Any ISFPs actively posting on here?

[Hotherym]

I ask because it's one of the personality types I just cannot seem to understand in any clarity. I can read all about it, yet understand virtually nothing, except it seems like a high-strung, grounded variant of an INFP.

Funny thing is, I know one ISFP, and have met others, and can tell they are, yet have no perspective on how it must be for them. The one I know isn't particularly able to discuss much about psychology or personality theory at all, so I can't really bother to ask.

Anyone want to help me out, here? :D

[Mort Belfry]

According to the member's list there's 16, the highest has 319 posts. I don't know how to link the search results though.


But seriously I think we're better off without them.

[Hotherym]

But seriously I think we're better off without them.

Oh man, hahah.

Hopefully that'll make them come in and stand up for themselves so I can learn a little more. :D

[heart]

I have a friend who tested as ISFP, she's got a real hard Te that comes up a lot, but other than that she's a very soft, dreamy natured person, very into cocooning herself in sensual comfort. Very fine sense of Fi, but she's just not into theoretical discussions or anything about the darker side of life. I have to edit myself around her or I disturb her! She's a very giving, wonderful person.

For some reason many people always think she's pissed off because she's not real smiley, but she's one of the most even tempered and patient people I know. She says she cannot understand the draw to message boards for socializing.

[bananatrombones]

According to the member's list there's 16, the highest has 319 posts. I don't know how to link the search results though.


But seriously I think we're better off without them.

Hey Belfry, you're seeing things in purely quantitive terms. Maybe within those 319 post there are gems of such worth that render all NT posts - combined! - mere fluff in the wind.

I think we should be told.

[Hotherym]

she's a very soft, dreamy natured person, very into cocooning herself in sensual comfort. Very fine sense of Fi, but she's just not into theoritical discussions or anything about the darker side of life. I have to edit myself around her or I disturb her!

Odd, that sounds a helluva lot like an INFP I know (guy friend's mom). I'm pretty sure she's INFP since she said she tested as such while going to school for psychology, but she just doesn't like to get into theoretical discussions, loves to indulge in her senses, and will actually outright ask to not discuss 'negative' things.

That's why I get so damn confused about the distinction!

[Mort Belfry]

I work next to an ISFP at the moment and he is obsessed with talking about sex. He's a little gangsta wannabee boyracer who spends a majority of his day over-texting girls to the point of clinginess with poorly spelt sexual requests.

He takes meaningless imaginitive discussions to base terms. When I mused the other day that being mentally handicapped could actually be quite a fun life, his instant reply was, "Whatever! You'd get no pussy man! Ha ha ha ha! Never get to touch a titty, ha ha ha!"

All day, everyday, this uninteresting dialogue erodes me.

[heart]

My ISFP friend is into Christmas and Hallmark television movies, Christian romance novels, scented candles and sweets. In the middle of July she would come to pick me up for shopping or whatever and it is blazing hot, but I open the van door and I "jingle bells" playing and its normal to me!

She's great for having fun with and being childlike with. She's a great mother to her kids. She's always been there when I really needed her. Oh and Christmas is always a blast around her...

[>_<]

OP:
What do you not understand? I find the ISFP to know to be very consistent, although she wouldn't admit it if I said that to her. Heh, she may have finally understood that I have a limited understanding of how she sees and approaches things after a conversation I had with her that went unusually well. It's so foreign to her that logical analysis from a detached perspective can lead to genuine understanding that it's funny... but that in itself says something about her, I think.

I find tentatively combining what I've read with what I've seen in the person to be effective.

As for forums, I think ISFPs are more likely to post on forums that have something to do with something they care about, like maybe painting, playing music, etc. There's probably one somewhere around here though.

The one I know isn't particularly able to discuss much about psychology or personality theory at all, so I can't really bother to ask.


Welcome to the S function. Some people will even claim that a type like ISFP can never have any abstract interests ever, and I can see why they think that.

[alicia91]

According to the member's list there's 16, the highest has 319 posts

Hmm...that might be me. :)

Anyhow, what exactly do you want to know? "what it's like to be me" is a pretty open-ended question and since I've only ever been 'me' I'm not sure what is interesting or unique about me. While I'm very interested in psychology, I'm fairly new to MBTI so I'm probably not knowledgable enough about it to give you an indepth MBTI perspective about myself.

If you have some specific questions, please ask and I'll do my best to answer them.

[Hotherym]

I guess any input you have about how you function is helpful. :D I'm looking for how to apply the actual functions -- Fi, Se, Ni, Te -- since personal experience is often not enough to get me to understand (Ti, I guess? ;)), but it still does help to hear from those that do experience it first hand.

I get that ISFP can be quite variable depending on several factors (general intelligence, family history, etc.), but I'm wondering why that is. Fi? Well, at any rate, it's interesting to hear from people who experience the world through SP functions when I can only do as such through artistic experiences.

[Spartacuss]

I have a friend who tested as ISFP, she's got a real hard Te that comes up a lot, but other than that she's a very soft, dreamy natured person, very into cocooning herself in sensual comfort. Very fine sense of Fi, but she's just not into theoretical discussions or anything about the darker side of life. I have to edit myself around her or I disturb her! She's a very giving, wonderful person.

For some reason many people always think she's pissed off because she's not real smiley, but she's one of the most even tempered and patient people I know. She says she cannot understand the draw to message boards for socializing.

My mom's ISFP and much of what you wrote describes her very well. I find I have to censor myself or I will shock her with the things I say. Sometimes I fail and feel awful, because I know she means well. I also have to be careful what I say and the caustic way I say it, despite her stoic persona. She'll never cry before you, but she used to have tantrums. Being around her provides a lesson in sensitivity and makes me actually want to be all fluffy and good-natured like she is, until she pisses me off by being too good and generous to people and having them take advantage of it. For some reason, I feel protective of her, though I'm the daughter.

[Mort Belfry]

Wow, stereotyping millions based off of one or few that you know...real intelligent....real mature.

Taking my comments so seriously ..............genius!

[Oso Mocoso]

I get that ISFP can be quite variable depending on several factors (general intelligence, family history, etc.), but I'm wondering why that is. Fi? Well, at any rate, it's interesting to hear from people who experience the world through SP functions when I can only do as such through artistic experiences.

My best friend growing up was an ISFP. He was basically the reason that I didn't get picked on as a kid. He was really tough, and early on in Kindergarten he decided that we were best friends. I didn't get much say in the matter, but I wasn't inclined to protest very much. I'd describe him as very interested in cars, physical activities and mischief of all sorts. When he discovered girls, for a few years he was basically a walking hard-on. Eventually, he fell in love with a strong-willed woman and got roped into her life. After that, I hardly ever heard from him again. Last I knew, he'd put on a lot of weight, accepted his wife's brand of Jesus, and was a father of two.

My wife is also an ISFP. She's very different from my old best friend. She's quite into the fine arts. She's a graphic artist, painter and a musician. She's very interested in computers although she would probably never frequent an Internet forum unless it was useful in answering specific questions she had about music, art, technical computer stuff or musical instruments. We have a few interests in common - computers, music, going to the gym, etc. Our relationship basically works because we have fun doing stuff together, and we're both pretty willing to be tolerant of our differences.

ISFPs and INTPs fundamentally approach the world in very different ways. I've had 30+ years of being very close with people of this type. I can't really claim to understand what is common to their viewpoint as a whole, but I have a rough feel for how it's different from my own, and I respect it.

[Sunshine]

Taking my comments so seriously ..............genius!

If you don't want them to be taken seriously why don't you put up smileys or something? Like this: =P

[Hotherym]

I don't know, I didn't take it seriously. Must be the Ti.

Thanks for all the input so far. I'm going to re-read once I get a chance.

[Mort Belfry]

If you don't want them to be taken seriously why don't you put up smileys or something? Like this: =P

Because there is no mystique in smileys.

I have a genre to conform to.

[heart]

I don't know, I didn't take it seriously. Must be the Ti.

..

I didn't either and no Ti involved.:huh:

[Sunshine]

Because there is no mystique in smileys.

I have a genre to conform to.

Ok well If you really didn't mean it then nevermind, I take back my comment.

[Sunshine]

I don't know, I didn't take it seriously. Must be the Ti.

Thanks for all the input so far. I'm going to re-read once I get a chance.

I didn't either and no Ti involved.:huh:

Well I did. This is the internet, with out facial expressions and body language you can't know whether someone is joking/being sarcastic. And maybe you guys know Mort Belfry so you know when he/she is joking. I'm sure I'm not the only newbie here that read that and took it seriously, I'm probably just the only one that said something.
I don't think I'm overreacting either, imagine if Mort Belfry had said the same thing except for with race instead of personality, saying something like, "But seriously we're better off without Mexicans"...saying things like that about any category of people is going to get reactions.

Sorry for the thread derail.
I'd respond to the original post but I'm not sure if I'm an ISFP or not. I'm an IXFP though probably.

[Mort Belfry]

But seriously we're better off without Mexicans.

Oh my god! :horor:

[Sunshine]

Oh my god! :horor:

hahaha I had a feeling that was going to get quoted out of context.

[Mort Belfry]

Honestly, Sunshine, I think you're an INFP. You passed the final test.

[Sunshine]

If you have some specific questions, please ask and I'll do my best to answer them.

If you won a billion dollars what would you do with it?
What do you value?
What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?
What are your pet peeves?
What about your self do you love most?

[Hotherym]

with out facial expressions and body language you can't know whether someone is joking/being sarcastic. And maybe you guys know Mort Belfry so you know when he/she is joking.

Ok, maybe it was my Ni, because I don't know him at all. I rarely post here. (Does Fi+Ne work similarly to Ni?)

Um, harhar. And to hell with smileys, let's use ASCII art.

http://www.cyberiapc.com/images/walkingascii.gif

[alicia91]

If you won a billion dollars what would you do with it? Start a new business or possibly a non-profit, charity so that my money could keep on giving long after I'm gone. Actually I'd probably start charity and a business - maybe real-estate developing/investing. I'd also do a lot of travelling and a staff to do my grunt work so that I could spend more time on my personal/business goals

What do you value? My family, my health, my experiences in life so far. In others - intelligence, insight, education, creativity, kindness, empathy, harmony

What's your favorite thing to do in your free time? workout, read (mostly on the net these days due to lack of time), talk on the phone, play with my dogs, ski, self-improvement books/programs, crossword puzzles, read about history, study investments/money/finance, photograhy, lay in the sun, go to the pool club, trying new restaurants, go to a theme park, hang out with friends and family, watch movies

What are your pet peeves? people with no common sense, nitpicky people, those that challenge your viewpoint when nothing is gained, people who don't keep up with what's going on in the world, mean people, dirty people, laziness, bad teeth

What about your self do you love most? Nothing in particular really. I think I'm generally quite well-rounded (intelligent and creative) and can get along with just about anyone, I'm also kind, extremely level-headed, even tempered and reliable.

[heart]

people who don't keep up with what's going on in the world,

Is there still a world out there? :shock: I mean outside my own head...


Sorry for the thread derail.
.

A thread wouldn't be much of a thread without at least one derail.

[Sunshine]

Is there still a world out there? :shock: I mean outside my own head...


hahahaha.

[arborvitae]

If you won a billion dollars what would you do with it?

I'd never worry about having enough money ever again. As a poor starving student all I can think about with this question is "Sweet, then I could pay my bills and go to the grocery store!" Get back to me in 5 years, and I'll answer the question more seriously.

What do you value?

I value family, personal growth, compassion, and harmony in my relationships.

What's your favorite thing to do in your free time?

I like to read, watch movies, get dressed up and go out, try new restaurants, play outdoors, sail, and dabble in photography.

What are your pet peeves?

Mean people, uncompromising people, bullies, picky eaters, being interrupted.

What about your self do you love most?

My sense of goodwill to others, my niceness. I think my parents also did a good job of raising me to work hard and not be spoiled.

[PlumGarden]

It can be somewhat confusing at times. Different people bring out different sides of me and that can be misleading to others as well as myself.

For the most part the usual description of ISFPs holds true to form. Love for the arts, music :headphne:, color, life, experience, intense inner feeling, complete immersion into emotional reflection. I experience people rather than talk with them. It's like I can feel their feelings (unless they are strong rational types although at rare times they let down their guard)

When I was young it was difficult for me to stay true to myself. I always felt the need to change to accomodate others' personalities or wishes. Over the years I've been blessed with great NF and NT friends who have helped me see the folly of this. It is still a challenge as it easier to "live and let live" than actually develop a backbone regarding inner values.

I love people and animals and all things in need of care. I am stubborn when pushed too hard, down right passive aggressive. Variety is the spice of life and sensuality is a strong driving force for me.

My spouse is an INTP and we have had many challenges in our relationship. Mostly the F/T functions clashing. We just don't "get" each other in those areas. But that said, we are inexplicably intrigued by each other. :hug:

Anything else anyone wants to know?

[heart]

Okay, I am curious here but if the question irritates those in this thread, then ignore it.

Why do things like picky eaters or bad teeth bother you? They don't affect you (it seems to me) so I have a hard time understanding how they could be signifigant enough to end up on your pet peeves list. I would like to understand ISFP better so I am asking instead of simply wondering and making some assuption of my own. :)

I understand the "dirty people" thing because I hate visiting people who keep dirty bathrooms because if I have to use the bathroom while I am there, I will have to deal with it or if they keep a really horrible kitchen, it will be awkward to deal with them asking me for dinner and such. So I understand that, but not the picky eater or bad teeth. Those things seem more limited to the person themselves.

[arborvitae]

Okay, I am curious here but if the question irritates those in this thread, then ignore it.

Why do things like picky eaters or bad teeth bother you? They don't affect you (it seems to me) so I have a hard time understanding how they could be signifigant enough to end up on your pet peeves list. I would like to understand ISFP better so I am asking instead of simply wondering and making some assuption of my own. :)

Haha, that's a good question. I knew a girl who absolutely refused to eat mushrooms. She hadn't tried one in her life. She would go on about how much it disgusted her thinking of putting one of them in her mouth. This profoundly annoyed me for some reason. Maybe it bothered me that she was irrationally unwilling to try something new? I don't know.

Now that I think about it though, other people's eating habits are really none of my business. The next time I'm at the dinner table with a picky eater I'll happily scoop their leftovers on to my plate :)

[heart]

Haha, that's a good question. I knew a girl who absolutely refused to eat mushrooms. She hadn't tried one in her life. She would go on about how much it disgusted her thinking of putting one of them in her mouth. This profoundly annoyed me for some reason. Maybe it bothered me that she was irrationally unwilling to try something new? I don't know.

Now that I think about it though, other people's eating habits are really none of my business. The next time I'm at the dinner table with a picky eater I'll happily scoop their leftovers on to my plate :)

The underlined bit seems to make sense. Thanks for understanding my curiosity in this and answering. I just want to understand why a person would think this, what would motivate it, I was not trying to judge in anyway.

[Sunshine]

Different people bring out different sides of me and that can be misleading to others



Same here.

[Jeffster]

Ooh! It's a thread about me! Those are the best kind! :D

I plan to actively post here...

Well, that is until I become obsessed with something else and probably disappear as quickly as I came. But then that's just my temperament, right? ;)

[aireal]

My mom's ISFP and much of what you wrote describes her very well. I find I have to censor myself or I will shock her with the things I say.

I think that really depends on the ISFP because I don't need to have people censor themselves when talking with or around me.....

[Sunshine]

I think that really depends on the ISFP because I don't need to have people censor themselves when talking with or around me.....

Oh hello! Another ISFP! Welcome!

Oh and you're completely right...definitely don't have to censor yourself around all ISFPs.

[Mo_(operalover)]

I get the feeling from several MBTI-based forums that more than a few folks tend to (without much further analysis) bunch many incredibly flaky F types into the ISFP category and then go about thinking that we're possessed of incredibly low intellect.

It does get rather patronising.

[Jeffster]

I get the feeling from several MBTI-based forums that more than a few folks tend to (without much further analysis) bunch many incredibly flaky F types into the ISFP category and then go about thinking that we're possessed of incredibly low intellect.

It does get rather patronising.

Hmmm..I wouldn't know. The only other (sorta) MBTI-based forum that I've read is the one on Personalityzone.com, which is an offshoot of Keirsey's web site. And that forum is so dead that I can't really determine if anybody does that.

[Jack Flak]

I get the feeling from several MBTI-based forums that more than a few folks tend to (without much further analysis) bunch many incredibly flaky F types into the ISFP category and then go about thinking that we're possessed of incredibly low intellect.

It does get rather patronising.
Which incredibly flaky F types are you talkin' about? As long as we're patronising.

[Mo_(operalover)]

Hmmm..I wouldn't know. The only other (sorta) MBTI-based forum that I've read is the one on Personalityzone.com, which is an offshoot of Keirsey's web site. And that forum is so dead that I can't really determine if anybody does that.

Well, there's this one, there's the INTJ forum... several, really, that a simple Google search would yield. Some people are joking and playing off the extreme stereotypes but, heck, some really do think we're flaky, stereotypical TV valley girl types.

It's almost funny.