From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Subject: CFD: Newsgroup For Personality Typing Systems (e.g. Myers-Briggs)
Followup-To: alt.config
Summary: Myers-Briggs is a well-known one.
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 23:50:28 GMT

(I'm reposting this with a slightly different subject line since a couple
of people thought that adding 'Myers-Briggs' to it would substantially
increase visibility.)

*********************************************************************
Note that all discussion followups should be to alt.config, as the
Followup-To: line above shows.

Note also that I cross-posted this CFD to the education and jobs
newsgroups since personality typing systems are employed for career
and educational purposes.
*********************************************************************

Hello,

I, as well as many others on Usenet, have developed an interest in systems
that map human personalities, the Myers-Briggs being the more well-known one.

I have personally found the Myers-Briggs to be of great benefit to me.  Not
only has it helped me to understand myself, it has profoundly helped me to
relate to other people and to better understand their viewpoints and ways
of thinking which differ fundamentally from mine.  The dynamics of Usenet
is one of the great examples illustrating how the different personality
types interrelate with one another.

Of course, the psychological community is highly divided on whether such
personality mapping systems are really of benefit.  However, such personality
mapping systems are now used extensively by employers and career counselors
for employee and educational development, as well as for other related
purposes.  Whether you believe in them or not, such personality mapping
systems are here to stay.

Thus, I propose that we create an alt.* group dedicated to discussing the
Myers-Briggs as well as other systems that exist to map personalities.
Some topics, among others, that could be discussed include:

1) How to determine ones personality type.
2) How accurate are such personality mapping systems?  Both pros and cons 
   would be welcome, even from psychologists.  :^)
3) Do such systems have hidden dangers?
4) What is the history of such systems?
5) Sharing personal stories and anecdotes.
6) Explaining differing Usenet writing/posting styles (one of great
   interest to me).
7) Relating career choices to personality types.
etc.,etc.


Since the Myers-Briggs is by far the most developed and dominant system
employed today, I'd suggest that we call the newsgroup:

alt.myers-briggs

or

alt.personality.myers-briggs

or

alt.psychology.myers-briggs


I am also open to consider a more generic newsgroup name as well.  Suggestions
are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED (please post your suggestions to alt.config).  One
generic name I thought of could be called:

alt.personality-types


Also, once the alt.* newsgroup is created, we can, in a year or so, consider
setting up a sci.* or misc.* group.  Right now there is not enough support to
setup such a newsgroup (the requirements for setting up a sci.* or misc.*
group are light-years more stringent than an alt.* group, requiring active
supporters numbering in the hundreds, as well as a formal creation procedure
including a vote).

Let the discussion begin.

Jon Noring   'INFJ'


(p.s., if I get about twenty+ enthusiastic supporters, and no significant
opposition - other than two or three - then I'm sure I can convince my
system manager at netcom to go ahead and create the group.  He has created
two groups for me already, but he does require that public discussion on
alt.config be done and that support significantly outweights the opposition.
I believe there is enough support out there already considering the number
of e-mail replies I've received in the past year about Myers-Briggs.  Thus,
the only unknown to me at this time is to get an effective name for the
group.)


-- 
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