Updates And Future Plans

FeaturedAsideArvid Walton 32 Comments

Dear friends,

It’s been a long time––and for that, I apologise. I’ve been reading through your many comments and the number of well-wishes and general positive sentiments not only surprised me, but reminded how many of you are still watching patiently (both for your own posts to be published and for words from me). In particular, I was moved by how many of you found meaning here.

That said, I want to break the silence that’s been hanging over The Book Addict’s Guide for so long.

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Jon Snow: ISFP

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Note: massive spoilers ahead

Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin

Dominant Introverted Feeling (Fi): Jon is used to being different and doesn’t let other people’s opinions get in the way of doing what he believes is right. His strong moral principles are derived from within himself, and he typically puts his own ethical sense of direction above the feelings of others. After making a series of decisions that the Night’s Watch finds hurtful, he is killed, an experience he struggles to move past. Considering his duties fulfilled, Jon has little issue walking away from people who have rejected him. When he does have trouble choosing a direction, it’s because his emotions are in turmoil. Even if he says nothing, it’s obvious to others when he’s having a hard time (i.e. Daenerys quickly recognizes that he’s keeping something from her), and he can only keep his feelings in before he needs to express them. Jon finds himself unable or unwilling to accept Daenerys’ wish for him to keep silent about his true identity. Despite having been emotionally neglected, Jon is good at talking to his sisters about their feelings.

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Pokémon – Conway: INTP

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Pokémon Anime Franchise

Dominant Introverted Thinking (Ti): Conway is an intellectual first and last. He takes pleasure in researching statistics for upcoming battles and has the most fun when he is using his brain. Conway never shares his thought processes with others, preferring to work things out in his head rather than thinking out loud (and excluding input from other people). However, after figuring everything out, he proudly shares his conclusions. Conway has a focus on the theoretical foundations of his battle plans; while this gives him creativity beyond that of Ash, Dawn, or Paul (all Te-users), it also causes him to get caught up in his head rather than pay attention to the reality of his situation.

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Pokémon– Kenny: ENFJ

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Pokemon Anime Franchise

Dominant Extroverted Feeling (Fe): Kenny puts others’ emotions before his own. He commiserates with Dawn when she doesn’t make the battle rounds of a contest, even when he qualifies. He also doesn’t put pressure on his Pokemon when they lose battles, preferring to take the blame for himself instead. Kenny tries hard to conceal his feelings for Dawn, as he is unsure how she (or Ash or Brock) will receive them; his main recourse is to tease Dawn about her nickname (“Dee Dee”). When he lets slip certain indicators of how he feels (and Dawn doesn’t notice), he resorts to desperate measures to keep Ash quiet. Upon meeting Ash and Brock, he makes sure to get in their good books right away (by telling funny stories about Dawn), and he befriends Barry, a trainer from his hometown, immediately upon meeting him.

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Ace INTJs: Hamlet

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“Hi, ‘nuther asexual here. You did a post about Sherlock a while back (sort of). Do you also have a theory you endorse for Hamlet? (I know it’s widely debated, but he strikes me as an asexual too).”

I agree with you. Hamlet has plentiful sexuality-based themes in it, and none of the ones that initially relate to Hamlet himself strike me as allosexual. Historically, the bedroom scene with Gertrude wasn’t always played sexually –actually that didn’t develop until well into the film-version years of Hamlet.

As far as we’re aware, this is merely an interpretation that has been adopted by a large number of people as the years have gone by.

The only other person that could have been of sexual interest to Hamlet was Ophelia, and I personally don’t think he felt that for her. Any sexual comment he makes is either to call her a whore or to make fun of sexuality.

On the other hand, this doesn’t discard the reality that he was probably romantically attracted to her.

Matilda: INTJ

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Guest Post by E.J., INTJ

Matilda, Roald Dahl

Dominant Introverted Intuition (Ni): Most young children with parents like Matilda’s would accept their behavior as normal, as Matilda’s older brother does. Matilda, however, figures out that her father is being dishonest and correctly guesses that his behavior may get him in trouble. She also sees that her mother’s belief that women should be primarily interested in their looks has gotten her mother nowhere, and Matilda–not yet six years old–knows that she wants her life to be different. Matilda correctly intuits Miss Trunchbull’s past misdeeds and develops an out-of-the-box plan to deal with her. Matilda has an incredible ability to concentrate, which she applies both to her academic interests and in strategies she develops for daily life. Although Matilda is deeply unconventional, she understands the long-term value of blending into society. As a result, most adults overlook her more nefarious plots.

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Gilderoy Lockhart: ENFP

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling

Dominant Extroverted Thinking (Ne): Lockhart presents himself as an expert on everything, whether duelling, defeating dark creatures, getting rid of household pests, or the game of Quidditch. He is a prolific author, and always seems to have a new book out, usually about one of his supposed exploits. He relates his stories in fanciful ways, with digressions concerning his personal preferences (favorite color, etc.). Lockhart lives his life in a spontaneous fashion, doing things that many people don’t expect (like taking a teaching job at Hogwarts). He originally has an idealized view of what the experience of teaching is like, and he quickly revises his teaching style after publicly making a fool of himself. All of the things Lockhart says are about trying to maintain and enhance his reputation rather than necessarily doing anything useful, making him appear (with much justification) out of touch with reality.

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Pokémon – Harley: INFP

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Pokémon Anime Franchise

Dominant Introverted Feeling (Fi): Harley lives in a reality where feelings are paramount – and only his own, not anyone else’s. In fact, he has a tendency to blow trivial hurts out of proportion and to hold grudges for ridiculous reasons. He doesn’t only hate the girl who stole his snack in school, but also the girl who looks exactly like her (May). He has a vendetta against May for no other reason than this; he does everything in his power to humiliate her in public and derives pleasure from her embarrassment. Harley gives captivating contest performances which engage the emotions of the audience, but he opts to work with their fear and shock rather than their wonder and admiration. He is individualistic in both his clothing style (derived from his favorite Pokemon, Cacturne) and his effeminate mannerisms.

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Are INTJs Really Master Planners?

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Anon asked: “i know fictional INTJs are supposed to be master planners but how far in advance to real life INTJs plan?”

Well, for starters, I’ll first state that the answer to this question is highly subjective to what type of plans we’re referring to, and which INTJ you’re referring to. So, instead of answering the question directly, I’ll just give a few examples of what types of plans I’ve made and what types of plans I do not make. Various plans that I have made….

Wilderness Survival

At one point during my teen years, I fell into an obsession with wilderness survival and disaster preparedness. What would I do if all hell broke loose and we humans lost all of the things that we are so heavily reliant on (immediate food, clean water, entertainment etc.). Naturally, I decided to plan ahead.

  1. I learned how to navigate in the wilderness using a compass, the stars and the sun.
  2. I memorized all of the poisonous and edible plants in my local area and learned the proper ways to prepare them if I needed to eat them.
  3. I learned first aid procedures, how to treat for shock, split broken limbs and transport an injured person.
  4. I learned how to purify water using over 5 different methods and practised drinking lake water during my hikes in the mountains.
  5. I learned how best to build shelters in different types of weather, what types of plants make for the best insulation and which ones will give you the best shade in the sun.
  6. I keep a 30-pound pack in my closet, housing a sleeping bag and all the ten essentials.
  7. I also keep 30-pound buckets under my bed that are filled with food-storage supplies to last up to a year.
  8. I’ve read aeons of books about survival mentality and wilderness survival skills.

Extensive enough for you?

Death

This was more recent, but I have an extensive logical and emotional plan for how to deal with dying. When I say that, I don’t mean someone else’s death, because I don’t think you can ever be prepared for the death of a loved one, but when it comes to your own death, it’s a completely different story. I won’t get into detail, because the depth to which I’ve gone with this particular plan would probably freak you out, but I will say that I know exactly how I would respond to finding out that I had a day left to live. I know exactly what I would do with that one day, and I would be perfectly at peace with dying. I would also be perfectly at peace with knowing my loved ones would have to suffer the more for it –but it took me a long time to get to that point. When it comes to a loved one dying, I’m relatively well prepared. I have a logical plan in place, but at the same time, one never knows how they will react to a loss like that. Even so, it never hurts to plan –I just, can’t tell them that I have planned for that. As you can see, we’re a bit obsessive. Now, on to the types of plans I don’t make…

World Domination

This falls under the category of INTJ stereotyping, but contrary to popular belief, I do not sit around in a cave devising clever ways to take over the world. If all real INTJs did that, we would have a massive problem on our hands, because INTJs don’t just make plans (ever). They make plans and carry them out with precision. So…I think it’s safe to conclude that all the INTJs who are plotting world domination are either already attempting it, or are lacking in resources to carry out their plans. On the other hand, I do have plans to make a difference in the world. In my case, that means writing books that teach people things that I could never teach them by talking to them (because I can’t talk to people in general). The book plan is so frighteningly extensive, however, that I won’t into detail about it. I will say, however, that there have been times when my bedroom has turned into what appears to be a criminal hole, the walls plastered with papers of suspicious nature, but that all happen to relate directly to the novel in question. Hope that answers your question.

Homer Hickam: ENFP

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Guest Post by Jessica Prescott, INFJ

October Sky

Dominant Extroverted Intuition (Ne): Homer Hickam is nothing if not a dreamer. He loves new ideas, hates to be cooped up in a small mining town, and, more than anything, longs for a glimpse of the “outside world.” His original (and strongest) motivation to carry out his rocketry project is not a desire to understand how rocket science works, but simply a romantic fascination with the mere idea of rocketry—the idea that human beings can be capable of sending objects up into space. He isn’t shy about sharing his dreams with others, either, but is perfectly willing to blurt out his latest plan at the breakfast table: “I’m gonna build a rocket.” One of Homer’s greatest assets is his optimism—his ability to see possibilities where others see only obstacles. Even though no student from Coalwood has ever won the science fair before, Homer is firmly convinced that he and his friends can pull it off—and he manages to convince them to believe it, too.

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Prince Caspian: INFJ

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Guest Post by E.J., INTJ

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis

Dominant Introverted Intuition (Ni): Caspian is a dreamer. As a little boy, his nurse’s stories of Old Narnia capture his imagination, and Caspian’s view of the world is shaped by the stories. Rather than basing his value system on what he sees his uncle Miraz doing, Caspian’s ideals are formed by the heroic legends his nurse repeats to him. Caspian has no strong reason to believe that the old days could return until after he wakes up in the dugout of Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, and Nikabrik. Regardless, he prefers the Narnian moral code, even if he never meets a full-blooded Old Narnian. From a relatively young age, Caspian is driven to accomplish things that other people consider impossible. He successfully defeats Miraz and reawakens Old Narnia—despite the initial superiority of the Telmarine forces—and, as king, he goes on a difficult voyage to find seven Telmarine lords who disappeared when he was a small child. Near the world’s end, Caspian’s imagination almost gets the better of him. He is so fascinated by the thought of traveling to Aslan’s country that he wants to abandon his kingship and continue eastward. Aslan must directly intervene to prevent Caspian from abandoning his responsibilities to follow his imagination.

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Si users – How to talk to INxJs

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Itae asked: In your latest posts, and comments beneath them, the problem of Si vs Se communication has been brought up. As an INxJ-surrounded INFP (dancing on the edge of Fi-Si loop for most of my life) I want to ask you for some sort of advice. How do I effectively talk about past with INxJs? Somewhere in the comments it’s been mentioned that Ni users always have to adapt their communication style to Si users, not vice versa, and that’s pretty unfair. ;)

I now feel properly guilty for having never expected to get a question like this. I compliment your open-mindedness.

First, I do think it worth mentioning that because INxJs are Ni I dominant, we tend to think about the past in relation to the future and present. Experience can influence how accurate intuition can be, meaning that the more we’ve seen a pattern of events play out repeatedly in life, the more likely our Ni is going to pick up on and predict outcomes in the present and future.

This can mean that INxJs who have Anxiety or PTSD get caught in cycles of being afraid that negative events of the past are also going to happen in the future. However—under actually dangerous circumstances, that same trait can save our lives (it certainly has for me).

All that said, there are a couple ways you could approach talking to us about the past. You could engage us in a conversation about patterns of human behavior. Get me talking about the way history repeats itself and you’ve got a conversation that I’ll be hooked on for (sometimes for hours). This could also be a conversation about how we think people today will behave based on what we know about the past.

I also recommend allowing INxJs to share their (sometimes socially deviant) opinions about the past without judging them. One thing that always puts me off talking to some (not all) Si users is when they correct me on the socially traditional or generally accepted way of viewing things. What they often fail to realize is that I’m perfectly aware of what most people think about X topic and have thought through why I think what I do. Hear us out before you shut us down. Let us be outliers and we’re more likely to actually share our opinions with you.

Molly Weasley: ESFJ

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling

Dominant Extroverted Feeling (Fe): Molly is all about family, and she always tries her best to keep hers together. She arranges vacations to visit her sons who live abroad, and she takes it very hard when Percy cuts ties with everyone else. Her worst fear is losing loved ones, rather than suffering some misfortune herself. When she sees Harry by himself, Molly is immediately sensitive to what she thinks he must need (she forbids her children from staring at him like some mythical creature), and she all but adopts him into her family. Molly puts a lot of stock in social standing; she is glad when her husband gets a promotion to a big job that takes him away from his own passion, and she wants her children to have successful careers as well. Molly is openly emotional, and she will always make her feelings abundantly clear.

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Eames – Inception: ENTP

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Guest Post (Re-typing) by E. J., INTJ

Inception

Dominant Intuition (Ne): Eames thinks of himself as a creative person, and he provides many of the ideas that allow Cobb’s team eventually uses in their mission. His flexibility is important as the plan goes forward. Although he does not usually allow himself to become angry with others, Eames finds less creative people difficult to understand. As a result, he tends to introduce ideas in his preferred way–leaving the details to the imagination–despite the confusion this sometimes causes in other people.

Auxiliary Thinking (Ti): Eames does not often explain his reasoning, even when he does have some idea of the details. Arthur, being a Te-user, interprets this tendency as Eames’ failure to fully think out his plans. Eames does prefer to think more widely than deeply, due to his Ne, but he also uses a highly personal system of logic that does not easily translate into words. Eames makes no attempt to reason based on any concept of efficiency: he believes that if something makes sense to him in theory, the details will work out in the real world.

Tertiary Feeling (Fe): Eames pays close attention to others’ behavior and has a relatively good understanding of what motivates his fellow team members. Unfortunately for them––particular Arthur––Eames’ most obvious use of this knowledge is to intentionally get under their skin. More subtly, however, Eames uses his awareness of how the team members think to understand how the team is likely to function as a whole. While Arthur’s criticisms irritate him, Eames recognizes Arthur’s value to their mission and does not attack his competence.

Inferior Sensing (Si): As Arthur points out, specificity can be a weakness for Eames. He has a tendency to introduce new ideas without fully considering the details necessary to carry them out. Eames prefers to think in terms of future possibilities, but he is willing to learn from his mistakes. His earlier attempt at inception did not dissuade him from believing that inception was possible. He did, however, carefully consider what happened, how it went wrong, and how to prevent a similar occurrence. Eames uses his experience to help Cobb from making the same errors.

Johanna Mason: ENTJ

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Guest Post by Kerissa, INFJ

The Hunger Games

Dominant Extroverted Thinking (Te): At the interviews for the 75th Hunger Games, Johanna is the first to directly question if the games could be changed. She’s very blunt. For example: when Katniss is explaining canaries in coal mines, Johanna asks, “What’s it do, die?” She also says, “I’m not like the rest of you. There’s no one left I love.” In District 13, she’s the one who makes Katniss stick with training through a mixture of ‘motivational insults’ and pushiness.

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Baron Vladimir Harkonnen: ENTJ

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Guest Post by Andrew, ENTJ

Dune, Frank Herbert

Dominant Extroverted Thinking (Te): Baron Harkonnen wants nothing less than the imperial throne, and he goes after it in a systematic fashion. His allies and even his family members (except maybe Feyd-Rautha) are mere pawns in his game, and his enemies are nothing more than obstacles to be overcome – or to be destroyed utterly. He has a brutal, ruthless way of dealing with everyone, and he gives direct orders to his subordinates. The baron is extremely resourceful, and he will add anyone whom he believes will be of use to his retinue; he even takes Thufir Hawat, the chief strategist of his slain arch-enemy, Leto Atredies, to be his adviser after the death of his own strategist.

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