*ehem
Disclaimer: these are
just my thoughts, not facts by any means.
I think we've actually been over this topic (but in the form of "why are there so many 4's on the forum?"). What's been said is true, 4's don't hesitate to talk about themselves (in order to figure it all out) and certainly there is some margin for mistyping. That said, I also think there are more specific reasons:
- 4s are prone to self analysis, introspection and strongly desire to find and understand their identity. That's why I personally am here, and having a 5 wing increases that-- the Enneagram is like anything that I (over) analyze and must pick apart to understand, even to an obsessive extent.
- Introversion, which is a defining quality of 4 and 5 would make both types more prone to spending time on the internet.
Even without this graph, I would have
definitely pegged 4 and 5 as the most likely to engage an Internet forum, have deep interest in the Enneagram and be likely to write and ask questions about themselves. 6 and 9 I believe are middle of the road, and the remaining types as low on that scale-- here's why I think they would have less interest:
1) Change makers who have a calling to "make the world right", I can understand why they wouldn't bother with spending time on Internet forums. Having issues with anger and "keeping the lid on" their volcano off shackled emotions, I can't see 1's seeking self awareness (unless they are unhealthy and reach a point of needing to).
2) I have more 2's in my life than any other type (trust me, I have a chart) and they are all
far too busy listening to and doing things for other people (in the pursuit of love and self worth) to even think about their own inner workings. I also think that it would take a pretty healthy 2 to start a thread blatantly about themself without any guise of it being for someone else's benefit.
3) One the most extroverted types, it makes total sense for 3's to be scarce on an Internet forum (and who better to start a thread about 3's than themselves). Most 3's of average health want nothing
less than to self analyze or get to the truth of what their nature is, as they place high value in their constructed image and what's on the surface. Some descriptions say that 3's sacrifice their "heart's desire" early in life in order to lead a life of whatever it takes to win (i.e. deceit). It makes sense then that not very many 3's would take enough interest in Enneagram to peruse an online forum.
7) Enthusiasts want variety and excitement-- sitting in front of a computer for very long doesn't fit that bill. Healthier 7's I
can see wanting to understand their inner workings (like a 5) but average to unhealthy individuals would avoid introspection like the plague (that is the 7's head point of anxiety after all).
8) I would think that Challengers are too busy shaking the earth and cowboy-ing about to spend regular time in an Internet forum (though I do believe introverted 8's are more prone to it). From the 8's I know IRL, they tend to buck typology in general or anything that would define or fence them in. I would guess that this is also a type that individuals of other types more commonly start threads about, hence the higher number in the graph.
Haha, I've often chuckled to myself seeing so many 4's and 5's here (though they are reportedly the least populous types) and wondered what percentage of each type is present on typology forums.
Less for specific numbers and more to illustrate my thoughts, my extremely haphazard guess is something like this.*
1 - 3% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
2 - 0.5% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
3 - 0.72%
4 - 49% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
5 - 50% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
6 - 12% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
7 - 8% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
8 - 19% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
9 - 14% of the entire pop. are present on internet typology forums
*from what I've read, I consider the reportedly least populous types (in descending order) to be 8, 4 and 5.
Humor me, thoughts?