George Carlin

[Jen]

I've always loved him and this was on HBO the other night and had me in tears!

Pumping out a Unit;P

I'd guess he's an INTJ or ISTJ.

[xNTP]

I thought Carlin was the model ENTP.

[Sentura]

ooh yes he is... ENTP

[Azseroffs]

I'm fairly certain he's INTP.

[Jen]

extroverted? not sure since he seemed to dislike people so much.

[xNTP]

I think you can still be extraverted and dislike a majority of American politicians, who he tends to ridicule. His ideas buzz and he gets excited like an extravert. IMO.

[simulatedworld]

I've heard people argue ENTJ.

I still say ENTP though.

[Azseroffs]

Stupid Bullshit

Sounds 'I' to me.

[Cenomite]

ENTP

[Sentura]

extroverted? not sure since he seemed to dislike people so much.

extraverted has nothing to do with disliking people. i dislike most people because i consider them idiots, but that doesn't mean i'm afraid of talking to them. you're working with two different dimensions here.

[Ivy]

extraverted has nothing to do with disliking people. i dislike most people because i consider them idiots, but that doesn't mean i'm afraid of talking to them. you're working with two different dimensions here.

Very true, although being introverted has nothing to do with being afraid to talk to people, either. But extroversion is definitely compatible with being a misanthrope.

[Sentura]

Very true, although being introverted has nothing to do with being afraid to talk to people, either. But extroversion is definitely compatible with being a misanthrope.

ah, misanthrope. i was looking for that word. thanks!

[Nocap]

I still say ENTP though.

His stage presence is undoubtedly extroverted.
But off stage (watch interviews) and it becomes clear he's actually introverted.

If you're familiar with his history, you know he's actually run himself through a number of characters.


But certainly not a J.

[nozflubber]

INTP or ENTP, for sure

[Ivy]

I agree XNTP, leaning towards INTP. Ne's up there, maybe not his dominant function though.

[Eric B]

Liking/disliking people would be more the "directing/informing" dimension (also called "responsiveness" or "people/task" focus) rather than E/I. He seems more directive to me, which would suggest (since all seem to agree he's a T), TJ or STP.
I get ISTJ vibes, because he reminds me of my father. Very Melancholy (Chart the Course) rather than Behind the Scenes. Probably more of a thinking loner, who just has his act where he goes up before people and voices his opinions. But I have not heard him much, though. So just from what little I have heard.

[Nocap]

I agree XNTP, leaning towards INTP. Ne's up there, maybe not his dominant function though.

Interview 1

Small interview
These are somewhat revealing.

[Ivy]

That first one is great. He was a genuinely and deeply intelligent person, I think. I actually like him better offstage than on--his comedy was never my favorite. I can definitely see him as a Ti dominant who lets his formidable Ne go wild on stage.

[Jen]

extraverted has nothing to do with disliking people. i dislike most people because i consider them idiots, but that doesn't mean i'm afraid of talking to them. you're working with two different dimensions here.true, but he gave off the vibe that he preferred to not be around people as often as possible. did not draw energy from being around them. Very true, although being introverted has nothing to do with being afraid to talk to people, either.thank you. I don't know why people often assume that if you can speak to others, you're extroverted. "omg, he/she went to a party. they are sooo outgoing!"

[Sentura]

thank you. I don't know why people often assume that if you can speak to others, you're extroverted. "omg, he/she went to a party. they are sooo outgoing!"

i don't assume it, i am an extroverted introvert as well. it's not so much that they can't speak, but for some people it is about insecurities. an I can go to a party, but there is a chance that he or she will feel uncomfortable after a while and leave. i'd go so far as to say that there is a difference between how an introvert speaks versus how an extrovert speaks.

[FlamingMask]

His stage persona is different from his actual personality, although they are obviously related.

YouTube - George Carlin - Archive Interview Part 1 of 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFOC72DRPWY)

That interview is very revealing, although I last watched the whole thing a while ago.

I would say INTJ or INTP. (I was thinking INTJ when I opened this thread).

[VagrantFarce]

He's ENTP. He only seems like an INTP in these recent interviews because he's older and thus his Ti/Si is more developed.

[FlamingMask]

Although, if I recall correctly, he talked about being very introverted/introspective as a child and was alone a lot of the time.

[onemoretime]

ENTP. It's made particularly clear with how bitter he became as he got older - classic middle age development of Si. The world isn't how it's supposed to be, and he's going to tell you about it.

No, there's not that much difference between the offstage stuff and the onstage stuff. His comedy is way too cerebral and way too connection-based (Ne-Ti combo) to not be indicative of the offstage persona. While he certainly is not the most gregarious in interviews - couldn't it be that he was just bored as hell with doing interviews after having constantly done them for 40 years?

Finally, the most telling sign for me - Shining Time Station. How else do you explain someone as cynical as Carlin jumping on board to do an educational show with high levels of interaction with children? An introvert wouldn't have been as enthusiastic about it, and it's a common trait of ENTPs that as much as we take joy in the connections in our heads, it's even more amazing when you see someone else make the connection, particularly a kid.

[FlamingMask]

Those really are good points, but one thing Carlin mentions is having the basic idea of his whole career planned out by about age 11. That sounds very Ni / J to me, and I guess I wouldn't really see him as an INTP after all, or any P type. His connection based humor could be Ni/Te or a combination of both N and T functions as a xNTJ.

I admit that his bitterness and constant contrasting to his youth sounds a lot like Si. I'm aware that people begin rounding out at around middle age. Do people fall on their fourth function in particular in middle age or do they just develop a range of functions and as a part of that their fourth function is being used?

[onemoretime]

Of course, the whole career planned out thing could be a big joke - we are wont to exaggerate in such a manner. The humor being, of course, who the hell has their career planned out when they're eleven? You're a child, and still enjoying childish things!

[Lithium Onyx]

I saw the HBO special yesterday as well. Rest in peace, Mr. Carlin. :smile:

I don't see INTP in him at all. I though perhaps ISTJ/ISTP, but I'm probably far off. Comedians are hard to type because of the differences between their stage personas vs. their actuall personality. With that said though, the misanthropy could, just as easily as his perceived extroversion, be an act, couldn't it?

[kendoiwan]

Always trying to claim one of ours... :coffee:

[wastrd]

INTP and an obvious introvert.