Oh, you know: artsy-craftsy people, amateur philosophers arguing about the meaning of life at parties, wanna-be earth mothers, and so on.
If you want to see INFPs around in society, join some halfway-large social groups, like a church social group or a hiking club or a film society or an arts-and-crafts society.
INFPs are ultimately “people persons,†so you’ll find a couple in any decent-sized social group.
Whoa, I missed that memo also...
I volunteer via my church doing some construction work on the weekends, and I still stick out like a sore thumb. I often take the "lone wolf" route, sitting alone during a break or whatever. It's not just a lack of talent for breaking into cliques; I prefer the peace & quiet sometimes. I like to observe from a distance...
I'm generally not a "joiner", but even in these situations, I find myself on the outskirts, never
a part of a group. My motivation is never really about
people specifically, but a larger ideal about right/wrong or maybe a personal interest, & that sort of thing. It's like that old joke, "I love humanity - it's people I can't stand". I suppose this supports you could find an INFP in such a place though, but I don't know if we'll all seem particularly "nice" in an approachable way.
I'm very quiet, reserved, and low-key. I don't know if people are interpreting quirky to be kooky, off-the-wall, attention-grabbing behavior. I thought it was emphasized this is
not ENFP-like, but instead simply a giving off an
odd air, the sort of thing you can't quite put your finger on. It's in the nuances of body movement, facial expressions (and lack thereof), and different ways of phrasing when speaking. I agree with [MENTION=14594]xenaprincess[/MENTION] in this regard. I sometimes think it's poor Fe & Se; the common signals other people use when interacting can go over my head because my mind is elsewhere.
But whimsically charming? No, no, just somewhat awkward & peculiar, tongue-tied, and very absent-minded. I've also always had a sense of being like an alien in a foreign land.... & in the same way foreign people can seem "strange" to locals, so can I. Lots of people are shy or intimidated by groups, but they don't give off this "alien" vibe to people.
I find the playful, whimsical side of myself is very vulnerable & doesn't come out much even with those I'm close to, and I'm just as likely to be sardonic & dry as I am to be playfully silly. The sardonic thing throws people also; they're not quite sure if you're joking. Sometimes its downright inappropriate, but not intentionally, just obliviously. I really think it's the obliviousness now... and I suppose a sensing type would be more aware (ie. ISFJs & ISFPs).
