[TiNeLord]

Hello, fellow INTPs. I was thinking of making my first post about some endlessly debatable philosophical issue or scientific matter (such as "Where is the cheese?"), but I'll start out with a little quirk.

I'm a music lover, and I've recently discovered both jazz and classical music (through John Coltrane and Frederic Chopin.) It's been a nice surprise for me, finding out that there's so much more to both genres of music than easy listening. The musical complexity that I've found in both Coltrane's and Chopin's work is completely astounding. Deconstructing the rhythms, trying to grasp the harmonies and see the logic behind the progression of tones is a very engaging kind of mental gymnastics for me.

Now, I've listened to music perceptively before, but there usually isn't that much to deconstruct in the blues and classic rock (notable exceptions notwithstanding) that I'm such a big fan of. However, when I pay close attention to a classical or jazz piece, I can only go for so long before getting completely mentally exhausted. As a straight up introvert, I could compare it to how I'd shut down at a party as I force myself to focus on a lot of different things at once. Just complete mental and sensory overload. The only difference is that getting to that state of overload with music almost feels like a natural high (one that I have to terminate before my brain knocks out the roof of the building.)

I know that almost anywhere else this post would sound loony, but that's why I'm doing this here with all you other misfits. I'm interested in knowing if anyone else gets overwhelmed (in a good way!) by certain things, whether it's by music like me, mathematics or the process of pasteurization...heck, anything. Do any other INTPs seek mental overstimulation at times?

[LeaT]

Yes. This forum is a good example of me doing this because I currently obssess.

As for music, I find that musical simplicity is often interesting and desirable when done right. While I hear on about rock music sometimes appearing simplistic, very well-done rock music is capable of taking the basic genre restrictions and play with them in such a way that it still becomes complex even though it sounds very simple.

I find this paradox to be the most interesting when I listen to music. I don't want to listen to complex music for complexity's sake. That's boring as hell to me. What I'm mostly interested in is definitely how the music feels.

What I'm trying to say is that there's also beauty in minimalism that can and should be appreciated, but of course not for minimalism's sake. Not every artist is capable of pulling this off.

And of course, BIG DISCLAIMER that I love metal music.

Example of musical simplicity that still creates a complex composition:


Listen to that solo. So simple in terms of technique (I could easily play that) but the way it fits, adds and enhances the song is just amazing. It's just about finding the right touch of not being too much (I really hate most symphonic music for this reason) but not too little to the point where the music feels empty and without content.

[jeffbobs]

chopin you say?


lunapic13798_bw1.jpg


I get something similar, but i don't call it overstimulation. Anything new and exciting that i find, i tend to over do it. Like a new song, a new kind of food i have found. A new friend to hang out with.

It will become something i do so often and so much, That after about a week or 2 i just end up turning this once nice thing into something boring and not interesting anymore

[hela]

My mind ordinarily runs at an 11/10; bringing myself over the edge by concentrating on one thing has a similar effect to orgasm. It’s essentially a mental restart.

[Richard]

Overwhelmed because of mental ecstasy/hyper-focus, never.

Overwhelmed because of the lack of intellectual capacity required to fathom a given concept, yes.

[Neurasthenia]

Funny coincidence I clicked on this thread just now, because it is currently applicable to my situation.

For the past five years or so I've tried to appreciate progressive metal. My 40 year old cousin is a prog-metal musician (Christian Wentz of Futures End, for those interested) and, being his ENTP self, has excitedly tried to push bands like Dream Theater on me over the years.

When I would try to listen to bands like Dream Theater, I'd get this feeling inside that I can only describe as "nerds, too much black, chains, cigarettes, affliction t-shirts, etc". I just didn't like the general sound of prog-metal, partly b/c of negative mental associations. But really, it just didn't feel good to hear. However, after some time I was curious and wanted to try to appreciate it. I found that the aforementioned feeling still struck me in an unpleasant way, but beyond that I found it was sort of mentally taxing to pay attention to what was happening in the music.

But right now I am listening to Dream Theater's Systematic Chaos and I feel pretty calm. I almost wish I felt more about it. But the point is that I got used to it and I am excited for the possibilities.

Yeah, I think prog-metal perhaps was beyond what my mind was willing to engage initially. For a while I did play with what you mention, which is that sort of semi-pleasurable (for me) experience of stretching one's faculty of attention.

Chopin is wonderful, by the way. So far I haven't found another classical musician I appreciate as much.

Have been meaning to get into some jazz, like Miles Davis or something, too.

[nadjasix]

Miles Davis was the coolest person who ever lived, easy.

[Deathbagel]

I've never overloaded myself just analyzing the music and musical passages.

BUT, when I purposely imagine a frenetic series of images pertaining to both the music and my life personally, like it was a drug-fueled music video made just for me, I... well I'm not sure how to explain it. It's like a headache but... cold. It hurts but it also feels amazing. I'm not sure really... it's kind of fun to do though (I can only do it deliberately, it doesn't happen to me naturally).

[OMG WTF BRO]

Hello, fellow INTPs. I was thinking of making my first post about some endlessly debatable philosophical issue or scientific matter (such as "Where is the cheese?"), but I'll start out with a little quirk.

I'm a music lover, and I've recently discovered both jazz and classical music (through John Coltrane and Frederic Chopin.) It's been a nice surprise for me, finding out that there's so much more to both genres of music than easy listening. The musical complexity that I've found in both Coltrane's and Chopin's work is completely astounding. Deconstructing the rhythms, trying to grasp the harmonies and see the logic behind the progression of tones is a very engaging kind of mental gymnastics for me.

Now, I've listened to music perceptively before, but there usually isn't that much to deconstruct in the blues and classic rock (notable exceptions notwithstanding) that I'm such a big fan of. However, when I pay close attention to a classical or jazz piece, I can only go for so long before getting completely mentally exhausted. As a straight up introvert, I could compare it to how I'd shut down at a party as I force myself to focus on a lot of different things at once. Just complete mental and sensory overload. The only difference is that getting to that state of overload with music almost feels like a natural high (one that I have to terminate before my brain knocks out the roof of the building.)

I know that almost anywhere else this post would sound loony, but that's why I'm doing this here with all you other misfits. I'm interested in knowing if anyone else gets overwhelmed (in a good way!) by certain things, whether it's by music like me, mathematics or the process of pasteurization...heck, anything. Do any other INTPs seek mental overstimulation at times?

Music has always been my thing. l'm an auditory/musical learner. Music and auditory input of all kinds does get me high like that lol. l also regret never learning to play an instrument or read music because l feel like even if l weren't especially talented l won't fully develop myself as a person until l understand everything there is to understand about music. lm that intense about it lol.

So yeah, l would say l do deliberately overload myself with it most of the day and have been for years.

[LeaT]

Funny coincidence I clicked on this thread just now, because it is currently applicable to my situation.

For the past five years or so I've tried to appreciate progressive metal. My 40 year old cousin is a prog-metal musician (Christian Wentz of Futures End, for those interested) and, being his ENTP self, has excitedly tried to push bands like Dream Theater on me over the years.

When I would try to listen to bands like Dream Theater, I'd get this feeling inside that I can only describe as "nerds, too much black, chains, cigarettes, affliction t-shirts, etc". I just didn't like the general sound of prog-metal, partly b/c of negative mental associations. But really, it just didn't feel good to hear. However, after some time I was curious and wanted to try to appreciate it. I found that the aforementioned feeling still struck me in an unpleasant way, but beyond that I found it was sort of mentally taxing to pay attention to what was happening in the music.

But right now I am listening to Dream Theater's Systematic Chaos and I feel pretty calm. I almost wish I felt more about it. But the point is that I got used to it and I am excited for the possibilities.

Yeah, I think prog-metal perhaps was beyond what my mind was willing to engage initially. For a while I did play with what you mention, which is that sort of semi-pleasurable (for me) experience of stretching one's faculty of attention.

Chopin is wonderful, by the way. So far I haven't found another classical musician I appreciate as much.

Have been meaning to get into some jazz, like Miles Davis or something, too.

If you think Dream Theater is tough to get into when it comes to technical metal, I can send plenty of bands your way that took time for me to even learn to appreciate.





I'd dare say that extreme metal is very technical in general so I never find myself growing tired of listening to it in that department.

What I love the most about extreme metal (especially death metal inspired bands and genres) is the feeling of holding back, that each riff is kind of self-contained. It creates this extreme feeling of control that I suppose really speaks to my Ti? Emotional control almost. That's probably why I'm not so fond of power metal and that stuff anymore because while I appreciate melody, I want it to be controlled in some way.

Ergo my favorite genre being melodic death metal probably, because it has a healthy mix between melody and death metal riffs, and also tends to flirt with progressive music and folk as well.