when I was 14 (it was a Rockwell Aim 65, with no HD, and only a row of LEDs, no monitor). I used a hacksaw to cut holes in the case so there was access to the keyboard. It involved soldering. I did this with my INTP dad.

As an adult, I spent a couple of years teaching basic electronics and computer repair. Later I spent 7 years in IT, fixing people's computers. I was good at it. The users liked and trusted me. I even got employee of the year, though that was kind of a negative for other reasons.

In our house, I'm the handy one. Not that my INTJ husband isn't good with tools - he is - but I have more time to do it and enjoy it more.

So I don't know where you get the idea that we INTPs aren't good at computer repair. We have the potential to be great at it.

INTPs also tend to question authority and neglect their schoolwork

Wrong again. The INTPs I know have been star students.

But INTPs, nerds? Nah. We're the old men living by ourselves who know everything about philosophy, or the editors of history books, or the writers of fortune cookies. We're weird, lonely, and think too much for our own good. But we aren't exactly nerds or geeks. Just highly detached loners.

Completely wrong. INTPs can live a long time, but we generally don't get old. Not inside. We keep our curiosity and love of learning, and it keeps us young. My INTP dad is in his 70s and has something new every week to be passionate and excited about. He is also married, fit, and politically active. Though, he does know a lot about philosophy.

In fact, none of the other INTPs I have known in person (seven, I think) have been anything like you describe. All of us have been friendly, well-adjusted nerds (at least once we were in our 30's), who can fix things and make friends and spend too much time on D&D. Most have had successful long-term relationships, too.