1. Do you attempt to smile and look animated when you talk to others even if it feels fake (because you are trying to look like them or for any other reason)?
Yes, although it's not really "fake" to me... it's just that I normally don't emote that much emotion by nature. (i.e., the emotions are sincere, the emoting is what is forced.) While I come across as kind and pleasant regardless, what I am doing is unnaturally emoting naturally internalized responses (i.e., juicing it up) so that others can better "see" me, which helps relationally.
I have one guy friend who last week told me I had a sexy voice sometimes but other times sounded flat and more monotone. That sounds about right... my natural voice arc is flatter, but I usually make myself emote more, just to connect better, and so I present myself inconsistently. Writing is much easier than face-to-face for me, it's less drain.
I was sick this week and so I had no energy, and I realized how badly "being on" all the time was draining me, I am thoroughly worn out and part of it is the relational emoting I was doing all the time. (Worse, I had people contacting me because I wasn't connecting with them, asking me if they had offended me. Gaaaa....no, it's just me being pooped!)
2. Reading material/movies: Sci fi, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Romance, Mystery/thriller, Horror, Non-fiction?
When i was younger, I read more fiction and watched more fantastic movies. Nowadays I read more non-fiction and watch more dramas. I like just about anything, though. I used to collect comics and have read numerous graphic novels as well. I love psychological/existential horror.
3. Justice meter-does injustice set you off? Are you able to act in a manner that you know is unjust?
Yeah, I hate it when people are not fair -- that pisses me off more than when they're not particularly kind, although I don't like mean people much either. I can't act in an unjust way either; if I feel I've been unjust, I have to apologize and make it right somehow, or it will eat at me neurotically. Sometimes I even say things that I know others won't take well, because I feel I need to be fair; and I treat people I don't much like the same as I treat people I do like even if i wish I could be more partial. (But, ultimately, I guess I don't wish that... because I'm fair.)
End result: regardless of my feelings, it all has to balance.
4. Computers and Math-were these always your favorite subjects or did you develop competence because it was expected?
I always had an affinity with computers since I was young, I love them. I feel like we have a bond.
I was a math major for two years at college; I was always good at it, but realized it was too "cool" a topic to hold my interest long, I like a bit warmer complexity (i.e., the study of human behavior).
5. Significant other-what were you/are you looking for in a mate and what was the biggest issue or stumbling block (related to your type)?
Earlier in life the biggest stumbling block were differences in type (NTP vs SFJ) and immaturity on both our parts. I was messed up in many ways and tended to put down emotions and didn't express my commitments well or even know how I felt about people and things, which left them feeling very neglected and unloved.
I'm much different now, at least in the sense of being able to maintain a relationship... I just want someone who still can handle relational stuff a little better than me so that I don't have it all dumped on my shoulders... I can't carry all the responsibility for emoting, connecting, and whatever else because of my normal detachment.
6. Children-if you have children do you find that you are an atypical mother? If so-what sets you apart (related to type)?
I am an atypical mom in a few big ways, I suppose (ha!)... but while I am compassionate/caring, I don't like smothering my children, I'm the sort who will carefully but irresistibly push them out of the nest rather than trying to over-protect, and I will leave them to their own devices sometimes just to see what they will do, as long as overall I don't see any permanent harm coming.
I also know that teens will act out and it's not always good to control everything or try to always make them be nice/polite in every situation -- I'm always thinking long-term, not short-term.
I connect less by emoting emotion and more by articulating to them my understanding of them and who they are. My nurturing instincts are also geared towards the abstract qualities (mind and spirit) and less geared towards the physical (body).