[DJArendee]

I was talking to my INTP knows-everythingl brother about introverted intuition and whatnot, and basically came to the conclusion that the way I view myself (ISTP) and how others view me are two completely different things. To be blunt, I view and aspire to become this badass ninja (splinter cell actually) who saves people and wears sweet clothing like he's from the future. But everyone else around me thinks of me as a quiet clown. Its kind of disappointing when I hear others' opinions of me, because I take myself very seriously yet no one else does.

I'm torn between how I should continue striving to become. I catch a lot of flak from people because I "act like something I'm not" when in fact I'm exactly what comes natural to me and I'm not a showoff at all. Any advice? Should I choose one of the two personas? I don't know what to believe.



An example in fashion: my mom tells me "white and black are not your color" when I personally like to buy white and black. Though at the same time I do like what she suggests (bright colors).

To put it short: how much merit do others' perceptions have of me, and should I listen to judgers when they tell me "YOU NEED TO BE MORE _______" (which almost always pisses me off when they say that.)

[BallaMichelle]

To be blunt, I view and aspire to become this badass ninja (splinter cell actually)

Splinter Cell is awesome! Does that game also make you lurk in the shadows in hopes of creeping up to people and asking them clever interrogative questions before you snap their necks?
No?
...
Me neither. >_>

In all seriousness, Judgers expectations are, for lack of a better phrase, completely retarded.

Be awesome.

[MyLittleBlackHeart]

To be blunt, I view and aspire to become this badass ninja (splinter cell actually) who saves people and wears sweet clothing like he's from the future. But everyone else around me thinks of me as a quiet clown. Its kind of disappointing when I hear others' opinions of me, because I take myself very seriously yet no one else does.

Humor me because I am older than a lot of people here...is this a real job?? I read this like 5 times and I cant figure it out.

[DJArendee]

haha, no its a tom clancy video game, not a real profession. He's fictional, but he's still my hero. Glad to see another fan.

[Mandarin]

I completely understand where you're coming from - I've experienced similar discrepancies myself. Granted, I don't have the same aspirations and am not viewed as your friends view you, but the same disparity exists. I wonder if that's caused by introversion? I just know that I feel very much like an open book (for me it's in a 'wear my heart on my sleeve' type way) and am very surprised when friends tell me otherwise.
I say just be who you are, aspire to be who you want to be, and let other people deal with their own judgments and perceptions.


Edit: The more I think about the introversion aspect, the more I think that it is a key component. Our thought processes (Ti in your case, Fi in mine) seem very obvious and spelled out to us because we're constantly reworking things in our head. For me at least, I just naturally jump to the unconscious assumption that it's that apparent to everyone else. But people are in actuality only seeing the end results, which don't always lend themselves to explaining or exhibiting those processes.

[Allium]

Don't wanna hurt you but that splinter cell part was funny.
Like you I do have an INTP brother. He say he thinks I'm weird cause he doesn't see me as I do but it's more the opposite, he thinks I am "badass"(well maybe not badass but...) and can't understand why I look down on me so much.

When it comes to how you appear they know the best. They see how you walk, dress and compare to others. And they are the people who you will interract with. You may be sceptical, as I am(feel so uncomfortable in some things/situations), but they are probably right. They are much more likely to percive you like that mr nobody than yourself.

When it comes to how to live your life, you choose but most ninja's(those who survives?) probably would be bussy training right now or working on getting funding.

[DJArendee]

lol, yeah well sacrifices had to be made at the moment, maybe down the line I can gain funding (the splinter cell thing was a joke, but I am into acrobatics and stuff like that). Until then I've actually been striving to act MORE ISTPish in several ways, but also striving to work on the weaknesses, #1 being communication skills.

[T927]

I have hellish communication skills. I suppose a large percentage of introverts do. I have found that forcing yourself into social situations helps in improving. I have been forced into constant awkward social interaction since I became a teacher. It keeps getting easier though. The thing is, if I wasn't doing it as part of my job, I wouldn't do it. So getting yourself involved in something that makes you work on communication seems to work. I'm in my second year teaching and communication is still a constant struggle. Things that other people just think of as common courtesy don't even occur to me until someone confronts me about it.

Another thing,too. It might be beneficial to be in contact with a lot of different types. We get used to only talking to those in our comfort zone. It really is freaky dealing with the masses.