Bias against "S" types

[Andy K Octopus]

I have noticed their seems to be considerable "bias" against S types here from some posters. I just read a comment about how some person couldn't be an "S" because "S" types lack "vision" and "creativity". I think that S v. N has nothing to do with intelligence or imagination or creativity.

For example, my girlfriend is an ESFX---she isn't dense (she is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins and is an Autism specialist), she just takes in information and communicates differently than I do as an INFJ. My best female friend is an ISFJ, and she is every bit as witty, well read and interesting as anyone I have ever met (she knows a little about everything), and both of them, as SF types, are extremely amicable and easy to be around.

The way I see the S v. N divide is more like do you make decisions based on hunches or abstract concepts vs. do you like to have cold, hard facts to make decisions on. N's tend to be a little more "eccentric" for all intents and purposes.

Another of my male best friends, an ISTJ, fits that type to a T (with an extra dose of J-ness) He is one of the nicest funniest people I have ever met, and his mind is sharper than a razor blade. He takes in everything around him (he observes events in a detached way, kind of like an owl) and analyzes it thoroughly. He always is wrestling with picking apart personalities and other things in his head. He has wide and varied interests, and a very colorful personality but like people with too much "J" he is also anal retentive like crazy. He is also the most successful of all my friends, monetarily, and he has 2 wonderful children that are being raised in a wonderful home. But he is defintely an STJ, not an NTJ.

I am just saying, these are three solidly "S" people that are very interesting people to me. They have very complex personalities, very agile minds and a whole lot to offer me, as an INFJ, just by sharing their thoughts with me.

[Athenian200]

The reason for this is that this board is dominated by Intuitives, and many of them enjoy denigrating Sensors (especially SJ's) because they feel that they've been misunderstood so much by them throughout their lives (I'm a little guilty myself, actually). It really isn't fair to the more intelligent/insightful Sensors, and the bad parts are caricatured. But the point is, people who are intuitive will tend to see the worst in Sensors, and vice-versa, especially in people who have dominant S or dominant N. That doesn't mean that either of them are right about the other, it just means that they fail to see the other's qualities as strengths, because those same qualities are weaknesses in oneself.

[Recoleta]

Wow...muchas gracias Andy K

[Usehername]

I definitely know some "s" types who blow my mind with how intriguing they are.

[runvardh]

My ESFP brother is a pain in the ass partially due to his high intelligence.

[Andy K Octopus]

Originally Posted by athenian200

The reason for this is that this board is dominated by Intuitives, and many of them enjoy denigrating Sensors (especially SJ's) because they feel that they've been misunderstood so much by them throughout their lives (I'm a little guilty myself, actually). It really isn't fair to the more intelligent/insightful Sensors, and the bad parts are caricatured. But the point is, people who are intuitive will tend to see the worst in Sensors, and vice-versa, especially in people who have dominant S or dominant N. That doesn't mean that either of them are right about the other, it just means that they fail to see the other's qualities as strengths, because those same qualities are weaknesses in oneself.

excellent points---I do envy people (many of them SJ) on their ability to get things done. It seems like I am always caught up in some labryinth of a pyschodrama

[Andy K Octopus]

Originally Posted by Recoleta

Wow...muchas gracias Andy K

no problem. I just thought that directing or adding negative intonations to any characteristic is inherently wrong and against the spirit of these types of boards.

S types are no less intelligent, or interesting or creative than Ns. Their description might not be as intriguing, but in real life, you will meet a lot of fascinating S people

[Ivy]

Totally agree, Andy. Because of the genesis of this forum, though, we are (and likely will continue to be) dominated by N types. I think we lose a lot of interesting S posters because of these attitudes, so we may never reach the critical mass that would tip the scales and make the environment more equitable by necessity.

[Recluse]

Many Sensors have musical or artistic abilities that I admire. I wouldn't describe them as uncreative. Both Sensors and Intuitives create, just in different ways.

My mother, one of the sweetest people I know, is an ISFP. She's a gentle soul, who is patient with my quirks and eccentricities. I wouldn't have wanted a different type for my mother.

A great deal of the bias against Sensors is inspired by unpleasant childhood memories of being teased by individual popular or athletic Sensors for being odd (INTJ), flaky (ENFP), dreamy (INFP), absent-minded (INTP), and the like. But I recall ISTJs, in particular, also being teased without mercy, so being picked on isn't exclusive to the Intuitive experience. It's just that Intuitives are the majority here on this forum.

[Athenian200]

Originally Posted by Recluse

Many Sensors have musical or artistic abilities that I admire. I wouldn't describe them as uncreative. Both Sensors and Intuitives create, just in different ways.

I wholeheartedly agree. I really appreciate the detail and consideration that went into creating social structures and traditions that SJ's have put into society, even if they make me feel a little confined at times. They're like a parka in cold weather, they keep you safe and warm even though they're a little burdensome and uncomfortable at times. SP's have an amazing eye for detail and creativity in artwork and structure, but since I love theory so much, it takes a lot of effort for me to appreciate it directly. But I'm glad they're there to take care of that for me, because I'm sure everything would bland and ugly without them, and I'd probably just ignore that, and not know what was missing.

A great deal of the bias against Sensors is inspired by unpleasant childhood memories of being teased by individual popular or athletic Sensors for being odd (INTJ), flaky (ENFP), dreamy (INFP), absent-minded (INTP), and the like. But I recall ISTJs, in particular, also being teased without mercy, so being picked on isn't exclusive to the Intuitive experience. It's just that Intuitives are the majority here on this forum.

Well, it's just that there aren't many Intuitives in real life, so when we come together, we tend to play up our own strengths, and point out their weaknesses, because we're used to having it the other way around, and it feels like revenge. I know revenge is hurtful and unproductive, but it's hard not to want it sometimes. I sympathize with SJ's especially well enough not to want to denigrate them too much, but I have a difficult time even being in the same room with an E_SP without clashing with them in some way. I know it's not their fault, but they stress me out, and I think I stress them out as well.