Mechanical Intelligence + INTP

[Oculus Sinister]

Are all INTP's mechanical? We are supposed to have the best understanding of the natural world(highly debatable, though from what i read). So, are you? How do you use the mechanical ability?

[563 740]

Fixin' my car, working on my mountain bike/dirt bike/motorcycle, handy-man type stuff like furnace & hot water heater maintenance/service.

Knowledge is power!

[MacGuffin]

I pay people to do stuff for me.

I just don't give a damn how handy I am.

[nittanylion302]

I can get anything to work

consequently, I then get bored and don't want to use said thing for a very long period of time

[Architectonic]

Are all INTP's mechanical? We are supposed to have the best understanding of the natural world(highly debatable, though from what i read). So, are you? How do you use the mechanical ability?

Understanding of the natural world is quite different to sensate mechanical ability.
Some INTPs actually rate very poorly in mechanical ability. Some even have difficulty learning to drive, or doing basic repairs.

I'd say I'm pretty average in terms of mechanical ability - I do have basic skills, like the ability to understand basic desin, use basic power tools for basic fabrication, some basic car servicing etc. But I don't know any INTPs who is one of those mechanical geniuses who can design or build a car from scratch.

I wish I did know one of those mechanical geniuses, because (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_GTR)..... :wub:

[JAVO]

I can do anything just as well as the mechanical ISTX types, except that I purposely take longer to do it because it has to be done perfectly and I have to understand every aspect related to the job. I also take lots of breaks to daydream about something else right in the middle of it. I have a toolbox for most of the major building trades, a garage full of woodworking hand and power tools, and I rarely have to buy a new tool to fix anything on mine or my wife's car.

[563 740]

But I don't know any INTPs who is one of those mechanical geniuses who can design or build a car from scratch.

I've been back-burner designing a bike frame for a couple of years, but I know damn well the chances of me ever doing something about it are quite low.

It's the kind of situation where me the INTP will spend forever designing & conceptualizing whereas an ISTP will just bust out the welding torch and bang out a functional prototype over the weekend.


I also take lots of breaks to daydream about something else right in the middle of it.

+1

In the middle of a big job: "Hmm, I'll bet the brakes could be bled too. I could use a break from replacing this alternator"

Hours later, car now has no alternator OR brakes...

[JAVO]

In the middle of a big job: "Hmm, I'll bet the brakes could be bled too. I could use a break from replacing this alternator"

Hours later, car now has no alternator OR brakes...

The ever expanding scope of the job at hand!

[Dr. Haight]

I have always blamed my lack of mechanical ability on my heritage. However, blaming it on my personality type works just as well.

I enjoy taking things apart, though. On the other hand, I never feel compelled to reassemble them. In fact, I typically convince myself that I could if I wanted to, but yet I have only tested that theory a few times - and those weren't the complex devices anyway.

Point in fact . . . I took my broken XBOX apart yesterday. And I can here my trashcan, with the XBOX directly on top - dumping into the trash-truck at this very moment. But I'm sure I could have fixed it if I wanted to. :)

[563 740]

I enjoy taking things apart, though. On the other hand, I never feel compelled to reassemble them. In fact, I typically convince myself that I could if I wanted to, but yet I have only tested that theory a few times - and those weren't the complex devices anyway.

Sell your reliable car & buy a real shit-banger.. That'll learn you quick (and probably take a few years off your life :banghead: )

[lbloom]

I'm not very good with my hands. I've occasionally enjoyed using power-tools in the lab and running small jobs in the shop, but it takes a lot of effort and the end result isn't very clean. I also lack the imagination that some others have in just picking up materials and making something useful out of them.

I'm pretty good at developing a good understanding of natural phenomena, both intuitive and rigorous.

[Prothero]

Seems like people often come to me as the person they believe can fix anything that's not working. Somehow I manage to fix whatever it is, and then the questions start. They want to know what I did, except I can't tell them, because I don't really know. Only long standing friends realize the truth of this. Others get angry, but usually control it (seeing as it is bad form to criticize someone who has just fixed your thingie.)

[Oculus Sinister]

Understanding of the natural world is quite different to sensate mechanical ability.
Some INTPs actually rate very poorly in mechanical ability. Some even have difficulty learning to drive, or doing basic repairs.

I'd say I'm pretty average in terms of mechanical ability - I do have basic skills, like the ability to understand basic desin, use basic power tools for basic fabrication, some basic car servicing etc. But I don't know any INTPs who is one of those mechanical geniuses who can design or build a car from scratch.

I wish I did know one of those mechanical geniuses, because (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_GTR)..... :wub:

Why is it then tthat INTJ's make excellent mechanics? We are very close in temperament to the INTJ so I am baffled by your idea. A lot of INTP's go into engineering as well. I am only speculating from what I have read and what I have begun to understand about myself. I can understand how a machine works from analyzing it and understanding the principles behind it.

I think nature and mechanics are very related in substance. But I understand the way you are viewing both as seperate entities and respect the notion. But I believe nature to be the source of all mechanical operations. Its alchemy to invent a machine based on an idea found in nature. For example, I saw a history channel documentary on inventions where a guy saw a worm eating through a tree which resembled a chain. He later put it on the saw.

[563 740]

Why is it then tthat INTJ's make excellent mechanics? We are very close in temperament to the INTJ so I am baffled by your idea. A lot of INTP's go into engineering as well. I am only speculating from what I have read and what I have begun to understand about myself. I can understand how a machine works from analyzing it and understanding the principles behind it.

It could be the P laziness issue. Frequently I'll understand a problem (say, some mechanical issue with my motorcycle) well enough to know that I don't have to fix it. A stronger J would compel me to both recognize and take care of the problem.

[Birdsnest]

I am the type that likes to know in theory how mechanics work and took auto mechanics to learn this, but when it comes to the physical part, I don't care about laying down under a car or getting greasy. I find it handy to be able to change a battery, windshield wiper blade or tire if I have to, but also prefer to let someone else do it.

With powertools, and woodworking tools, thats a different story, I'm hands on, and like woodworking or carpentry and can use almost any major woodshop tool. I guess I can change a faucet if I need to also, but plumbing is also something I want to let someone else do.

So, woodworking, computers, and many other machines yes, mechanics not as much.

[lbloom]

INTJs are much better with their hands.

I don't mind getting greasy or messed up. I just don't have that touch with anything heavier than a pencil, brush or mouse.

[tinribz]

I rekon it is more of a need to know thing with INTPs and willingness to jump straight in relying on intuition. When my car broke I learnt to fix it, same for if the laptop stops working or washing machine.

Of course after the first time it is not so interesting anymore I have so many tools gathering dust. You would have to be a J to want to make a career of it? Maybe they get pleasure from the quality of the end result while Ps put more store in the novelty.

I can't see the link with driving which is more of a skill than problem solving.

[rainfall]

I have always blamed my lack of mechanical ability on my heritage. However, blaming it on my personality type works just as well.

I enjoy taking things apart, though. On the other hand, I never feel compelled to reassemble them. In fact, I typically convince myself that I could if I wanted to, but yet I have only tested that theory a few times - and those weren't the complex devices anyway.

Point in fact . . . I took my broken XBOX apart yesterday. And I can here my trashcan, with the XBOX directly on top - dumping into the trash-truck at this very moment. But I'm sure I could have fixed it if I wanted to. :)

:mellow:

You suck. :sadbanana:

P.S. A god damn xbox? I don't even have an xbox... :sadbanana:

[JAVO]

Why is it then that INTJ's make excellent mechanics? We are very close in temperament to the INTJ so I am baffled by your idea.

There is so much stuff in a modern car that an INTP with unbalanced P could search for potential problems for way too long to be efficient. A J would jump immediately to the likely cause, and thus would be more productive, happier, and break less unrelated parts in the process. When I need to repair something fast on my car, I go into "J mode".

[airjaw]

I suck with my hands. I suck at building things.
I don't know anything about cars, but I think i could learn.

doing things with my hands is way too in touch with reality. if I do use my hands it needs to be in a creative process where i'm not really paying attention to what i'm doing and my intuition is just on cruise control... like basketball, or typing, or playing a computer game.

[Oculus Sinister]

There must a mechanical INTP out there. I am sure there are plenty of people using Se and Ne interchangably.