Comments on: My sympathies http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:52:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-hemorrhage hourly 1 By: thecapacity : What do I win… ? http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/#comment-820 thecapacity : What do I win… ? Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:14:40 +0000 http://blog.thecapacity.org/?p=20#comment-820 [...] I’m not sure which of any of those labels I truly am. On a Meyers Briggs test I’m a bit of everything and I sort of think of myself as a guy who could step into many situations and make do, which [...] [...] I’m not sure which of any of those labels I truly am. On a Meyers Briggs test I’m a bit of everything and I sort of think of myself as a guy who could step into many situations and make do, which [...]

]]> By: jay http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/#comment-67 jay Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:58:29 +0000 http://blog.thecapacity.org/?p=20#comment-67 Brad, I like the attitude on personality tests and I think you're right. They're good for "initiating the conversation...". I also know Molly's not 100% against them. We had to take a "marriage potential" questionnaire (or some such thing) where we learned "we're not spontaneous enough" and some other such comments. Even without arguing whether spontaneity itself is good or bad, it was more fun to debate why in the world the test thought we weren't spontaneous. Regardless of any of those findings (or the "conclusions" from the numbers) we really did enjoy the conversation. Brad,
I like the attitude on personality tests and I think you’re right. They’re good for “initiating the conversation…”.

I also know Molly’s not 100% against them. We had to take a “marriage potential” questionnaire (or some such thing) where we learned “we’re not spontaneous enough” and some other such comments.

Even without arguing whether spontaneity itself is good or bad, it was more fun to debate why in the world the test thought we weren’t spontaneous.

Regardless of any of those findings (or the “conclusions” from the numbers) we really did enjoy the conversation.

]]> By: Brad http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/#comment-59 Brad Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:50:59 +0000 http://blog.thecapacity.org/?p=20#comment-59 I'm not so sure I share the skepticism of personality tests... so long as expectations are set properly. I agree that they shouldn't be used as a pass/fail criteria or to pair up people with "complementary" personalities. To me, the value of a personality test is that it offers a stimulus for personal reflection & introspection. One can draw an analogy between personality tests and fortune tellers. Both make broad, general statements. (ex. "ISFPs are peaceful, easygoing people"... "You've lost someone important to you") We view these statements through our personal "filter" (ie. our experience, our attitudes, our mood, the phase of the moon, etc) and assign them a meaning that makes sense in our world view. So to me the value is in examining a) what meaning we assign, b) why, and c) how we feel about it. For example, when I take the test, I come up as an ISTP. Reading the description on Wikipedia (would include the link but I'm not sure how it would turn out in the comments) I think it's pretty accurate. However, that could be because it fits with my preferred self-image. Obviously Jay was able to gain some insight based on his interpretation of the description of his personality type. So in that respect, I think there's value... For starting a dialog, I prefer the Johari window (check your del.icio.us from February). It's an interesting comparison of your self-image with how you're perceived by others. What's really intriguing to me is the difference in perception between people who know you in a personal environment vs. a work environment (not to mention people who know you in both). I’m not so sure I share the skepticism of personality tests… so long as expectations are set properly. I agree that they shouldn’t be used as a pass/fail criteria or to pair up people with “complementary” personalities. To me, the value of a personality test is that it offers a stimulus for personal reflection & introspection.

One can draw an analogy between personality tests and fortune tellers. Both make broad, general statements. (ex. “ISFPs are peaceful, easygoing people”… “You’ve lost someone important to you”) We view these statements through our personal “filter” (ie. our experience, our attitudes, our mood, the phase of the moon, etc) and assign them a meaning that makes sense in our world view.

So to me the value is in examining a) what meaning we assign, b) why, and c) how we feel about it. For example, when I take the test, I come up as an ISTP. Reading the description on Wikipedia (would include the link but I’m not sure how it would turn out in the comments) I think it’s pretty accurate. However, that could be because it fits with my preferred self-image. Obviously Jay was able to gain some insight based on his interpretation of the description of his personality type. So in that respect, I think there’s value…

For starting a dialog, I prefer the Johari window (check your del.icio.us from February). It’s an interesting comparison of your self-image with how you’re perceived by others. What’s really intriguing to me is the difference in perception between people who know you in a personal environment vs. a work environment (not to mention people who know you in both).

]]> By: jay http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/#comment-37 jay Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:27:51 +0000 http://blog.thecapacity.org/?p=20#comment-37 Hmm, I must have misunderstood what you were saying... Let me see if I can pull up my class folder.... I'm indeed an INFP, I believe I meant to say I was nearly 50/50 on the N/S. Yea you're in trouble now... I'm bringing this whole class home for you. Hmm,
I must have misunderstood what you were saying… Let me see if I can pull up my class folder….

I’m indeed an INFP, I believe I meant to say I was nearly 50/50 on the N/S.

Yea you’re in trouble now… I’m bringing this whole class home for you.

]]> By: Molly http://blog.thecapacity.org/2007/11/15/my-sympathies/#comment-36 Molly Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:49:58 +0000 http://blog.thecapacity.org/?p=20#comment-36 I remember talking to you while you were writing this post....however, you can't be an 'INSP' because N/S are the poles of the second trait - Sensing/iNtuition. By saying that you were 50/50 on sensing/thinking I'm guessing you meant Thinking/Feeling. This would make your Myers-Briggs type an "INTP or INFP"....which by the way is a great complement to my own "ENFJ". (not that we put much stock in this kind of thing anyway!). I remember talking to you while you were writing this post….however, you can’t be an ‘INSP’ because N/S are the poles of the second trait - Sensing/iNtuition.
By saying that you were 50/50 on sensing/thinking I’m guessing you meant Thinking/Feeling. This would make your Myers-Briggs type an “INTP or INFP”….which by the way is a great complement to my own “ENFJ”. (not that we put much stock in this kind of thing anyway!).

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