[Kestrel]

Simple question for fellow INTPs. Have you ever been informed by someone close to you that you scare/intimidate people?

If so, are you making a concerted effort or are you entirely baffled by this perceived image?

Sometimes I do it on purpose to get ahead in life or to ward off annoying alpha-jackasses, but most of the time I'm just being myself - yet seem to intimidate people anyway. I fear that this is the reason I find it so hard to make friends, despite truthfully being a pretty chill person. This is problematic.

Any advice/help?

[Einstein]

Compared to my INTP friend I intimidate people WAY more.

[Fantastic_Lies]

I have heard on several occasions that I am either either scary or intimidating. Though, I honestly can't fathom why this is. I do have a rather dark sense of humor and have been told I have quite a scowl on my face when I'm doing nothing but thinking to myself. I suppose my lack of interaction with folks and a continuous scowl may be seen as scary or intimidating.

Perhaps they know I'm going to take over the world one day.

[Buckersniff]

I'm black.

[kaneda3030]

Only when I'm hungry.

[Dashing]

Don't think so.

[adam smith]

Yes, people tell me that I am intimidating. I don't try to. I actually make a conscience effort not to intimidate people, but I do anyway.

The only way I've learned not to intimidate people is to talk about stupid shit (sports, celebrity gossip, tv, ect.), compliment them, and things of that nature. When I think they are comfortable with me, I start making a few comments on things I want to talk about. Even after this process, they will be intimidated when I drop my filter. You just have to hope they are comfortable enough to keep talking and not shut down. I have varying success.

[Iamtp]

If you are not one to smile much, (or at odd times to a casual observer), say simple sincere good mornings, hellos, head nods, or even inferred greetings, it makes people nervous. THey think you've just stuffed your family into your closet if you don't ask them how their weekend was.

I don't want to intimidate anyone and it isn't my intention but people who don't follow social norms are intimidating for a lot of people who want a certain level of comfort around everyone.
Actually I take that back. The front desk person at work greeted me with an "Enjoy your lunch," every afternoon for 5 months straight until one day I said with a smile that I was "going to a funeral but hopefully they'll serve mini wieners." That ended that streak.

[L]

I hunch a lot, that seems to help (especially since I'm quite tall and broad-shouldered). I smile at people when I pass by. I conceal the INTP death stare, that seems to help the most. I let my Ne shine through when people want to talk to me, of course I'm the one who has to get everything started, but after getting it started after a first meeting I don't have to worry about this as much. People seem concerned when they see my Ti though so I generally keep that reserved for myself.

[TheOwl]

I haven't been called intimidating as far as I know, but I've been told that people only talk to me because I'm a girl, and that if I was a guy I would be creepy.