Well I read Wikipedia and magazines/journals, if that makes a difference. I know saying "I like learning." is such a stereotypical ENTP thing to say but other types can have different motivations for learning too.
Those with a Sensing preference usually become aware of the concrete, sensory information - the content of the pattern - first. Those with a preference for iNtuiting become aware of the abstract information - the patterns of connections and meaning - first. With extraverted Sensing(Se), the focus is on the immediate, sensory possibilities and options for action. With extraverted iNtuiting(Ne), it is on the envisioned possibilities, new ideas and meanings.
Extraverted Sensing - Notices the rich detail in the whole forest - the trees, their color and texture, their sounds, their smells, the pattern of light and dark.
Extraverted iNtuiting - Thinks of the fractal patterns, the wide range of possibilities in the forest, how this forest is part of the ecosystem and is affected by polllution from the city.
I hate to take things too literally but based on that description, I'd say my Ne is tucked away in a rotten corner of my brain, unused...
?]They cherish the responsibility of being in charge and taking care of others. ETPs want to lead but find the constant supervising of others a drain and a hindrance of their freedom to come and go as they choose.
To me, this is why it becomes more about their skills. When I lead, I usually divide the work accordingly (or give everyone a rough idea of what we hope to accomplish), then we disband, come back later and I put it all together. If someone runs into a hurdle, we fix it. Occasionally I do have this horrible habit of secretly doing part of the group work myself (with no hard feelings! It's all good) if I feel like some of the others can't. If they don't wanna do it, I will. That to me takes less energy than constantly supervising the team. It just worries me that sometimes I don't automatically relate to people as people, but as... minions who can either do the work or not.
=/ I have to consciously step back and keep myself in check.
I can relate to the ESTP/ISTP descriptions. They seem very similar. Independence is a must for me although my need for independence can manifest itself in controlling everyone else.
? said:
This is why I suggested that once you feel comfortable with a particular type, wear it for a while and self-analyze whether it’s truly you or are you playing a role. Most people get caught up in determining their type using dichotomies, however it’s the worst thing you can do since E/I represents eight types each. It’s better to understand the cognitive functions and determine which you do without thinking and is constantly present. In this case Ti comes so naturally for me that I don’t even realize that I am doing it. Se is something that I do as well, however I am always conscious of using it.
Thanks for your insight. I feel like lightbulbs are going off in my head. I think I'm definitely an STP but determining the order of the cognitive functions will take some time. It really doesn't help that when me and my friends first found MBTI, we analyzed it in a very superficial, discrete and "fun" way - saying things like, "Oh, I'm a P so I'm flaky!" I'm only learning now how to go about on doing it properly.