Longtime listener, first time caller

[cryptique]

Hi all. ;P

I was variously typed as INFP and INFJ in quick-and-dirty MBTI knock-offs in the past, but I just went through a sanctioned class and realized my true INTP identity. Happy to be one, and to be here among you.

I'm 36, a technical writer, and live in Ann Arbor. The profile essay (http://www.intpcentral.com/index.php?mode=profile) on INTPs on the intpcentral.com page is pretty accurate for me, though I have an unnaturally strong F element to my personality (which I gather is a bit odd) and I'm not generally into too much dissonance in music (at least not that I've discovered so far). Otherwise, that profile pretty much nailed me.

Interestingly, I work in a department of nineteen that includes three(!) INTPs. And I thought we were so rare...

[cloakable]

:rofl: I love your avatar!
Wilkommen, cryptique.
I'll leave the questions to those who are better suited to it.
That's your line, F.C

[crule81]

Finally, another Michigander!

I hope that since you live in Ann Arbor you are also a Michigan fan.

Welcome.

[s]

I love your introduction thread title.

Welcome!

[MacGuffin]

Yeah, welcome. I like that avatar too.

I am also a weak T (you can see this on my MBTI Preference Border Poll (http://www.intpcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1014&highlight=))

I like some dissonance in my music, but not a lot.

[Johnny]

Welcome, cryptique. Ann Arbor is nice.

[SensEye]

Hello.

Just out of curiousity, how long is longtime? I lurked for about 2 weeks before I just had to voice an opinion on something. I wonder if this is typical or if most people post shortly after finding the forum.

[crule81]

I lurked for about 2 weeks before I just had to voice an opinion on something. I wonder if this is typical or if most people post shortly after finding the forum.

I lurked for awhile before I first posted. Just wanted to get a feel for the place before I threw in my 2 cents. I still lurk because I usually log in only if I'm going to post something. I guess it makes sense given our INTP preference for observation.

[Partisan]

Welcome :hello: . I can't wait to pick your brain about technical writing as a career! As to the strong F element, you may be suprised at how many of us INt/fPs are out there. Mine comes out during times of hopeless romanticism, and in family matters... I'll figure that one out another day.

Maybe INTPs aren't rare in careers that INTPs enjoy. :P

[file cabinet]

I lurked for about 2 weeks before I just had to voice an opinion on something. I wonder if this is typical or if most people post shortly after finding the forum.

I lurked for awhile before I first posted. Just wanted to get a feel for the place before I threw in my 2 cents. I still lurk because I usually log in only if I'm going to post something. I guess it makes sense given our INTP preference for observation.

I lurked for maybe 20mins... then signed up.. I've been a part of many forums so it was nothing new.


a technical writer... do you enjoy that? what kind of apps do you do technical writing for? do you wish you were actually coding?
if you could change what you were doing with your life? would you? what would you do instead?
what sort of hobbies pique your interest?

[jimkopelli]

I used to live in MI... but I was too young to remember where.
Hey.

[cryptique]

Thanks for the welcomes!

To answer a few questions...

I actually didn't lurk very long -- I just wanted a clever thread title.

I am indeed a Michigan fan, though I'm a fairly recent transplant to the eastern side of the state. Grew up over in the southwestern quadrant.

Tech writing questions -- bring 'em on. I've only had one job in this field, but I've been at it for over five years now. I'll provide whatever answers I can.

Now for file cabinet, who apparently is the point person for newbie questions (I'm guessing that solely from cloakable's comment above): ;P

I do like it. I was a floundering ex-English major for years who finally found a job that combined my propensity for language snobbery and my modest technical aptitude. I write help and hardcopy doc for accounting software, which probably sounds boring but has its moments. I might prefer to be coding IF I'd ever learned any actual code languages (never got seriously bitten by that bug as a child) -- but now that I'm working with a lot with HTML and cascading style sheets (and learning little chunks of JavaScript here and there) I begin to realize that I like the general idea of it all.

If I could change what I was doing, I'd probably do one of two things: either find a satisfying craftsman-type job that allowed me to work with tangible objects and my hands (e.g., furniture-making), or start to take seriously my abilities at creative writing (books, screenplays, teleplays, whatever). I'm not particularly content in the 40-hour-a-week world, though my little corner of it is something I can tolerate for now.

As for hobbies ... I collect music and vintage games (especially 40s and 50s stuff with great graphic design), though my game collection is still pretty much in its infancy. My music collection, on the other hand, borders on obsession.

I also play drums (poorly) and have played in bands, including writing a few songs and singing. I act in local theater productions (just finished one, in fact) and even did some movie extra work this summer.

I was quite an athlete as a kid but have gotten drastically out of shape as an adult (lots of weight to lose). I hope to someday be slim enough to play soccer again -- my first sporting love.

Other than that ... I play with my cats, websurf and read. One of my favorite books is Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, though most of my more recent reading has been nonfiction.

I also tend to be much more extroverted online, as you've probably noticed by the length of this, my second post on this forum. :whistle:

[Division56]

Same as FC. Twenty minutes or less. I'm all over the net though, I won't deny my post whoring. That and I'm a soc.

[file cabinet]

Now for file cabinet, who apparently is the point person for newbie questions (I'm guessing that solely from cloakable's comment above): ;P
yeah, I don't know why that is. oh well.


I do like it. I was a floundering ex-English major for years who finally found a job that combined my propensity for language snobbery and my modest technical aptitude.
lots of grammar nazis here, you will feel at home.


I write help and hardcopy doc for accounting software, which probably sounds boring but has its moments.
what kind of moments... ?


I might prefer to be coding IF I'd ever learned any actual code languages (never got seriously bitten by that bug as a child) -- but now that I'm working with a lot with HTML and cascading style sheets (and learning little chunks of JavaScript here and there) I begin to realize that I like the general idea of it all.
I don't follow HTML/XHTML/CSS standards but it is helping to change the face of the web..
I do know JavaScript though and if you ever need something to be written in JavaScript or want to know how to do something in JS then PM me or IM me at the screenname in my profile.


If I could change what I was doing, I'd probably do one of two things: either find a satisfying craftsman-type job that allowed me to work with tangible objects and my hands (e.g., furniture-making), or start to take seriously my abilities at creative writing (books, screenplays, teleplays, whatever). I'm not particularly content in the 40-hour-a-week world, though my little corner of it is something I can tolerate for now.
the 40-hour work week is a disappointment.. yeah.. my 40-hour work week has a purpose though so it's not as bad...
I go to an cabaret once in awhile that is entertaining


As for hobbies ... I collect music and vintage games (especially 40s and 50s stuff with great graphic design), though my game collection is still pretty much in its infancy. My music collection, on the other hand, borders on obsession.
what kind of music? which artists?
vintage board games?? or.. what do you mean?


I also play drums (poorly) and have played in bands, including writing a few songs and singing. I act in local theater productions (just finished one, in fact) and even did some movie extra work this summer.

I was quite an athlete as a kid but have gotten drastically out of shape as an adult (lots of weight to lose). I hope to someday be slim enough to play soccer again -- my first sporting love.
int is a music guy..


Other than that ... I play with my cats, websurf and read. One of my favorite books is Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, though most of my more recent reading has been nonfiction.
Is Snow Crash a short story? I tend to avoid longer works..


I also tend to be much more extroverted online, as you've probably noticed by the length of this, my second post on this forum. :whistle:
I make a lot of short scattered posts as noted by my postcount / web addiction.. at another forum I have 11 or 12 thousand posts which is on the low side for that particular forum(there are ppl with 30,000-40,0000+ posts)..

[cryptique]

I write help and hardcopy doc for accounting software, which probably sounds boring but has its moments.
what kind of moments... ?
My company likes to shake things up in the industry, so I've had a chance to document some first-of-its-kind products ... and we're now pioneering a new Flash-based help format. I like the new and/or cutting edge technology stuff. I also occasionally get to stretch out and do some pure writing, which is nice.



As for hobbies ... I collect music and vintage games (especially 40s and 50s stuff with great graphic design), though my game collection is still pretty much in its infancy. My music collection, on the other hand, borders on obsession.
what kind of music? which artists?
vintage board games?? or.. what do you mean?
Music -- mostly "rock." Old stuff, and non-major-label new stuff. Favorite current artists include Spoon, Iron & Wine, Richmond Fontaine, Neko Case, Pernice Brothers, Posies ... I could go on for another several paragraphs, but hey, I'm new here, I have to hold something back.

Games -- yes, old board games.



Other than that ... I play with my cats, websurf and read. One of my favorite books is Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash, though most of my more recent reading has been nonfiction.
Is Snow Crash a short story? I tend to avoid longer works..
Nope, it's a fairly lengthy novel (though not by Stephenson's own standards). On the other hand, it's one of those books you simply can't put down once it hooks you. Sheer brilliance.

[file cabinet]

I remember the game Easy Money, that was hot shit.