as a INTJ to the letter, i found these funny and completely true, i'm sure a lot of people here relate:

Top ten myths about introverts


Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.

This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.


Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.


Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.

Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.


Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.

On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.


Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.


Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.

Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.


Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.

Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.


Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.

Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.


Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.


Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

http://jerrybrito.org/post/6114304704/top-ten-myths-about-introverts

many truths here

These are great.

i think most of what they're saying is spot on... i mean, anyone who knows me knows that i'm NOT an introvert, but someone really close to me is. ;)

Introverts are the superior breed of human.

well that's just not true. I can agree that there may be a higher percentage of smart introverts, but there are some extroverts that are just as intelligent.

the first half of this list is basically who i was growing up. i can still be introverted at times, and am not always an extrovert, but i'm very different socially than i was growing up. number 10 isn't a myth but the wording is stupid. there's nothing to "fix" about being an introvert. it's not wrong to be that way at all. if you want to be more extroverted, there are ways of overcoming obstacles, but not every introvert wants to change, nor should they.

this is verifiable in a lot of ways, statistically. but, shut up about that, because introverts usually rely on their ace in the hole.

I'm an INTJ 90% of the time. Add alcohol and I turn into an ENFJ.

^^ so true.

INTP, here, all of this is true. (Most of the above list can be ascribed to Aspergian-types, as well.)

i refuse to admit that you introverts are superior to me.

That's right, i just made the broad discussion personal, bitches!

broads are in the other thread, this one's for introverts.

Generalizations: Sometimes they happen on message boards

No assburgar, no friend.

always been an introvert, still am.

sup buddy

jim you are definitely an extrovert. intro/extroversion is a baseline human social trait and reveals quite a bit about one's neurology. neither trait infers superiority. have you taken a myers-briggs test?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp <- test here. i had no idea about these until DYA showed me a while ago. dreadfully accurate...and of course backed by my boy Jung.

People are surprised when they get to know me and realize how much of an introvert I am. Any suggestions of extroversion on my part is purely ironic, you probably don't get it.

I love how the similar minds version has "suggested careers" - INTP lists "game designer" and "assassin" near the top. lololol

Your Type is
ESFJ
Extraverted Sensing Feeling Judging
Strength of the preferences %
1 1 12 1

They say i am the Guardian.. which means this stuff:

Providers take it upon themselves to insure the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the Guardians, and thus are the great nurturers of social institutions such as schools, churches, social clubs, and civic groups. Providers are very likely more than ten percent of the population, and this is fortunate for the rest of us, because friendly social service is a key to their nature. Wherever they go, Providers happily give their time and energy to make sure that the needs of others are met, and that social functions are a success.

Highly cooperative themselves, Providers are skilled in maintaining teamwork among their helpers, and are also tireless in their attention to the details of furnishing goods and services. They make excellent chairpersons in charge of dances, banquets, class reunions, charity fund-raisers, and the like. They are without peer as masters of ceremonies, able to speak publicly with ease and confidence. And they are outstanding hosts or hostesses, knowing everyone by name, and seemingly aware of what everyone's been doing. Providers love to entertain, and are always concerned about the needs of their guests, wanting to make sure that all are involved and provided for.

Friendly, outgoing, neighborly - in a word, Providers are gregarious, so much so that they can become restless when isolated from people. They love to talk with others, and will often strike up a conversation with strangers and chat pleasantly about any topic that comes to mind. Friendships matter a great deal to Providers, and their conversations with friends often touch on good times from years past. Family traditions are also sacred to them, and they carefully observe birthdays and anniversaries. In addition, Providers show a delightful fascination with news of their friends and neighbors. If we wish to know what's been going on in the local community, school, or church, they're happy to fill us in on all the details.

Providers are extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, which makes them perhaps the most sympathetic of all the types, but which also leaves them somewhat self-conscious, that is, highly sensitive to what others think of them. Loving and affectionate themselves, they need to be loved in return. In fact, Providers can be crushed by personal criticism, and are happiest when given ample appreciation both for themselves personally and for the tireless service they give to others.

so... in summary, the party i'm throwing for Jess on Saturday is going to KICK ASS. Ya'll better come!

i've always been the introvert and this list has always applied to me. young me would always go through cycles of feeling inadequate in social situations (unless close friends were involved) and then rationally dismissing any misgivings about myself i had. extrovert traits could not be forced upon me if my life depended on it. i can't even imagine living life as an extrovert. it does not (and for me, should not) compute.

Personality tests are cookie cutter shit..

I only do them when I have nothing else to post on livejournal...

I just took that test lol. At least my career matches my INTJ personality. And no I am not an assassin(although that would be cool)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator

ok

i mean, normally i would agree with that, but this isn't "what twilight character are you?"

yeah, i think most things like this are cookie cutter esque.... and a lot of those questions could have gone either way.. like, i always TRY to do the first answer, but it doesn't always work out that way.. so i answered everything the way i actually do it, not the way i want to, or try to.

Oh hai

Looks like I tested to same as you. Wanna have babies?

Sweet oververt section on the left of that ramp.

I got the same one, totally true btw

RadicalVertBiker or GTFO

Introvert and proud.

ENTJ here, outta my way nerds...

#6 is totally true, especially the last part. I'm fine and talkative when I'm hanging out with one person, but I clam up in a group setting. Without me prompting it, someone I know described it goodnaturedly as "I go into fuck-you mode when in a crowd". I'm not antisocial, more mono-social. But I should probably try to develop some "mingling" skills, those seem helpful.

if i'm in a group of people, i have to know at least one person in the group, or i'm very quiet and awkward.

back in middle school and high school, i was the quietest kid in the school. most of the time my friends weren't in my classes, so i clammed up. i didn't talk much in class at all unless it was to a friend who happened to be in a class with me, but that was rare.

I tried taking that test but found that I have no definite answers to most of those questions.

you scored as IDNO

har har har

Sometimes I speak out in a crowd, sometimes I don't. It usually depends on how much sleep I got the night before or how drunk/stoned I am.

But a lot of those questions were vague to begin with so I think the test overall is flawed.

This is me, shocked that we occasionally talk past each other. lol

Haha, yeah, this is just a little bit more objectively-observed-fact-based than "which Spice Girl are you?".

A typical situation for me throughout my life is a group of people that I vaguely know but know each other get together and start talking. This is typical of meeting new co-workers, meeting a girlfriend's friends, and meeting other people's friends in general. The topics are strictly: people I've never met before, events I wasn't there to see, places I've never been, and inside jokes I would never get. I have no idea where I'm supposed to jump in, and nobody seems to give a shit that I'm there. So I go into my brain, mock the 2072 Patriots draft, play a guitar solo on Mars and bang Marilyn Monroe. When it's all said and done everyone looks at me and thinks "What the hell is that guy's problem?" Bam. Anti-social introvert label.

What was I supposed to say?

When was I supposed to say it?

What if your stories aren't that interesting that I want to gab about them?

The logical me knows that the sociable thing to do is to ask questions. But honestly, I've found that most people are content to close dissonant presences out of their conversation as long as it keeps them in the center of attention.

I comiserate with the above.

RE the final sentence, asking questions of the get-to-know-you sort is something I can do when one-on-one, but in a group, it's like...HOW?

Some people can dive right into a group conversation with strangers, and I admire them for that. I can't.

But I constantly have to question just how much of it is me. Having a victim mentality about every day situations is a recipe for failure. I try to avoid it at all costs. But some things just don't add up.

I can't goto parties. I get prison anxiety in party crowds, and when I meet a group of peers I feel like they're playing the one of these things does not belong here game. It ends up with me drifting off into my own world, and eventually pissing in somebody's shampoo (not a figure of speech).

But on the other hand, when I throw a party everybody has fun and I make sure of it. I'm psyched to meet new people and welcome them into my home and share my food. If I see someone keeping to their self I'll go out of my way to engage them. If I know 2 people that aren't acquainted but should be I'll introduce them. I had a BBQ at my old apartment where a kid I had never met before got beaten to a bloody pulp outside my house by another party guest after a night of partying and STILL told me he had a great time. The problem can't be as simple as me being a social retard.

it's don't designed to reveal definite traits, but to derive tendencies. If you notice, many ofthe questions are vague on purpose and similar questions are worded differently

Social norms are baffling to those who attempt to analyze them logically.

Only sodomy is true!

I stand wikied.







but seriously, what about it's non industrial uses?

I don't know, ask a psychoanalyst I guess or rtfa. INTJ knows what he does not know above all else.

Also an INTJ. With a sales career. And I wonder why I'm miserable...

Good points in the OP, though. Many were right on.

mike, i'm the same way when it comes to foreign social situations vs. my own parties.
your brain is telling you that you probably don't have anything to gain by interacting with that group or it's not worth your time. usually it's right. either i'm off banging marylin monroe or i find a group that is doing weird shit and is easier to connect with. finding a common thread with a group is difficult but i have managed one way or the other. a lot of it is environment. at shows, most are there for the same reason and it's not hard to keep yourself open. you are much more open to social possiblilites while in sanctuary, like at your own party.

I'm INTJ ("master and commander") also. So when you see me don't be surprised if I don't walk right up and in a sincere way, inquire about your feelings.

haha. so that's why you were skeptical about this personality test horseshit.

Thing to always remember about Meyers-Briggs is that a) being "on the cusp" on any of the 4 axes is common enough, almost to where it could be considered a "third type" for each, and b) because of that, some folks will test differently depending on what day it is and how they're feeling. Doesn't "disprove" the test, just points out that you need to keep the context in mind when interpreting the results.

Myer's briggs AKA The Chick Test

like I actually test closer to Extrovert than you'd think, which makes no fucking sense to me, haha.



Edit: Meanwhile, at least the last time I took the test, the other 3 axes were all EXACTLY at 62.5% "NTP". WEIRD.

that's 5/8 so the metric has 16 ticks on each of the 4 axes. you're not weird, you're just...coincidental.

If the other score weren't 54.17%, I'd concur. haha.

Your Type is
INTJ
Introverted Intuitive Thinking Judging
Strength of the preferences %
67 38 75 44

You are:

distinctively expressed introvert
moderately expressed intuitive personality
distinctively expressed thinking personality
moderately expressed judging personality

Sounds about right.

i used to be introverted as a kid. then i stopped giving a fuck.

Describes me pretty much perfectly. I dunno about the IQ thing, though.

INFP por vida

TL;DR
Currently drinking wine and espresso in a swanky french establishment in NYC, by myself. I don't care/don't want a label. Do what you want or kill yourself.

Labeling yourself and personality only (imho) limit you. I don't to attach myself to a certain condition or trait. If I wasn't on my phone id go into more detail.

Dude stfu. You are a certifiable introvert.

Nothing is real.

INTJ here. I've taken that test a few times in my life. Once for work and a few times on my own at home. I either get INTP or INTJ every time. If i'm drunk i'm totally extroverted though completely different all together.

I also don't really believe in that test because people answer it by how they see themselves which isnt alltogether accurate some of the time. Also peoples brains change over time, sometimes quite drastically.

The best judge of personality types are others of the same type. I knew this board has way more INT- types.

my brother is the biggest introvert in history. anyone who has met him can vouch. if you don't know him, every one of those myths could be applied to him, but every debunking accurately describes him.

being an extrovert has it's drawbacks too. basically the thing i hear from people the most is "SHUT THE FUCK UP".

well, i don't think you're totally an "I".. just like i'm not totally an "E".. i think hatred of mankind forces you to be more "I" than would be natural for you... and i think I force myself to be more "E" than i really am, because i get more done that way.

E has an easier time being a salesman. When I sold stuff I brought my E game.

Yeah, I always have to bring my "E" game to work, but I find it quite exhausting. I really want to get out of sales someday, but then again, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up (which isn't good when you're 37).

I's are very capable of spurts of E...but they say the difference between true introverts and true extroverts, is introverts expel way more energy in social encounters than extroverts, who feed off of social encounters. I can spurt E all over the place, but I do need a lot of recharge time.

Yup, same here. I've taken MB and a Predictive Index test before, and they pretty much tell the same story.

everyone in this thread is a bullshitting asshole. IE should be avoided for firefox or chrome.

i also feel drained when i spend too much time in big groups... it's fucking hard.. and i DEFINITELY feel drained after the "E" game i have to bring for work.

This thread needs moar hard liqour.

i spurt way too much E all over everyone.

XD

Impossibility fail. We live in a world of symbols; failing to describe them or use the information contained therein doesn't make them go away.

Shit just got post structuralist.

The real INTJ's have already transcended the whole thread.

Anti-humanism is one of those things that, while pretty awesome, is not necessarily as awesome as it sounds like it should be.

Like, the guys at the Large Hardon Collider are never gonna be able to synthesize antihuman, as cool as that would be.

Nor does it lead to tanks.

(Humanity's greatest technological aspiration, obv.)

SOME DAY

put a dick in it!

Well, we can't all be special snowflakes.

Hey, somebody's gotta take out the trash.

(And watch Dancing With The Stars.)

ITT: AOL E-mails circa 1998.

i was ISTP i think

errr am

nailed it.

I've never done this before, I got this: Your Type is
ENFP
Extraverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving
Strength of the preferences %
11 50 38 44

I'm way too mouthy to be an introvert. But I enjoy both solo time and social time pretty equally.

ITT:

vs.

XD

I used to be more extroverted too (though not enough to be that type of person by label), but years of crushingly disappointing interactions with most of the people I know in my daily life ruined that real quick. I guess it's just a fancy way of saying "I'm a huge pussy". Shit happens.

Woah im dumb, i realized I meant ISTP not intj.

Yeah istp pretty much describes me to a T actually. I live in the moment. I'm a mechanic of sorts, I am atheletic. I have a lot of "risky" hobbies.

Spot on.
The list of myths was pretty accurate as well.
Oh, and according to the test I'm an INTP

Takes me a while to warm up to most people. In most cases, I've met someone a few times before I really have much of anything to say. On top of that, I tend to daydream. Often. If other people are caught up in a conversation as described above, odds are, I'm drifting off into thought about something else... not on purpose. My attention span to the external has grown increasingly shorter over the years. I think this is why I prefer writing and internet communication to talking on the phone. I know the weight words can carry and I don't like to throw them around lightly. I try to choose them carefully lest they be twisted to mean something I didn't.

Just took the test, I am an INTP.

I used to be shy as a kid... real shy. I had friends and all, but would always prefer to be by myself or with my dog. I was always outside exploring stuff, and would rather do that than hang out with people. Also, video games and books.
As I aged, I began to open up more to people, and it came to the point where I was somewhat popular at school because I was good at baseball and tall. Sounds stupid, but I guess that stuff matters when you're 12.
As I switched schools and went to a different highschool than all of my friends, the process reset itself and I was shy again. Not once did I like people, and have always considered myself an individual who'd rather spend time by myself or like-minded people. I guess I was attracted to metal at a young age because I hated people, was always pondering about life, space, aliens, fantasy, etc. My mind has been my best friend for years, and I've always found comfort in thought.
Within the past couple of years, though, I'm not as introverted as I used to be and talk to more people, although I do enjoy being by myself from time to time.
I've always had a distaste for most social situations and people, and society as a whole. But alas, we don't live forever (on this plane of existence and in this body, at least), so I don't care anymore.
I know who I am and if someone doesn't like it, who cares. Exploring the depths of my mind and philosophizing within > most social interactions and parties. Cool story bro.

bennyhillifier

I refuse to interact with any human being who doesn't agree with this statement 100%.

At least not in my spare time anyway.

While I can see the argument in favor of this, I disagree. Communicating through the Internet just seems so cold and lifeless to me... I prefer real life interaction, and I prefer meeting new people in person rather than meeting them on the Internet. When you meet new people on the Internet and then meet them in person, you always have pre-conceived notions about them, while it just seems a lot easier to be cool to a person you are just meeting face to face. The interaction itself also seems a lot more meaningful rather than just words.

I don't really enjoy talking on the phone that much; I'd rather talk IRL or online. Talking on the phone is tedious and time consuming. Online on the otherhand, is great unless statements are misconstrued due to sarcasm or other figures of speech that are hard to vision in online conversations.
I love meeting rttp people at shows and when they ask who I am on the board, it's always the strange look and then the "Oh. Really?"
Only preconceived notions based off of frivolous and nonsensical threads and statements made on this site is real.

It is completely ironic that of all I said, you chose to quote and disagree with this one specific statement. It is ironic because in a way, you did exactly what I said I aimed to avoid through careful choice in words, proving the futility of my effort. I never said, nor implied that meeting people online was preferable to real life (face to face) interaction- I said I prefer it to the phone. Other than that, I actually agree fully with your statement.

I LOATHE phone conversations..

There are a LOT of unpleasant things I would prefer to do over talking on the phone.

Says the guy who won't say hello to me at shows but will on the internet!

(I agree, but needed to be a jerk realquicklike)

Pam scored a CUNT on Meyers-Briggs.

The world needs more smarmy cunts. I am happy to do my part.

d'oh

My lack of reading comprehension means absolutely nothing in person. Yet another reason to prefer that method of communication!