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[ENTJ] ENTJs- how do you think about other types?

Tamske

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This thread is more or less an answer to http://www.typologycentral.com/foru...person-who-doesn-t-want-better-than-entj.html.

I want to ask the reverse question.

Do ENTJs feel the need to prove they are better than the others?
Do they think they are the best anyway?
Do they see the others trying to be the best as annoying?
Do they sometimes feel inferior to other types, and if yes, why?

I can imagine this reaction:
An ENTP: "I'm better because I'm flexible and I can improvise. When there is an unexpected situation, I will always hold ground!"
An ENTJ: "I don't need that. I never encounter unexpected situations, because I have all my bases covered. I solve the problems before they arise."

(This example uses - of course - an ENTP as the 'other type'... but all types are welcome in the comparison...)
 

entropie

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You dont really have to put them through that
 

Tamske

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It's their choice whether they answer or not.
I'm just curious...
 

entropie

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You didnt have to answer to that I was trieing to support your cause :)
 

capricorn009

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Nope, it's because people want us to be gifted or talented, but turn around and want us
to act like sheep.
 
T

ThatGirl

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I want to ask the reverse question.

Do ENTJs feel the need to prove they are better than the others?
Do they think they are the best anyway?
Do they see the others trying to be the best as annoying?
Do they sometimes feel inferior to other types, and if yes, why?

No, to all of these.
 

Nescio

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Clearly the best way to get "good" answer to these questions out of an ENTJ is to answer for them.

-Ahem-

Do ENTJs feel the need to prove they are better than the others?
-Not for its own sake. But it certainly is useful to have others think you are the best.
Do they think they are the best anyway?
-to an extent, yes.
Do they see the others trying to be the best as annoying?
-No, It's admirable.
Do they sometimes feel inferior to other types, and if yes, why?
-if it were true, they wouldn't give them the power by admiting it.


:)
 

Ghost of the dead horse

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Do ENTJs feel the need to prove they are better than the others?
Do they think they are the best anyway?
Do they see the others trying to be the best as annoying?
Do they sometimes feel inferior to other types, and if yes, why?
I answer only on behalf of myself.

1)
I'm interesting of improving myself, and I usually try to establish the basic stuff first, and expand on that. I discuss a lot about what's the best methods, best points of view and best interpretations on anything.

In the beginning of a learning process, everything is open. Soon after that - and usually - only the more advanced part of the theory are open for discussion; I'm usually ready to point out that I've already established the more simple parts of the theory, so I don't want to talk about them unless I see strong evidence to change it.

So, I like to communicate where I'm at. Sometimes, when I want to direct the course of discussion to more fruitful areas for me, I just say bluntly that these ideas X are unsophisticated and I've already resolved that, let's look at Y. The point is not on my superiority, though. I might know that other persons might reach the same goals with different starting points, but as I have invested time and effort to get where I'm at, I'm not that interested of different starting points anymore.

Hence I say: I've got that all covered, why don't we talk about the more advanced points now.

This is not a point that the other person is inferior, or their opinions might never lead to anything. It's just that I personally feel being closer to the solution in my situation with what I have.

2) No.

On the other hand, some things I do require me to be the best of 10 people in thing X, other things require me to win 99 out of 100 people, others even more. We all specialize. A painter who's only better than 90% of the population in painting isn't going to make a living of it. Many averagely paid job positions are filled with people who are better than 99,9% of people in their selected thing. This is specialization. So, I understand that I'm the best in an average, randomly selected sample of size N in skill Y, but that doesn't make me the best alltogether. Other people have their areas of expertise, and they likewise win me in their selected skills and abilities. Being best in something - in a limited fashion - is quite a usual thing.

3) Yes.

I see it annoying for someone to claim superiority in something which I see as situational, relative, not useful for my situation, not required for them, or if I see it as an ego trip.

4) Yeah, constantly, in some aspects. It comes with the understanding of being good in something. For example, I lack some kind of "kinship" or "group spirit" of a football team or something like that; I find no joy at all from the kind of bonding in such environments. Consequently, I totally suck at the kind of team work like that - while I excel at other kinds of team work. I see that in order to get a job where my colleagues are team players, I must be technically very good, in the top 5%, to be able to deliver. I understand I'm filled with deficiencies like this, and because I'm able to get in the top of my selected competencies, I go there, and then I'm about on equal par with everyone else to whom I'm comparing myself against.

My tendency to compare is primarily a result from trying to earn my living. It fills my life and spreads to other areas of life, as well.
 

Ghost of the dead horse

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Addition, so this doesn't go too wishy-washy: yes I think there are people who are overall better than others. It's not usually needed to point it out though - for the most part, there is no beneficial application for the knowledge.

My initial hypothesis for every person is that they're on equal par with me. I try to consider the other person at least as good as I am, and usually it's devastating for me to notice it's not the case. I've invested to know someone, but they're revealed to be uncommunicative, mean, childish, immature, unphilosophical, impractical, mean, self-centered etc. so I'm disappointed to see that my chances of fruitful exchange with the person are gone.

OTOH, I might see that the other person owns his own company, has a large family, earns quite a bit, is well-connected, balanced, multi-skilled, considerate, leader in a collection of activities, busy, important, etc. So I'm happy on his part, but I then wonder if there's any activity anymore where I'll fit in their life - it would mean that I would not have meaningful interaction with them, either. Or, perhaps I could.

I usually try to associate with "good" people and learn from them, as long as the exchange is meaningful and positive for both of us.

So, there is a ladder of better and worse people for me, but I try to use it for the other person's advantage, and our mutual advantage, not for pushing people down.
 

Tamske

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Being best in something - in a limited fashion - is quite a usual thing.

This makes a lot of sense. If people can be happy with being the best in their specialisation field, probably there would be less jealousy and one-upmanship around. You earn more as a doctor than I do as a teacher? Fine. I'm a better teacher than you anyways (and you're a better doctor than me).
You're a better ENTJ than I am? Fine. I'm a better ENTP than you are. :D
 

JHBowden

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Do ENTJs feel the need to prove they are better than the others?
Do they think they are the best anyway?
Do they see the others trying to be the best as annoying?
Do they sometimes feel inferior to other types, and if yes, why?
I'm not even sure what better and best mean in this context.

Questions 1) and 3) go together. If we're dealing with something like a music audition, then of course, competition is the nature of the activity. Outperforming others here would be the criterion of success. However, if we're dealing with an activity where teamwork is required, one can demoralize an entire group quickly if people don't feel valued. There is a time and a place for competition. My answer would be: the ends in question determine the appropriate means.

Question 2) is empirical. If someone is better than me, that's an opportunity to assimilate what they know or what they can do. For example, I can quickly find out if I know more about Kant than another person by talking with them and asking pointed questions. The same holds in any scenario. You'll excel with this attitude whether you like it or not. :D

Question 4) is downright retarded. I don't feel inferior to other types, and I don't feel a sense of allegiance with the ENTJ type either.
 
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