a few people have recently brought to my attention a disconnect between my blogging personality and my in person personality. on my blog, i use phrases like “shut yo mouth” and “turn it up, baby!” which i would never, ever say in person.
unless i was heavily medicated.
it’s true – it’s super easy for me to write using lots of !!! and CAPS and i am certainly a blog extrovert. as shaun said in africa, “you’re much more reserved in person…” and it’s true.
i took the myers-briggs test today (like the official one) and i ended up being an INFJ, or Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging.
i’m not that introverted…it was almost split down the middle. my two strongest characteristics were judging (90%) and feeling (70%).
FEELING? WHAT? did you NOT just say you were a thinker?
yeah…so i thought. i guess i was in denial.
anyway…since i am beginning to meet more of you in person, i just thought i’d give you a heads up.
have you ever taken the myers-briggs? what were your results?
Comments
51 responses to “resolving my dual personalities”
No. But I want to…I love stuff like that! I think most people have a “blog vibe” and a “meet in person” until I REALLY get to know you and let my hair down vibe! I personally find that I can express myself better in the blogsphere than I can in person when I first meet people! Blogging gives you the right to express freely…it’s hard to do that when you meet someone in person for the first time! Either way …Anne your still a Rock Star!
i was on a summer ministry team, fresh out of college. the official psychologist guy had our Myers-Briggs results and was explaining the dynamics of each category. at the end, he made a side note that “this” personality type and “this” personality type made the best marriage partnership.
i was one of the “This’s” and the guy i had a crush on was the other “this”…..
hmmmm…..
fast forward 7 years, and, what has happened with me and my crush?
we’ll be married 5 years in April.
i love him more each day.
I’ve been obsessed with my myers-briggs since I took it a year ago.
ENTP. I tend to have a lot of irons in the fire…
http://www.personalitypage.com/ENTP.html
I prefer the Enneagram, although I’m still figuring out what number I am. My blogging personality and my real-life personality are a little different, too. I like to be consistent, but I’m a little more shy in real life, I guess.
looking forward to taking the test. sort of fearing the results.
EXFJ I’m an extreme extrovert, split down the middle iNtuitive and Sensory, Feeler (but getting more Thinker the more I work with Scott Williams) and Judger even though I have strong P tendancies…
I look forward to the day I get to meet Anne Jackson. Your husband works in the same building… I’ve met him… He’s cool. My guess is, you are too!
I always knew there was something about you i liked–I’m an INFJ also! I think everyone in ministry should take a M/B test. In fact when i hire staff i’d like to incorporate that into the hiring. It will help leaders understand why people respond the way they do and make our team more effective.
Anna K – I am an Artist (9), thinker (6) and peacemaker (5) on the Ennegram.
ESFJ
I did Myers-Briggs a couple of years ago and came out as INTP. I think I was only just a thinker over a feeler and I’ve a feeling that if I did it again I might be an FP or even an FJ. But like the person above I prefer the Enneagram as it has more built into it to acknowledge how we’re different in different circumstances. I find M/B useful and really, really interesting but a bit rigid.
love myers briggs.
ENFJ woot!
INFJ …weird.
According to that page you linked to in your post, as INFJ’s, we are in the 1% of the population.
I’m an ESFJ :)
It’s even more rare for men to be INFJs!
I just took it and i am an ISFJ, a Nurturer.
Im ENFJ and I am borderline INFJ i was 1 point off from center, which I think wouldve made me an X?
Strengths Finder is good too, everyone where I work has to take it and post their strengths outside their office/cube, I guess so you know what your dealing with before you enter:) my top 5 are Communication, Connectedness, Activator, Positivity and Input.
I am an ISTP, I took it when I interviewed for Lifechurch a year ago and then took it again a couple months ago. I got the same exact thing both times.
Strengths Finder is great…last time I took it I was Strategic, Connectedness, Intellection, Restorative, Input
The first time I took it I was Strategic, Connectedness, Ideation, Belief and Input
With the MB…I have always been borderline I/E, but was an ISTJ when I took it for Life the first time…it’s cool to see how it’s come back around to what it was when I took it 5 years ago.
Yeah, it’s easy to adopt completely different characteristics and personality traits when you’re writing online. I don’t know why that is.
As a matter of fact, my wife and I actually first started flirting on the Instant Messenger (back when AIM was new). It sorta does remove our inhibitions. For example, I probably would never had brought that story up if I were talking to you face to face…
Brad Ruggles
http://www.bradruggles.com
I am pretty much the same way. If I am in a “position of authority” where people expect me to be loud and extroverted (such as in a classroom or with close friends) then I am a total extrovert.
But if you were to meet me in person or go on a trip, I am usually quiet and keep to myself.
ISTJ.
“She is organized and detail-oriented, and gives her children practical guidance on being productive, responsible individuals. Still, with all her seriousness, she may delight the family with her QUICK WIT (“snark”) and observations on the details of life.
entj
i’m who you thought you were ;)
ESFJ…Heavy, heavy on the ‘F’. :) Personality tests are pretty cool, but they change over time because people change over time.
As for being one person online and someone else in the real world…Nah. You’re just one person. Different aspects of your personality show depending on the circumstances. When you’re online, it’s easier to be the person you WANT to be in real life because there’s no face-to-face judgment.
ISTJ
I have our summer interns take the MBTI every year- it has proven to be a great tool.
Here’s an unofficial, but pretty reliable online version: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm
This is very interesting…my friend and I talked about this the other day. She is strong on the I and the J (Introvert and Judgement), I’m definitely strong on the EF (Extrovert and Feeling- both at 50%).
One thing I’ve experienced is that many people who blog have an ‘online’ vs ‘real life’ persona. Perhaps one explanation is that people feel ‘safer’ to share many intimate details of their lives, personal thoughts and it is less intimidating and less personal than sharing them in person. I had this conversation with a pastor (in his 50s) about how people connect these days and how fragile people connection is, in his opinion (and I agree), today’s blog/twitter/whateverelse generation are very fast paced and almost don’t have time to focus on deeper friendships, but want to reach as many acquaintanceships as many as possible. The difference between the Internet mentality and the real life mentality is that when they started feeling uncomfortable with the acquaintanceship/relationship, they can just shut down the computer and step away.
ok sorry for the rambling. I’m pretty sure I answered your question somewhere in there lol
i heard from one of my counseling friends that people who are borderline I/Es are probably hurting extroverts.
i think there’s truth to that statement. i’ve found in my own healing, that i’ve become MUCH more extroverted than even 5 years ago. if i took the test again, i’m sure i’d lean on the E side of the fence….
I took this test back in the day and I came up INTJ. I might need to retake it and see what comes up.
I’ve never met another INFJ. Now I know two (you and Isaac)! Thanks, now I feel less alone in all my eccentricities.
Oh – I’m also a blog extravert!
I’m really just a dorky quiet person, who sees himself being really cool and outgoing (like Los or someone like that…) Because of you I now have the courage to go public with it.
ESTJ all the way baby! With the “T” standing for Tithing! ;)
If i remember right i’m like kyle up there. Is that a myers personality thing? to forget?
Kyle you are too funny. And I love that you used YouVersion.com the other day!
Drho-welcome!
Took one when I was hired at Life…ENFP. Then after several years of growth, challenges, leadership changes…etc I took it again and it came out ENTJ. I was a HUGE “P” (don’t read into that) and have actually swung the pendulum back the other direction to be a “J”. Weird huh?
Yep, this ministry stuff changes you n’stuff.
ESTJ…. enough said!
Oohey- I’m also an INFJ. I haven’t took the test a few months ago and still definetly am fitting the description.
1% of the Population is cool too.
about the online thing…i too talk differently than i do in real life.
i think that i am a lot more mellow in person than on my blog…but maybe not. I try to be the same.
But there is securtiy in talking to a computer screen and not a person.
I’m with ya. I’m so much more outgoing in the virtual world. I communicate with people online and then run into them in person and either have nothing to say, or am too timid to actually speak up and spark a conversation. Which, people this is weird ’cause I’m a radio DJ… I freakin’ TALK for a living. Haha. Weirdness, I know.
jade – i have always been okay on radio too! sooo weird. please tell the powerfm peeps i say hi!
ESTP – I really wanted to be ESPN but apparently that’s not an option.
well…dual personalities just mean there are more of you to go around…so shut yo mouth and keep on truckin…
I’m an ESFJ (Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging). That says I’m a Guardian Provider…I love other people!
“Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.”
Reading your blog I think we can see the value of the rare one.
As for me … ISTJ
Just tripped into your site. Love your humor. Unlike you, I write exactly the way I talk. Messy.
As for the test, I’m half extro… half intro… vert. But a sanguine on both counts.
Enjoying your blog.
dudeeeeeee! I absolutely love myers-briggs! I thought I was an ISFP for so long that I suppressed myself into a depression. I later realized I really fit the ESFJ profile.
lol, it’s interesting how blogs can paint bigger than life pictures of us…
i took it a couple of years ago in a spiritual formation class at asbury. sadly, i am not 100% certain where i landed. i’m pretty sure i was pegged as ENFJ. :)
sounds like God continues to refine you in great ways, anne!
I was getting pretty bummed out since I thought I was the only ENFJ one here (I think only less thn 4% of US population has ENFJ characteristics if I’m not mistaken). That is until I see John’s post :)
INFJ here but really divided evenly between intuitive and feeling and only a smidge judging with the shock of being introvert – nobody I know would call me introverted. BUT nobody I know – knows me much. I hide,internally volcano, self deprecate and generally don’t let many past the front door of me. Yes – I’m more interesting,open and nicer online than in person – in person I don’t have that delete button and certainly don’t have a cut,copy or insert function. I love it when I read people claiming that they are exactly the same person online as IRL – would be doggoned rare. Good topic –
I don’t remember my past result from five years ago, but apparently I’m the only INFP that has commented???
there’s a great free resource at http://www.INFJ.com
Great blog
I have a similar eeal with my blog..i just used “pomo mofo”…which i wouldn’t likely use in a sermon…i blew someone away(:
I have aleays come out a strong INFP..but because i am a pastor, teacher, speaker,folks assume i am an E..Even though I love those public moments, and love people intensely, some would never be able to handle the fact that i sometimes need to get away/alone.
I also “feel” with the F, for me,anyway, that I am in touch with everyone’s feelings EXCEPT my own.
If anyone wants a short online version of the Myers Briggs,it’s linked here
INFJ. Woohoo?