You people are so... INTERESTING!

[Causeless]

It's wonderful... and TERRIBLE!

I wish so much to contribute to this forum, but what have I to contribute? Everyone here has so much depth and knowledge, often I find what I wish to say has already been said, and more eloquently than I could ever dream to put it! All I ever seem to be left with are my pointless, witless, one-lined observations, and those only ever seem to come into play when drugs or games are involved. Woo-hoo, I'm a real deep human being.

Even the laid-back, "fun" threads seem to intimidate me. All of the regulars here have developed such unique, distinctive forum personalities and writing styles. The respect in the casual setting comes from the mutual admiration for eachother's intellectual contributions when the note is serious, and not to mention individual character overall.

All of this most often leaves me with a heavy "Where do I start?" feeling. Where in any other online community I would blather about, joke around, and hopefully have some meaningful insight when the time and mood are right in an effort to become known and accepted, here it feels almost like... slander. Like this meaningless filler from the peanut gallery standing alongside respect-worthy points and opinions.

I've long since found my kind... yet now I find trouble being one of them?

 

[terraxceles]

You just said everything I wanted to say, and possibly much more eloquently than I could ever have. How ironic that I should comment with a pointless, witless, one-lined observation on this.

Maybe I really do belong someplace else...

Spoiler

Nah.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

You called me interesting. This fulfills me. I am so happy.

 

[IfloatTHRUlife]

I wouldnt worry about it, it might seem intimidating but you kind of have to jump in and mingle. Nobody is here to judge, they are here to think, and while some people may have far more insight than the others, even the simplest thought can be just as profound as a 4 page post.

I have been on this forum for a while, and have never been given any recognition for a single thing i have said, but nobody has shamed me either. The best you can do is say what you think and see what happens.

Like you said, everyone here has their own style, you dont have to impress anyone. I would easily say there are a lot more knowledgable and experienced people here than me, and they will discuss a wider variety of topics becasue of this, but it doesnt make them more intelligent. The only person on this forum that has outright impressed me, and made me feel inferior, is Decaf, he is the man.

Besides, if you cant beat them, join them. I personally enjoy a lot of people here, for example, Inappropriate Behavior is a great combination of hilarious and insightful, or you might find people that you can relate to, like i tend to see a lot of similarities between me and Agent Intellect.

 

[Cavallier]

Bleh. Sean Connery thinks otherwise. Just leap in like THRU said.

 

[Ezro]

I was always the smart kid at all of my schools, top test scores and everything. People knew that if they cheated off the quiet kid, they'd automatically pass. I've actually gotten numerous phone calls home with teachers telling my parents how much they enjoy having me in their classes and how they loved reading my written assignments. I was hands-down the smartest and most insightful person I knew. And then I found this forum...like taking on the pokemon league with a friggin' magikarp. thats why I love this place so much, as it, in a sense, puts me in my place

 

[IfloatTHRUlife]

pokemon reference

everyone hide

 

[Causeless]

Nobody is here to judge, they are here to think, and while some people may have far more insight than the others, even the simplest thought can be just as profound as a 4 page post.

It's not that I'm afraid of judgement... It's hard to explain. I don't care what others think of me, but I DO care what I think of me from their perspective. Nor am I looking for recognition, it's a more subtle thing I'm looking for.

Meh, I think I'm just lonely lately. The only friend(and roommate) I really have and I have decided to go separate ways, and all of my other friends have drifted away in the past few years. (Not only that, but I'm the only one in our apartment with a job.) Stands to reason a lot of this is coming out under the stress.

Anyway, this whole self whine session conjures the image of a man sitting in the corner blubbering over the chocolate cake he's shoving in his gullet to kill the pain, so I'm going to stop now.

 

[IfloatTHRUlife]

I understand, and feel retarded for giving the impression i care whether people judge, or whether i am gaining recognition.

Anyway, pretty much everyone here is no stranger to being a little down, so dont think anyone will be freaked out if you feel like sharing, just dont go crying on us.

 

[DesertSmeagle]

Ya. I came here a month ago. I thought it was kinda stupid at first and now im almost addiceted..Its nice to have people that i can talk to with them knowing what im talking about....And ya. I have a unique fuking writing style..I advertise my videos here to rack up views...
YouTube- Tough Guy

 

[SpaceYeti]

I've long since found my kind... yet now I find trouble being one of them?

I agree. Though, most of it is that I'm surprised how touchy my kind is, and how much time they spend thinking about things that they can't actually come to any conclusions on, such as Cartesian doubt.

 

[Deleted member 1424]

I don't care what others think of me, but I DO care what I think of me from their perspective.

I like this.

 

[cheese]

^Yeah Causeless, I was just about to mention that too. You put it much better than I (probably would've tried to force it into some ill-fitting conceptual box).

Speaking of putting things really well, Dormouse once said something so beautifully succint that I still go look at it occasionally. A common enough idea, but very well put - about statistics and how they relate to regulating people on one of my threads.

 

[Deleted member 1424]

INTPs are liable to over-complicate everything it seems.
Simplicity and brevity can be truly beautiful in their efficiency.

Could you quote dormouse to me cheese?


To actually address the topic:
I may well be taking the 'so interesting' trait of the forum for granted. I've tried browsing a few forums unrelated to typology, and I'm still left wanting. It's really quite amazing how terribly spoken the rest of the internet seems.

 

[cheese]

Oops, it was Blob's thread but similarly-themed:

I know many strong girls and weak guys, and many smart girls and dumb guys. The opposite goes, as well. While this may be relevant statistically, it doesn't affect individuals and therefore should never be applied to regulating them.

Mostly for the last sentence.

(from http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=7025)

Many others have said lots of interesting, clever things in many other ways as well of course; this is just one that I remember. Concise and no ungainly repetitions.

*edit
The very idea of expressing the relationship between statistics and how they're commonly applied to people as "regulation" came from Dormouse - MAYBE I'M STUPID - but it impressed me.

 

[Minuend]

It seems most think that way. Maybe that's why we have some many lurkers?

A lot don't feel the need to simply write "I agree" or the sort, so that probably makes it seem like your posts goes ignored, but this needn't be the case.

I remember Adaire saying in a related thread how eventually you come to see that there are humans behind those avatars and that makes them less intimidating. Or was it more?

Anyways, yes, jump in and mingle.

I agree. Though, most of it is that I'm surprised how touchy my kind is, and how much time they spend thinking about things that they can't actually come to any conclusions on, such as Cartesian doubt.

INTPs often don't need a final conclusion when discussing. They don't feel bothered by loose ends, they usually accept they must exist. They just enjoy imagining and exploring possibilities.

I'm pretty certain you're not INTP.

 

[pjoa09]

It seems most think that way. Maybe that's why we have some many lurkers?

A lot don't feel the need to simply write "I agree" or the sort, so that probably makes it seem like your posts goes ignored, but this needn't be the case.

I remember Adaire saying in a related thread how eventually you come to see that there are humans behind those avatars and that makes them less intimidating. Or was it more?

Anyways, yes, jump in and mingle.



INTPs often don't need a final conclusion when discussing. They don't feel bothered by loose ends, they usually accept they must exist. They just enjoy imagining and exploring possibilities.

I'm pretty certain you're not INTP.

actually i often try to conclude.. end up on another chain of thought, and then try to conclude and get another chain of thought, its a destructive loop for improvising essays or trying to create casual structured writing. A loose end leads to another loose end. Therefore, INTJs suck. friggin tryna conclude, no one can conclude, infact we may know nothing at all. It might just be meaningless for me to say this. Therefore, everything is meaningless and you know nothing which means that we would find the concept of 'Nirvana' hell because you couldn't think and you would want to think and desire and fantasize about having that object or living object and really I could almost conclude Hell as being Nirvana and really God's judgements on who should live and die and burn in hell haven't been on par with what i was expecting. I was hoping for him to get rid of Bush but he just put him on the side after two re-elections. I mean really he has no clue especially when Hitler got behind the ass of this world and killed millions of jews, I dont know where was god there . but then i dont believe in god. I wonder where we end up when we die. It would still be shit to see blank and float and think and think and think about the debts and shit youve done for eternity. Just like aw damn I owed this dude $2m and now hes probably living in a shithole cuz of me' i dont know i am just ranting.

 

[SpaceYeti]

INTPs often don't need a final conclusion when discussing. They don't feel bothered by loose ends, they usually accept they must exist. They just enjoy imagining and exploring possibilities.

I'm pretty certain you're not INTP.

I've taken the test several times and it resulted in INTP, so I don't know what else I might be, especially since none of the other types seem to apply. I've read descriptions of all the similar ones, and I'm not them. That is, you disagree with two of my psychology professors. This forum has taught me something; Just because someone is the same temperament as you, it doesn't make them similar to you. At least, not as similar as you'd initially think.

 

[Words]

It's not that I'm afraid of judgement... It's hard to explain. I don't care what others think of me, but I DO care what I think of me from their perspective.

Ya akhi, I've been looking for this. It's 'hard to explain' to me("us") but not to yourself; you've simplified the equation.

 

[Ska]

I've taken the test several times and it resulted in INTP, so I don't know what else I might be, especially since none of the other types seem to apply. I've read descriptions of all the similar ones, and I'm not them. That is, you disagree with two of my psychology professors. This forum has taught me something; Just because someone is the same temperament as you, it doesn't make them similar to you. At least, not as similar as you'd initially think.

Video!

 

[Minuend]

I've taken the test several times and it resulted in INTP, so I don't know what else I might be, especially since none of the other types seem to apply. I've read descriptions of all the similar ones, and I'm not them. That is, you disagree with two of my psychology professors. This forum has taught me something; Just because someone is the same temperament as you, it doesn't make them similar to you. At least, not as similar as you'd initially think.

Tests only tells you what you think you are or who you want to be. If you hang around the MBTI section for a bit, you'll realize why it's not a reliable indicator of what type you are. Descriptions ain't too reliable either.

Even professors can be wrong. Knowledge is, sadly, no guarantee that you're right. I doubt those two have extensive interest in MBTI to make them good typers.

I know people of the same type aren't similar. Whether or not you are similar to me has no relevance as I am not entirely certain of my type. I'm assuming that I am INTP, but I wouldn't be surprised if I turn out to be INFP, ISTP or even INFJ.

You seem more ISTP to me. But typing through text is highly inaccurate. The reason I'd say ISTP is that they are similar to the INTP. That combined with an interest in science could easily make you appear INTP. You also remind me somewhat of two other ISTPs I know of.

On the other hand, you seem quite directive, so you might be some form of J. My knowledge isn't too broad, so this isn't really anything to go on. Just saying why you might not be INTP.

In the end it doesn't really mater what type you are, though.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Tests only tells you what you think you are or who you want to be. If you hang around the MBTI section for a bit, you'll realize why it's not a reliable indicator of what type you are. Descriptions ain't too reliable either.

Even professors can be wrong. Knowledge is, sadly, no guarantee that you're right. I doubt those two have extensive interest in MBTI to make them good typers.

I know people of the same type aren't similar. Whether or not you are similar to me has no relevance as I am not entirely certain of my type. I'm assuming that I am INTP, but I wouldn't be surprised if I turn out to be INFP, ISTP or even INFJ.

You seem more ISTP to me. But typing through text is highly inaccurate. The reason I'd say ISTP is that they are similar to the INTP. That combined with an interest in science could easily make you appear INTP. You also remind me somewhat of two other ISTPs I know of.

On the other hand, you seem quite directive, so you might be some form of J. My knowledge isn't too broad, so this isn't really anything to go on. Just saying why you might not be INTP.

In the end it doesn't really mater what type you are, though.

... Why would I want to be an INTP? We have no initiative, we don't see things through, the BS we think about, no matter how "sophisticated" it might make us think we are, is generally useless when it comes to dealing with the world around us, people hate getting corrected, even though you do it to help them, not to... whatever they presume you're doing. It sucks.

The descriptions of ISTP and INTJ aren't as similar as INTP, though, if I recall correctly, I was near the border each time in those two areas.

 

[Minuend]

Actually, just because you're INTP doesn't mean that you can't see things through or that you lack initiative. Such traits can be overcome. Sure there are types that will be better at certain things than you, but that doesn't mean you should just sit back and say "I can't do that, I'm XXXX".

Regardless, the test doesn't ask you what type you think you are, it asks such things as: "Do you prefer theory or practice?". First of all, such questions don't necessarily reveal your preferred function. Second, you answer what you think you are or want to be. That's why many guys will be mistyped Ts, for example. They find shame in being feelers because they think that makes them emotional, frail individuals. Which is incorrect, of course. There are feelers that are more rational than thinkers. You'd probably have difficulty separating them on this forum.

Ed: Third, such questions are very vague and how they are interpreted has a lot to say.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I agree, but the tendency is still part of the profile. Overcoming a weakness is good, but that doesn't make it not a weakness.

 

[Causeless]

I understand, and feel retarded for giving the impression i care whether people judge, or whether i am gaining recognition.

Bah! No need to feel silly, it was a valid point! And also, RECOGNITION! (Hah HAH! Undone a second time!)

Ya akhi, I've been looking for this. It's 'hard to explain' to me("us") but not to yourself; you've simplified the equation.

Grand that what THRU said led me to think it; I had been searching for the word explanation to that recurring thought pattern for awhile...

"Maybe I DO care too much what others think of me, I do spend a lot of time thinking about what they would think..."

"Well, that can't be true, there are those with ridiculous opinions of me that don't really bother me. Those individuals didn't acheive that opinion logically, so what of it?"

"I guess I'm judging myself based on what they SHOULD think, which means I'm judging me from... OHHHHHHH!"

 

[jachian]

It's wonderful... and TERRIBLE!

I wish so much to contribute to this forum, but what have I to contribute? Everyone here has so much depth and knowledge, often I find what I wish to say has already been said, and more eloquently than I could ever dream to put it! All I ever seem to be left with are my pointless, witless, one-lined observations, and those only ever seem to come into play when drugs or games are involved. Woo-hoo, I'm a real deep human being.

Even the laid-back, "fun" threads seem to intimidate me. All of the regulars here have developed such unique, distinctive forum personalities and writing styles. The respect in the casual setting comes from the mutual admiration for eachother's intellectual contributions when the note is serious, and not to mention individual character overall.

All of this most often leaves me with a heavy "Where do I start?" feeling. Where in any other online community I would blather about, joke around, and hopefully have some meaningful insight when the time and mood are right in an effort to become known and accepted, here it feels almost like... slander. Like this meaningless filler from the peanut gallery standing alongside respect-worthy points and opinions.

I've long since found my kind... yet now I find trouble being one of them?

Just start ok !!........... just start........ you'll develop all that as you go.

 

[Trebuchet]

I wish so much to contribute to this forum, but what have I to contribute?

I think that is normal for INTPs. In college, I was around a lot of our kind, and everyone seemed to feel that way. We laughed about it, but we were all secretly worried that we were just pretending to be smart, and someone would call us on it. I still feel that way, here and everywhere else. I have concluded that it is just a figment of my imagination, and I try to ignore the little voice.

A lot of INTPs second- and third-guess everything they say, too, worrying that every comment must be correct, relevant, interesting, and witty on top of it. That, too, is a voice I try to ignore.

Post away. If you post something you really regret, you have a while to edit or delete it, and even if you can't, it will drop off the radar in a week or so. And besides, look at the positive and enthusiastic reaction this thread is generating. Take that as proof that you have something to contribute.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

It's wonderful... and TERRIBLE!

I wish so much to contribute to this forum, but what have I to contribute? Everyone here has so much depth and knowledge, often I find what I wish to say has already been said, and more eloquently than I could ever dream to put it! All I ever seem to be left with are my pointless, witless, one-lined observations, and those only ever seem to come into play when drugs or games are involved. Woo-hoo, I'm a real deep human being.

Even the laid-back, "fun" threads seem to intimidate me. All of the regulars here have developed such unique, distinctive forum personalities and writing styles. The respect in the casual setting comes from the mutual admiration for eachother's intellectual contributions when the note is serious, and not to mention individual character overall.

All of this most often leaves me with a heavy "Where do I start?" feeling. Where in any other online community I would blather about, joke around, and hopefully have some meaningful insight when the time and mood are right in an effort to become known and accepted, here it feels almost like... slander. Like this meaningless filler from the peanut gallery standing alongside respect-worthy points and opinions.

I've long since found my kind... yet now I find trouble being one of them?

I felt like this when I first came here. Most of those that were regulars then aren't around anymore but damn there sure were some intelligent discussions going on. I felt like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest but I put my head down and kept plowing into the fray so to speak. Eventually I found my niche (and yes, annoying jackass is a niche). You're already better off than where I was so I wouldn't worry about it one bit. You will find your voice here or your voice will find you. Just keep posting your thoughts.

 

[EditorOne]

Footnote to the original poster:

Many of the people you perceive as some kind of big-caliber heavyweight thinkers probably think of themselves much the same way you think of yourself. Being down on yourself kind of goes with being INTP because there is a dangerous tendency to see ourselves as outside the norm and "that can't be good."

Now turn around and look in the other direction: The most banal and inane thing you contribute is more valuable than anything 95 percent of the world thinks up to say, especially when cast before an audience like the one in here, that is, capable of grasping the thought. See, that's the kind of thing you can only say in here and nobody thinks it's arrogant or whatever, it's just pleasantly plausible and, in some of our cases, born out by years of searching the world for intelligent life, like Diogenes or something.

NOT being hard on yourself is an acquired trait for INTPs, although that's true for other personality types as well. We just seem to nag ourselves over it a lot. I hope this gives you a jump start on the process of gaining confidence.

 

[snafupants]

I agree, but the tendency is still part of the profile. Overcoming a weakness is good, but that doesn't make it not a weakness.

His weakness could be your strength, without inter-individual comparison that statement is meaningless. You should create and upload a video. Barring that, your best bet is honest intellectual appraisal and a look at how the individual functions comprise to shape a complete personality.

Video Video Video Video!!!!!!!!

 

[SpaceYeti]

... Video of what?

 

[snafupants]

... Video of what?

Fortunately, for the sake of identifying certain tell tale signs as long as the video is about a topic which interests you anything should suffice. MBTI, video games, favorite books or movies, sexual exploits, whatever you feel gives the forum an accurate, albeit brief, snapshot of your personality. Perhaps you could upload the video into the INTPs and youtube section; or, you could just plop it here.

n.b., Personally anxious to get to the bottom, the nitty gritty, of this oft talked about personality. SpaceYeti, if you would be so kind...

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I think that is normal for INTPs. In college, I was around a lot of our kind, and everyone seemed to feel that way. We laughed about it, but we were all secretly worried that we were just pretending to be smart, and someone would call us on it. I still feel that way, here and everywhere else. I have concluded that it is just a figment of my imagination, and I try to ignore the little voice.

A lot of INTPs second- and third-guess everything they say, too, worrying that every comment must be correct, relevant, interesting, and witty on top of it. That, too, is a voice I try to ignore.

I feel that way in my Math and Philosophy College classes. I've barely said anything because of it lol. Personally I already have my eyes on a few people I think are being pretentious But yeah I just don't want to be seen as the know it all or pretentious, but if I really feel the need to speak then I will.

 

[Causeless]

Post away. If you post something you really regret, you have a while to edit or delete it, and even if you can't, it will drop off the radar in a week or so. And besides, look at the positive and enthusiastic reaction this thread is generating. Take that as proof that you have something to contribute.

Exactly! I figured I would explain the angst and solve it in a swift and efficient motion. I had debated with myself on whether to post this or not, and did so partially to word out a feeling that others might share or have shared with me, and also to spawn a bit of conversation on the matter...

You know, like a contribution!

But I really should thank everybody, now I feel wanted!

 

[cheese]

Yay!

Causeless, what was your original username?

 

[Causeless]

It's always been Causeless, though I don't really like it.

Meh, I'll get used to it.

 

[LAM]

Ah, I remember when I joined and thought I couldn't possibly be anywhere near these guys. This IS the smartest forum on the internet, without a doubt, if intelligence is based on logic and wide ranging knowledge and experiences.

Don' worry if you don't think you are smart enough: it doesn't matter as long as you are not too offensive.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Socrates was offensive.

 

[LAM]

Socrates was offensive.

Its okay as long as you're right . If you weren't, thats when you'd end up looking like a dumbass. Also doing something unrelated like personal attacks also make you look dumb.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Its okay as long as you're right . If you weren't, thats when you'd end up looking like a dumbass. Also doing something unrelated like personal attacks also make you look dumb.

It's not personal if it's about your mom.

 

[cheese]

It's always been Causeless, though I don't really like it.

Meh, I'll get used to it.

Wow, all this time I've had you completely mixed up with someone else, and I don't even know who that is. This is the second time such a drastic cock-up has occurred in my mental filing system*. All the drawers are getting rusty

*On the forum. I'm not sure about RL. I think there's still a world out there, but I haven't checked in a while.

 

[Cavallier]

This is completely off topic:

Am I the only one that finds Editor's avatar to be completely off-putting? He's supposedly the very picture of diffidence and nonchalance but he seems sort of Mr. Rogers-ish. I find I want to punch his nose in. Fascinating.

 

[EditorOne]

Ummmm -- Robert Mitchum, unlike a lot of Hollywood tough guys, was really a tough guy. Too late to punch him, anyway.

He knew he provoked that reaction in people, by the way, and once noted that he was "born with the sneer." He didn't have an attitude that matched the way people perceived him. That kinda sounds familiar.

The other classic diffidents (is that a word?) include Carey Grant and David Niven. They both seemed a bit too elegant for a temporary avatar for me. Carey Grant's best line was 'everybody wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant."

Mr. Rogers is not so bad. The other day I was wearing 1950s black-and-white sneakers, white socks, cargo shorts, and suspenders to hold up the shorts, with a Key West cap. All I would have needed is a bicycle to complete the PeeWee Herman impression.

 

[Cavallier]

Ah, okay. It must be in the eyes. I've been on a black and white movie binge lately.

 

[jaxin]

Bah! No need to feel silly, it was a valid point! And also, RECOGNITION! (Hah HAH! Undone a second time!)




Grand that what THRU said led me to think it; I had been searching for the word explanation to that recurring thought pattern for awhile...

"Maybe I DO care too much what others think of me, I do spend a lot of time thinking about what they would think..."

"Well, that can't be true, there are those with ridiculous opinions of me that don't really bother me. Those individuals didn't acheive that opinion logically, so what of it?"

"I guess I'm judging myself based on what they SHOULD think, which means I'm judging me from... OHHHHHHH!"

Remember grade 7? Everybody trying their hardest to act cool, all of them thinking that the other kids really "are" cool and they're the only ones faking it? Most people carry a certain amount of that into adulthood. Some people go so far as to play pretend biker dress-up, which is very sad to see. Most of us aren't quite that pathetic but still secretly doubt ourselves. It's normal. Laugh it off and let it go.

 

[Causeless]

... Most of us aren't quite that pathetic but still secretly doubt ourselves ...

Secretly doubt myself? I openly doubt myself!

Then again, I know I'm essentially dirt in this world. Folks got it better, folks got it worse, any complaining I do is always, on some level, moot. That may contribute to some low self-esteem, but of what character would I be otherwise? I could have an ego, but doing so seems a little cocksure in a universe that gives you a guarantee that there's always a bigger fish.

Granted, I take all that to an extreme when forming an opinion on the moment of my status or myself, but I'm steadily reeling it back, feeling out where I need to draw that line. What better a purpose for the moment?

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Ah, okay. It must be in the eyes. I've been on a black and white movie binge lately.

I was on one last month, I think it's the nostalgia.

 

[Farion]

It's not that I'm afraid of judgement... It's hard to explain. I don't care what others think of me, but I DO care what I think of me from their perspective. Nor am I looking for recognition, it's a more subtle thing I'm looking for.

As terraxceles said, this is very ironic. ^That^ is exactly how I feel most of the time. I won't even bother trying to explain it.

Basically in my 20-post experience (yay! 20 posts! ) I have found that two things help:

1. Do what I am sort of doing right now, namely, don't read the responses before you post. I never do that, but I would imagine that it would help immensely.

2. Do what I always do: Type random things that come out of your mind and hopefully answer the question/respond to the topic/contribute to the discussion.

3. Ignore the advice of idiots with only 20 posts.

If you do all that, you should be just fine

 

[EyeSeeCold]

3. Ignore the advice of idiots with only 20 posts.

On a forum like INTPf I don't think post count really matters that much.
Oh wait... >.<

 

[Causeless]

1. Do what I am sort of doing right now, namely, don't read the responses before you post. I never do that, but I would imagine that it would help immensely.

2. Do what I always do: Type random things that come out of your mind and hopefully answer the question/respond to the topic/contribute to the discussion.

3. Ignore the advice of idiots with only 20 posts.

OH! I wanna add!

4. Drop names- Involve others in your personal dialogue even if you don't know them that well.

It sounds shallow, but it's a social trend I've been observing lately. What better way to get a community curious? "Hmm... He's new to me, but he seems to know people and has heard of me, wonder who he is!"

Though, a thin line exists between this type of "mingling" and "gossip", so caution, tact, and moderation as always.