From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Subject: Update on Poll Results (Move the Group, MBTI Type)  (LONG)
Summary: You'll like this.
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 01:27:52 GMT


Hello,

Periodically, I intend to poll the readers of this newsgroup, asking two 
simple questions.  I've already posted this poll twice.  So far, the total
number of replies to this poll is 71.

The first question dealt with how many people would *consider* voting for
moving this newsgroup to one of the main (misc,rec,or sci) hierarchies,
if this were ever attempted.  Out of the 71 respondents, 52 said yes,
14 said yes but with certain conditions (e.g., must be sci group, etc.),
and 5 did not answer that question at all.  There were no emphatic 'NO'
votes (as expected).

The number of 'yeas' is not yet enough to even consider moving this newsgroup
to a main hierarchy at this time, but it is a very good start.

I do expect the readership of this newsgroup as well as the number of sites
to grow, thus I will periodically repost my original poll questions.
Hopefully, I will find 100+, and preferably 150+ people who will back me up
on the endeavour to move this group to the main hierarchy.

=============================================================================

Now for what we've all been waiting for, the results for question two, which
asked what Myers-Briggs type you were.  Out of the 71 respondents, 65 stated
what they believed their type to be, and 6 did not answer this question.

First let me present the tally for the four scales:

I vs. E:  I (51),  E(8),  X(6)

N vs. S:  N (58),  S(4),  X(3)

T vs. F:  T (42),  F(18), X(5)

P vs. J:  P (40),  J(22), X(3)


Second, the tally for the four main types:  NT (35);  NF (18);  SJ (2);  SP(2)
The total does not add up to 65 because the reported 'X' preferences were not
counted.

And, finally, the tally for each of the 16 types (does not include any with
an 'X' for any of the four preferences):

INTP (18)
INFP (11)
INTJ ( 9)
INFJ ( 3)
ENTJ ( 3)
ISTJ ( 2)
ISTP ( 2)
ENTP ( 2)
ENFP ( 1)
rest ( 0)



Some Analysis
*************

It is very clear that the "average" reader who replied to my poll has the
composite MBTI score of INTP.  What is striking is the preponderance of INTP's
who read this newsgroup compared to the general population.  In the general
U.S. population:  E's comprise 75% while I's are at 25%;  S's comprise 75%
while N's are at 25%;  T's vs. F's are about split 50-50;  and J's vs. P's are
likewise split 50-50.  Thus, in the general population, INTP's comprise only
about 1.5%, but among the respondents, they represent about 35%, 23+ times
higher than the general population average!

According to my MBTI summary, the INTP has the following personality:

INTP:  "Architect".  Greatest precision in thought and language.  Can readily
        discern contradictions and inconsistencies.  The world exists
        primarily to be understood.

The next two most common personalities who responded to my poll are the INFP
(22%) and the INTJ (18%).  Here are the short descriptions for those types:

INFP:  "Questor".  High capacity for caring.  Calm and pleasant face to the
        world.  High sense of honor derived from internal values.

INTJ:  "Scientist".  Most self-confident of all types.  Decisions come very
        easily.  A builder of systems and the applier of theoretical models.


If the poll statistics can be extrapolated to the typical poster on Usenet,
then almost 75% of all posters should fall into one of the above three
personality types (INTP, INFP, INTJ).  Is it a truism that INTP's are most
apt to start the flame wars on Usenet because they are so nitpicky about
written details?  :^)  -->  aka *smile*


Now, looking at the data for the first three preferences (excluding the
J vs. P preference), we find 53% of the poll respondents were INT, compared
to the general U.S. representation of 3%, about 18 times more.

Likewise, looking at the I vs. E, and N vs. S preferences, the readership of
this group is, by and large, the opposite (IN) of the predominant preference
of the general U.S. population (ES).  IN's comprise 80% of the respondents
versus 6% for the general U.S. population, a factor of 13 times higher.

And finally, looking at the four temperaments, NT's are 61% of the
respondents, NF's are 32%, while the SJ and SP are each 3-4%.

Here's the MBTI summary description of an NT (aka "Choleric"):

========================================================================
Key Focus:  Competence
Fundamental Emotional Need:  To Lead and Control

Beliefs/behaviors
-- Tries to understand "whys" of the universe
-- Very demanding of selves and others - a driver
-- "Should have known" and "Should have done better"
-- Cooly objective;  straightforward in dealing with others
-- Reluctance to state obvious;  little redundancy in communications
-- Work is for improvement, perfection, proof of skills
-- Love of knowledge
-- Management Style:  Visionary, Architect of Systems, Builder
========================================================================

The preponderance of NT's among the respondents, if it can be extrapolated to
the active Usenet community, may explain the tendency of Usenet to get into
stupid flame wars and general "nastiness", which an NF, such as myself, finds
somewhat difficult to understand (actually I find this to be repugnant).  Some
have said that Usenet is a real jungle out there, and my data suggests as to
why this is so.  "Usenet - ruled by the NT lion-gods!"  :^)


The NF (aka "Phleghmatic") has the following summary description:

========================================================================
Key Focus:  Search for Self
Fundamental Emotional Need:  Peace and Harmony

Beliefs/behaviors
-- "How do I become the person I really am?"
-- Value relationships
-- Harmony with others - can be very amiable
-- Desire to inspire and persuade
-- Need to live a life of significance
-- Search for unique identity
-- Tend to focus on the good in others
-- Management style:  Catalyst, Spokesperson, Energizer
========================================================================

Fortunately for Usenet, the presence of a large number of NF's balances the
over-aggressiveness possible with NT's, and must bring some semblance of peace
and harmony to Usenet.  Without the positive influence of the NF's, Usenet
would've been closed down long ago.  :^)  :^)   (I'm not biased, am I?)


So, there's what I have so far.  Now I turn it over to you NT's to analyze
and dissect it to your hearts content.  I look forward to the discussion.


Jon Noring


(p.s., maybe I've been a little too harsh on the NT's, but it sure felt
good.  Sometimes I feel like a lamb among the lions.  And I apologize for
the length of this post - I'm sure an NT would've fit it in 20 lines, but
I'm an NF and I like to talk in long, drawn-out, and obtuse ways.)


-- 

Charter Member of the INFJ Club.

Now, if you're just dying to know what INFJ stands for, be brave, e-mail me,
and I'll send you some information.  It WILL be worth the inquiry, I think.

=============================================================================
| Jon Noring          | noring@netcom.com        | I VOTED FOR PEROT IN '92 |
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| 1312 Carlton Place  | Phone : (510) 294-8153   | "The dogs bark, but the  |
| Livermore, CA 94550 | V-Mail: (510) 417-4101   |  caravan moves on."      |
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