What's your personality like?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Feb 18 2007, 02:35 AM) [snapback]392280[/snapback]</div>

There are 10 types of people in this world: those who understand binary, and those who don't.

 

Ok I'll play...


(Not that it matters much but Im a Gemini). For many years I was an introvert. Over the past several years I've become more of an extrovert although I only share my deepest thoughts and feelings with one or two people in my life (primarily my wife) and even then it's hard to do sometimes. I tend to keep friends at arm's length until I really feel that I can trust them (I do NOT trust easily). I have an odd sense of humor (as do many people in the law enforcement universe) and I laugh at things other people don't think are funny, especially if I'm feeling uncomfortable in the situation. I am very civic minded and believe in volunteering and giving to my community. I have a very strong work ethic and don't have much patience with those who aren't willing to work as hard as I do. I usually tend to see the world as black or white, but am learning to acknowledge that there are areas of gray and that these areas have merit. I am becoming more tolerant of other people as I get older. I am very loyal and steadfast and have no time for people who want to use or betray me. Forgiveness comes but it's a process. I believe in the sanctity of traditional marriage and give my spouse no reason to doubt or worry about me. I like to make people laugh. I'm very dependable...if given something to do, it gets done. I tend to be conservative in my overall political views, but am willing to discuss and debate other points of view....sometimes at any rate. As most can tell, I have no problem stirring the pot or posting an unpopular viewpoint just to get a discussion going. B)

 

I took the Myers-Briggs test in 2001 and was considered ENTP but low on the thinking part so I could have been ENFP as well.

I retook the test for my Leadership class last week and this is what I got: I am 31 years old.



ENFP

• Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative

• See life as full of possibilities

• Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see.

• Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support.

• Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.

Snapshot

Theme is inspiration, both of themselves and others. Talents lie in grasping profound significance, revealing truths, and motivating others. Very perceptive of other's hidden motives and purposes. Interested in everything about individuals and their stories as long as they are genuine. Contagious enthusiasm for "causes" that further good and develop latent potential and the same zeal for disclosing dishonesty and inauthenticity. Frequently moved to enthusiastically communicate their "message".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 17 2007, 03:28 PM) [snapback]392133[/snapback]</div>

Off subject comment:
a.k.a Brilliant-cut diamond

 

SSimon,

I noticed that part as well. It is written all over my multipage print out from the test. I can only assume it is an innate thing because it is not something I have worked on or even conciously do. I have noticed the effects on my campus (I am the EcoClub President, member of the science club, the faculty Global Stewardship steering committee, etc.) and with my friends. I think a lot of it has to do with the passion in which one speaks about goals or issues and being able to relate to others and how those goals can effects them. The next step is empowering others and making them aware of their own "hidden" talents. So many people I meet just float through life saying "I wish" or "I hope" yet they look astonished when I say quit doing that. Wishing and hoping is limiting and nearly everyone on this planet has a tremendous ability to make those hopes or wishes come true if they just acted towards those goals, or in the act of working towards those goals they realize a better path and work towards that instead. Kinda weird when you actually see it start happening.

Being true to my profile, I thank you for your post. It was motivating.

 

I'm a Libra, and see both sides of things and am both well balanced and unbalanced. I may straddle the fence, but never sit on it. The one personality trait most pointed out to me is that I don't speak often, but when I do, I'm worth listening to. I have a woman's mind in that it's running all the time, but a man's sensibilities in that my mouth is quiet except when necessary. You can call me Mr. Yin/Yang.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Feb 18 2007, 09:30 AM) [snapback]392387[/snapback]</div>

Now that is an admirable trait if there ever was one.

 

OK, seriously, I'm also an INTP (with leaning towards ISTP). Actually, I assume a lot of Prius drivers are INTPs (and vice-versa).

 

I'm a flaming Christian Socialist who despises the apparatus and trappings of organized religion, except for certain forms of architecture.

I'm a passionate democrat who believes you should have to pass a test, devised by me, before you are allowed to enter the voting booth. I deeply resent having my vote nullified by those who haven't a clue about the issues.

I'm the most miserly SOB on earth, but if I care for you I'll give you everything, including my last cigarette.

If you don't ask me even one question about myself in our first hour together, I'll politely have nothing further to do with you.

I'm a thoughtful listener.

I tune in to other people's sense of humor, and irony, more quickly than to other traits. I think commonality in a sense of humor is as valid a basis for a relationship as anything else. Mine is absurdist, cynical, self-deprecating, dry and ironic, with an ear for nuance. Think George Burns, Tom Lehrer, David Frye, Mark Twain, George Carlin (minus the bitterness), Shelley Berman, Tommy Smothers, Ernie Kovacs, early Woody Allen, Ellen deGeneris, early Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey on a good day, Bob Newhart before sitcomery, Robin Williams when he's out of control, the Abraham brothers, the Coen brothers, Gilda Radner, Robert Klein, Dana Carvey, H.L.Mencken, Garrett Morris and Dave Barry. They're all in me.

I believe that people invent and re-invent themselves as opposed to "discovering who they are" post facto. I think you "are" what you do, and have done.

I'm annoying when I overreact to things you do or say, and in my readiness to express my opinion.

I'm insecure, even anal. I seem to have inherited my father's Depression mentality, and have yet to throw anything away.

I indulge in laughing jags until I cry.

I'm maddeningly overanalytical and methodical. Don't ever go shopping with me.

I weep at the mildest hint of deep human emotions, even on commercials.

I wasted 13 years of public education making wisecracks from the back of the room.

I think when all is said and done, what you really "have" is your sense of humor, your evolved "values", your cherished "tastes" and a few friends.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Feb 18 2007, 01:10 PM) [snapback]392379[/snapback]</div>

I don't think your gift has anything to do with your passion or how strongly you believe in something. I think it has to do with your social skills and how you're able to "tweak" your message based on the recipient. You have to also be fairly open minded to other's ideas in order to be effective, otherwise you're not learning in the process and can't adjust your approach and long term vision on matters. Plenty of people have a tremendous passion about things but aren't able to motivate or direct others, I'm included in this category. At least I haven't located this skill yet.

All we ask is that you use your powers for good and not evil. After all Hitler and many other very evil people were great motivators as well.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Feb 18 2007, 01:44 PM) [snapback]392503[/snapback]</div>

I agree. That is why I said you have to be able to relate to others, be empathetic, and see things from their perspective so you can "tweak your message based on the recipient".

I've been doing this all my life. I'm a counselor to all my friends. lol

Now I must continue to work on my weaker areas like organizational skills and procrastination.

Maybe we should make a post about things people want to work on to better themselves. It could be helpful to those who have thought about making changes but have "forgotten" about them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Feb 18 2007, 08:45 AM) [snapback]392364[/snapback]</div>

I worked as a volunteer in a homeless shelter for five years. Many of our guests were mentally ill, and I recognized in them a desperate need to be heard, and I learned to listen without questioning or arguing (surprising as that may seem to people who know me only on PriusChat). Many of their stories were clearly not true. But they were "genuine" in the sense that they came from someplace deep inside the man. It didn't matter to me whether the events related to me had actually happened or not. Many times there was no way to know. Their stories were interesting to listen to for what they revealed about themselves, even if the "facts" had been invented out of whole cloth.

The most difficult were those whose words simply did not say anything. I don't know whether there were coherent thoughts that they were unable to express in words due to lack of verbal skills, or whether their thought processes were so confused that there was no coherent thought there. But as people, they had a need to communicate something, and I think there was a thread of a bond between us.

When I meet a person who is down and out, I never care whether his story is true or not. Their genuineness is in the heart, not in the facts.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Feb 18 2007, 02:40 PM) [snapback]392528[/snapback]</div>

While I did not write the part you quoted (it was direct form Myers-Briggs I will say that on initial "gut feeling" it sounded correct for me. The first thing that came to mind were the images of two friends who IMO are pathelogical liars. They lie in nearly every conversation I have had with them now matter how many times I have made it clear that I am not judging them based on how much stuff they own or the crazy things they have done in their life. With continued lying I did indeed judge them but for me it was hard not to. I find myself mildy angry when someone has to lie so much to what should be considered friends.

You have an interesting spin on the same sentence and I would agree with you on your take I have to admit I still maintain a dislike for stories that are not true and I would be honest in saying that it is a major put off for me and I usually distance myself from that. One could rationalize it and say that the people you described are mentally ill or disturbed from life experiences but in reality what is the difference between them and my two friends if you disregard their living conditions?

 

Have taken the Myers Briggs a few times since college, consistently ISTJ

 

odd

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Feb 18 2007, 09:17 AM) [snapback]392339[/snapback]</div>

How can you tell an extroverted engineer? When talking to somebody, he looks at their shoes instead of his own.
(I am an engineer. That tells you 90% of my personality).

 

I have taken the Myer Briggs test several times over a couple of decades while in corporate America - never once duplicating the results, which pleases me. I don't want to be able to be categorized.

I am whoever/whatever I want to be at any moment. I am the chameleon. I am completely trustworthy while being completely unpredictable. I care very little for what people, outside of my wife and children, think of me. I have been described as highly intelligent, quick and a fast learner among other things; but what I would really like to know best is how much I don't know. Alas...

Black and white are on the ends of a spectrum so expansive that I rarely am aware that they are there; I spend more time in the meat of the gray, and treasure those times when I'm lucky enough to see through someone else's eyes. Never, Always and Impossible are words that I found less and less use for as I age - but I can see how it might seem Impossible to Never use the word Always. I am quick to laugh, even quicker to amuse; a child's laugh is music - my own children's laughter, a symphony.

I am non-violent, open-minded, and still need to remind myself sometimes that this is the life I chose to live. Not a bad planet you have here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Feb 18 2007, 07:45 PM) [snapback]392656[/snapback]</div>

LOL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Feb 18 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]392534[/snapback]</div>

You have a point about the compulsive liars. I knew a guy like that once and didn't like him at all. But my first thought was of the mentally-ill guys at the homeless shelter. I don't consider their stories as "lies" because their mental state is so confused that I don't think they have a clear grasp of reality at all. Or the panhandlers who give you a story as they ask for money. A panhandler needs a story just as a violinist needs a violin. You don't judge a song on whether you believe it. I cannot know whether the panhandler's story is "true" or not, but I don't consider him to be under any social obligation to tell a "true" story. The liar who has no reason to lie is a different matter.