That makes sense. It actually took me a couple months before I felt comfortable enough to really dive into the forum. Even now, there are still some things I don't really divulge. I don't think that's so much the forum, though, as the nature of INFJ
I'm a rather infrequent visitor here, so it's likely I've missed many of these threads that meet this need in you.
What I was trying to describe is an openness and vulnerability of self expressed and then met in turn with returned openness and vulnerability, ideally resulting in a greater understanding of self and our world.
Does that match what you are thinking of when you speak of "deep thinking" threads?
Sorry for my abandonment of this thread. Some personal things came up late last weekend that have kept me away.
arbygil - loved your description of the forum as a family reunion complete with crazy uncles and all.
anica - I very much relate to your comments about withholding to some degree and fear of not being able to defend your positions. I also relate to that.
I don't have much of a circle of intimates right now. I think that part of me hoped to find that among common infj souls. I do tend to withhold, but I tend to do it with those I sense will not be receptive rather than with those more distant vs. more intimate. I can pretty comfortably share a great deal of myself with a virtual stranger if I sense common ground and receptivity. On the other hand I have co-workers who I suspect know little about me even after a year of working 40 hrs/wk side by side because I sense who I am would not be received well.
I guess I had hoped this would be an environment where I'd sense the resonance and feel the flow. I sense my style of communication is different from what I predominately experience here and so I feel the reserve of doubt about whether my expression fits and would be well-received. I do wonder if it isn't in part the medium. Perhaps if I were sitting face-to-face with some of you and could read the non-verbal signals I'd get a very different sense and would feel more secure in my expression.
At any rate, may I stay at the reunion? I may not be a really entrenched part of the family, more a distant relative who just hangs around the edges, but I am glad you haven't asked me to leave yet. Hope you won't mind if I keep hanging around the edges and throwing in a thought here or there.
You're always welcome, tovlo - and look, I saved you a seat at the picnic table!
Is there anything particularly wrong with that? Most INFJs long to be an integral part of the regular model of socializing, but often feel left out because what they think and feel is too hard to explain or comprehend for other types. This is a social environment that is a lot more inclusive than most.So, the constant insistence that we are somehow special, or the rarest type makes me want to vomit, because sometimes I feel the so called "INFJ environment" here acts the same way most other social circles do in the everyday world- there is no difference to me.
For me it's not so much about being heard or even about having deep conversations (although some of the more mindless derailing bugs me a little :tongue but just knowing there's a place for me where I can socialize without fear of being considered odd, and even have people agree with me, understand or even respect my insights.
There is a topic that I'd like to start but I'm still a bit fearful, especially after reading in this thread that some people have started threads that have gone nowhere. So for now I'm a responder, but I'm enjoying mostly all of the topics.
Who cares? I have started many a thread that were misunderstood or died rather quickly, the point is for you to get the idea out there. You won't know until you actually try.
Who cares? I have started many a thread that were misunderstood or died rather quickly, the point is for you to get the idea out there. You won't know until you actually try.
I care. After years of getting ideas "out there" and being, at best, misunderstood, and at worst, ridiculed, I'm hesitant to put any ideas out there. I have no self-esteem left.
Ah, to be 20 again.
It's okay to care about stuff that you think other people probably won't.
This sounds more like a trust/ self-esteem issue. You don't know whether or not to trust us and don't want the blow to your self-esteem if your crusades don't spark something from other.
Really, you should face this fear, and what better place than here?
Lots of us have things, opinions, and stances that others here won't agree with. Some of us have opinions that are down right offensive to tender NF sensibilities.
Tell ya what. PM me with your idea and I'll post the thread. That way if it fails it's my fault!