Southern Kross
Away with the fairies
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2008
- Messages
- 2,910
- MBTI Type
- INFP
- Enneagram
- 4w5
- Instinctual Variant
- so/sp
1. I often don’t regard things as right/wrong – it’s often just a matter of perspective.
Yes and no. I certainly don't see morality black and white terms - in fact I'm often annoyed by people that do. There are few things in this world that can always be simply lumped into the categories 'good' and 'evil'.
At the same time I'm opposed to moral relativism. While it is important to understand context, I feel that we must take sides and decide what is right and wrong. I feel that without this it is a slippery slope where everything could be considered acceptable, no matter how cruel or inappropriate. Also we need some universal ethics so we can know how to act in different circumstances - having too much of a subjective relativist view could leave you paralysed by indecision at a crucial moment and people could be hurt as a result.
2. If I’m not sure what to do about something, I tend to wait for the ‘right’ solution to emerge naturally, rather than force a decision.
Yes, very much so. I'm often indecisive with important decisions (ethics are easy, day-to-day life is hard ). I need my thoughts to settle so the appropriate priorities can become clear and the answer will come to me.
3. I seem to spend an awful lot of time trying to ‘figure things out’.
Yes, a great deal; sometimes to the point of being over-analytical.
4. I'm often pre-occupied with resolving/exploring negative emotions
I wouldn't say 'often' but I do regularly. I don't really differentiate between negative and positive emotions; I'm interested in understanding both kinds. However, I will avoid dwelling on certain negative thoughts if I find them frustrating and difficult to overcome - there's no point beating your head against a brick wall and as I said earlier the answers tend to come to me eventually.
5. I feel I need other people's acceptance too much – it can interfere with my independence of mind/self-expression
Yes, to a degree. I have such ecclectic interests and an unusual nature so I don't naturally fit in, and I find people are quite judgmental. I will edit myself based on the audience, emphasize and de-emphasize certain aspect of myself, to spare myself some embarrassment. I'd rather avoid the uphill battle and just adapt to the people around me, because I know they won't do the same for me.
6. I'll isolate myself/risk loneliness to obtain relative independence of mind/self-expression, if necessary.
No, I don't exactly isolate myself for this reason. I do so to relax and feel safe, not preserve my individuality - I don't think that is something that is under threat
7. I can't imagine feeling anyone was an extension of myself – this is a totally alien concept to me
No, I can imagine feeling that close to someone.
8. I find typologies like Jung/MBTI/Enneagram overly interpretative – I wish there was a way of objectively establishing type
Not really. It needs to be interpretive so that it remains generalised enough to cover everyone.
9. I’ve had a lot of trouble typing, because I see highly contrasting sides to myself, some of which seem incompatible with INFx
I did feel so initial conflict over whether I was extroverted and/or a thinker but it didn't take much thought to realise the obvious. I felt my type really described me well right away. I do have many contrasting sides but I feel they are covered by the INFP description.
10. I often worry about being a ‘rotten’ person deep down, and can feel guilty merely imagining myself as capable of doing something 'bad' or selfish
Not really. I do often beat myself up over things I've done or failed to do that I believe is wrong but this is because I have high standards for myself, not because I think I'm a bad person. I do expect that I must constantly strive towards the ideal but can forgive myself for falling short, which is only human.
11. I can be highly amused by my own imagined scenarios. Sometimes what is amusing me is just a concept/abstraction.
Yes. Hence the strange looks I get when smiling/laughing to myself when walking down the street alone, for no reason.
12. Immediate reality tends to bore me. I escape into fantasy regularly
Yes.
13. Sometimes I think reality is just there to suggest the possibilities, like the raw material to (psychologically) construct something better or more interesting/inspiring.
Not really - I'm not quite that detached from reality. Fantasy is often more fun and interesting but I don't think its healthy to use it as a complete substitute for reality.
14. I hate disorganisation, chaos and being unprepared. I have aids to attempt to ‘tame’ this, e.g. spreadsheets, lists, being tidy etc.
Yes, I dislike these things to a degree but I'm too lazy to actually do something about it. Its not high on my list of priorities.
15. I'm more likely to do what the moment suggests as the best thing to do (if it 'suggests' anything) than stick with a pre-prepared plan, if left to my own devices (for better or worse).
Mostly. Although I do acknowledge the need to stick to the plan when tempted into time-wasting distractions. It is not my natural inclination to recognise this - I've learned this over the years by the mistakes I've made.
Yes and no. I certainly don't see morality black and white terms - in fact I'm often annoyed by people that do. There are few things in this world that can always be simply lumped into the categories 'good' and 'evil'.
At the same time I'm opposed to moral relativism. While it is important to understand context, I feel that we must take sides and decide what is right and wrong. I feel that without this it is a slippery slope where everything could be considered acceptable, no matter how cruel or inappropriate. Also we need some universal ethics so we can know how to act in different circumstances - having too much of a subjective relativist view could leave you paralysed by indecision at a crucial moment and people could be hurt as a result.
2. If I’m not sure what to do about something, I tend to wait for the ‘right’ solution to emerge naturally, rather than force a decision.
Yes, very much so. I'm often indecisive with important decisions (ethics are easy, day-to-day life is hard ). I need my thoughts to settle so the appropriate priorities can become clear and the answer will come to me.
3. I seem to spend an awful lot of time trying to ‘figure things out’.
Yes, a great deal; sometimes to the point of being over-analytical.
4. I'm often pre-occupied with resolving/exploring negative emotions
I wouldn't say 'often' but I do regularly. I don't really differentiate between negative and positive emotions; I'm interested in understanding both kinds. However, I will avoid dwelling on certain negative thoughts if I find them frustrating and difficult to overcome - there's no point beating your head against a brick wall and as I said earlier the answers tend to come to me eventually.
5. I feel I need other people's acceptance too much – it can interfere with my independence of mind/self-expression
Yes, to a degree. I have such ecclectic interests and an unusual nature so I don't naturally fit in, and I find people are quite judgmental. I will edit myself based on the audience, emphasize and de-emphasize certain aspect of myself, to spare myself some embarrassment. I'd rather avoid the uphill battle and just adapt to the people around me, because I know they won't do the same for me.
6. I'll isolate myself/risk loneliness to obtain relative independence of mind/self-expression, if necessary.
No, I don't exactly isolate myself for this reason. I do so to relax and feel safe, not preserve my individuality - I don't think that is something that is under threat
7. I can't imagine feeling anyone was an extension of myself – this is a totally alien concept to me
No, I can imagine feeling that close to someone.
8. I find typologies like Jung/MBTI/Enneagram overly interpretative – I wish there was a way of objectively establishing type
Not really. It needs to be interpretive so that it remains generalised enough to cover everyone.
9. I’ve had a lot of trouble typing, because I see highly contrasting sides to myself, some of which seem incompatible with INFx
I did feel so initial conflict over whether I was extroverted and/or a thinker but it didn't take much thought to realise the obvious. I felt my type really described me well right away. I do have many contrasting sides but I feel they are covered by the INFP description.
10. I often worry about being a ‘rotten’ person deep down, and can feel guilty merely imagining myself as capable of doing something 'bad' or selfish
Not really. I do often beat myself up over things I've done or failed to do that I believe is wrong but this is because I have high standards for myself, not because I think I'm a bad person. I do expect that I must constantly strive towards the ideal but can forgive myself for falling short, which is only human.
11. I can be highly amused by my own imagined scenarios. Sometimes what is amusing me is just a concept/abstraction.
Yes. Hence the strange looks I get when smiling/laughing to myself when walking down the street alone, for no reason.
12. Immediate reality tends to bore me. I escape into fantasy regularly
Yes.
13. Sometimes I think reality is just there to suggest the possibilities, like the raw material to (psychologically) construct something better or more interesting/inspiring.
Not really - I'm not quite that detached from reality. Fantasy is often more fun and interesting but I don't think its healthy to use it as a complete substitute for reality.
14. I hate disorganisation, chaos and being unprepared. I have aids to attempt to ‘tame’ this, e.g. spreadsheets, lists, being tidy etc.
Yes, I dislike these things to a degree but I'm too lazy to actually do something about it. Its not high on my list of priorities.
15. I'm more likely to do what the moment suggests as the best thing to do (if it 'suggests' anything) than stick with a pre-prepared plan, if left to my own devices (for better or worse).
Mostly. Although I do acknowledge the need to stick to the plan when tempted into time-wasting distractions. It is not my natural inclination to recognise this - I've learned this over the years by the mistakes I've made.