Breaking Down Stereotypes: Type 4

[Chad of the OttomanEmpire]

I'm a 4, and it was quite a journey to figure this out. Actually, it was a 13-year journey fraught with turmoil, confusion, and despair--but I won't go into that now.

In some ways, as much as I think I'm a stereotype straight from the 4/5 borderlands, I'm quite atypical--enough so that I can see through the bullshit that has accreted around MUCH of what you hear.

I do not claim to speak for all 4s, as many will disagree with my words, but instead I simply wish to forward information that would have helped me settle on a type 13 years ago.

Myths are below; I encourage others to create their own versions.

• [*]4s need a savior. Actually, any number of 4s have come forward to denounce this as a core attribute of the type. The ones I have observed doing so are generally 1- and 8-fixed. In my own case, I'd sooner be a savior than be saved. Any upwelling of this sort of mentality tends to run along the lines of a manipulative "Something bad happened to me, and YOU should do something about it" attitude, generally expressed as resentment in the heat of the moment and quickly forgotten as a mentality later on. I don't lie around waiting for a knight in shining armor to sweep me up, I promise.
  
  [*]4s are helpless. I guess that depends on what is meant by "helpless". I personally suck at taking care of my living space, and occasionally realize I'm somehow waiting for someone else to come clean it up. I can also be shy and expect others to navigate social formalities for me as an expat in a strange land. Two things I think are relatively non-type-specific.
  
  Actually, I've long considered myself autonomous and overly independent--others habitually get on my case for not requiring their assistance ENOUGH. Currently, I've live on my own as I have done for the last 7 years. I've been severely ill for 3 of these years, working full time despite my broken body, managing my own household, getting attacked and robbed, and doing so without a shred of support in the world. I live in a 3rd world country where such self-sufficiency is unheard of, even among other expats.
  
  [*]4s are artists. Can I tell you a secret? I'm anti-art. An anti-art 4, you say? BUT WHY?
  
  Well, precisely for the reason that I do have artistic talent. A lot of it. I've been good at drawing, painting, sculpting, composing, writing, and all sorts of other things. For this reason, throughout my childhood, I was referred to as "the artist". I was rejected for being the "weird" kid, and no one showed me any interest unless they wanted me to draw a picture for them! I was used for my artistic abilities!
  
  In other words, others liked me for my art, not for "me". I had no friends and people treated with with decency only when they wanted something from me.
  
  Naturally, I resented this. So in college I eschewed all art and instead studied History, International Affairs, and the Middle East rather than anything artistic. I became a commentator on political affairs and the modern world, and tried to forget I was a "creative" person with every analysis of Ottoman Turkey I wrote. Currently, I travel the world and work as an English teacher. I've no plans to utilize my artistic abilities as of now.
  
  So, no, 4s don't have to be drawn to an artistic career.
  
  [*]4s have deeper feelings than you do. Ha ha. Here's the lynch-pin on why I mistyped for so long--I am not particularly identified with my feelings as a source of identity beyond vaguely thinking of myself as a "glum downer" (which everyone is fond of telling me I am). I would certainly never claim I feel things more strongly than you do--how am I to know what goes on in anyone else's psyche?
  
  Now, I am in touch with my emotions, I always know what's going on below the surface, and if anyone tries to change them or tell me to "stop dwelling", they are going to hear from me! By no means does this make me a uniquely privileged individual who will look down on you for not being as batshit as I am. LOL. No fucking way. I resent this perception of 4s.
  
  [*]4s are always trying to be unique. We simply are unique. Some of this is built in resistance to being "put into a box". In my case, a lot more of it comes from a super-ego message to be "true to yourself", as well as my self-absorbed inability to take others' opinions into account. What seems sensible and normal in my eyes is often completely new and bizarre to everyone else. Much of the time, I don't even try. And while this can be a point of pride, it is also a burden--it sets you apart and often permanently alienates you. People don't like people who are different.
  
  [*]4s are fragile wimps. The perception is out there. I've seen "which 4s are the biggest pussies" contests. I've seen other users rejected as being 4s because they aren't "fragile" enough. I've had boardies tell me to my face I'm "even weaker than descriptions make 4s sound", simply because I raised my voice and they know I'm a 4.
  
  Well, that's total crap. I've survived things that would have pulled most people under psychologically. Mental health professionals have expressed shock that I did not wind up in a clinic, actually. Yet, this is totally in keeping with type 4--we can endure things that would cause most other types to belly up. Strong emotions and an inclination toward the aesthetic to not a weakling make.
  
  [*]4s are chronically depressed and spend days in bed weeping over past regrets. First, a significant percentage of people in the US are chronically depressed. Associating "depression" with 4s is like saying all 6s have anxiety disorders, all 1s have OCD, all 8s have anger management issues, etc. Yeah, no. Some 4s are indeed clinically depressed. All 4s have major depressive downswings now and again. We resent our circumstances and who we are, for one thing, and blaming oneself for these things tends to cause depression and self-loathing.
  
  When I have experienced depression (and we're talking about suicidal despair over my worthless life)--even then, I have gotten up and dealt with life every single day. If a 4 is "too depressed to get out of bed", there's another issue going on. This in NOT a normal part of the personality. And fwiw, I personally haven't been depressed since I left my family's house 7 years ago.
  
  [*]4s don't understand reality. Being "imaginative" does NOT mean you don't understand reality. Actually, fours are in touch with the dark side of life and are able to recognize truths that might cause other types to implode. And healthier 4s often have a sense of equality and social justice. Absolutely nothing about the core fixation of "envy" precludes an interest in reality, or an ability to be as sensible rational, or practical as the next human being.
  
  [*]4s are effete. Every sp-last, Sensing inferior, 8-fixed 4 I've spoken to has harbored resentment towards this characterization. Not that I've spoken to many, but the fact that even a couple of us feel this way means it's not universal. We do tend to have a good sense of aesthetics, however.
  
  [*]4s are openly dramatic. I am, and I annoy people with it. I am an angry, bitchy 4. However, many 4s (especially with the 5-wing) report that the drama is largely internal. As angry and complainy as I can be, I tend not to show my deeper emotions. If I start openly crying (which I very seldom have done--i.e., once that I can remember), it's to manipulate you, not because I am actually feeling tearful. I don't show genuine tears to anyone.
  
  [*]4s enjoy revealing vulnerability. Like all reactive types, 4s have issues with vulnerability. Eights deny it, 6s look for something that will guide them through it--and 4s withdraw when they feel awkward or vulnerable. That's right, many 4s actually aren't comfortable expressing open vulnerability; these 4s often use art to channel their feelings. The effusive and very openly tearful person you see...just might be a 2.
  
  [*]4s can't function "normally". So many descriptions make it sound as though 4s are too depressed to get out of bed, can't hold down a job, and routinely crumble to the ground in a mass of undifferentiated emotion. Undoubtedly, 4s like that exist (my cousin is one, and she is a beautiful person). But, that's not all of us. Sure, we think we're different, separate, and "not normal", and often (especially with the 5-wing), there's a genuine lack of social savvy. But, most of us can hold down jobs, show up on time, respond to others appropriately and professionally, and are semi-functional citizens of the modern era. Most of us DON'T have total meltdowns when dealing with real life. We might wish real life wasn't boring, but that's got nothing to do with an inability to function.

Mull on that. I will shortly break some more stereotypes in a future entry.

 

[Chad of the OttomanEmpire]

[MENTION=17911]Animal[/MENTION] may wish to peruse this.