The more we get, the more we find.

[silveradept]

Spent a good chunk of time with the family eating, plotting, planning, and a little bit of shopping, too. Definitely a good time today.

UT's undergrad library losing the books, going commons-style. There will still be access for people who want to study, but apparently, the library's more of a social space now rather than a research space. Will definitely have to keep an eye on this and see if it works or not.

The Public Service Announcements Department has a request for all persons: Please, no matter how much it looks like they aren't enjoying themselves, please take good care of your introverts by letting them be or by including topics of interest in your conversation. (That particular article spawned an interview with its author recently. Both are worth reading.)

Yet another thing from the Slightly Strange Department - a deconstruction of the idea of magic that upholds the idea of magic, At least, if I'm reading it right, that's what it does. It sounds like a chaotic attack on the slightly more organized and neat magic of the neo-pagan movement, trying to show off why that kind of magic really doesn't work too well. Also a dig at chaos practitioners who end up losing their change powers and start settling down into a system, I think. Still, it's definitely a different idea about how one goes about changing the world and one's perceptions. I wonder if an aphorism that I had thought of before still holds true, namely that "All magicians eventually slide into chaos". It's up to you to decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Some strange meme crosses my journal, a quick sort of enneagram test, two which I scored the number two.

The Helper
you chose CX - your Enneagram type is TWO.

"I must help others"

Helpers are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me:

• Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.


• Share fun times with me.


• Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.


• Let me know that I am important and special to you.


• Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships :

• Reassure me that I am interesting to you.


• Reassure me often that you love me.


• Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Two :

• being able to relate easily to people and to make friends


• knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better


• being generous, caring, and warm


• being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings


• being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Two:

• not being able to say no


• having low self-esteem


• feeling drained from overdoing for others


• not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish


• criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should


• being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tune in to them


• working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings

Twos as Children Often:

• are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism


• try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding


• are outwardly compliant


• are popular or try to be popular with other children


• act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention


• are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Twos), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Twos)

Twos as Parents:

• are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)


• are often playful with their children


• wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"


• can become fiercely protective

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele: The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People. Harper San Francisco, 1994, 161 pages

You scored higher than 0% on ABC
You scored higher than 31% on XYZ
The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk

And that's the things that stuck around enough in my brain to actually be put down on paper. Tomorrow will try to be interesting as it runs me all over the map. Might actually have to get up for this one to get everywhere I need to go.

Comments

[nsdragon.livejournal.com]

I'm so printing that article on introverts out and passing it around.

[silveradept]

It's apparently a popular one - the most popular one on that server as well. It does seem to capture the essence of introversion. I'm more shy than introverted at first, but once I get over being shy, I tend to be an introvert anyway. It's another reason why I tend to bring things with me to social gatherings, just in case things get boring. More often than not, armed with something like that, I can do well.

[uncle-pervy.livejournal.com]

The Observer

Test finished!

you chose BZ - your Enneagram type is FIVE.

"I need to understand the world"

Observers have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

* Be independent, not clingy.
* Speak in a straightforward and brief manner.
* I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts.
* Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable.
* Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity.
* If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place.
* don't come on like a bulldozer.
* Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy.

What I Like About Being a Five

* standing back and viewing life objectively
* coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
* my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
* not being caught up in material possessions and status
* being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Five

* being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world
* feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all
* being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be
* watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Fives as Children Often

* spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on
* have a few special friends rather than many
* are very bright and curious and do well in school
* have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers
* watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information
* assume a poker face in order not to look afraid
* are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict
* feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Fives as Parents

* are often kind, perceptive, and devoted
* are sometimes authoritarian and demanding
* may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate
* may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

What the hey...seems to work for me just fine.

[silveradept]

Yaknow, if we go by just our enneagrams, as friends we're probably nastily incompatible, as I'm all gushy and you're all stoic and stuff. Just proves again that there's always context to explain things.

[greenhornline.livejournal.com]

I'm a nine which is eeirly pretty accurate.

"I am at peace"


Peacemakers are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union
with others and the world around them.


How to Get Along with Me



* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially
don't like expectations or pressure.

* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this.

* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit.

* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge
me gently and nonjudgmentally.

* Ask me questions to help me get clear.

* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery.

* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings.

* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation.

* Let me know you like what I've done or said.

* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life.


What I Like About Being a Nine


* being nonjudgmental and accepting

* caring for and being concerned about others

* being able to relax and have a good time

* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around

* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good
mediator and facilitator

* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and
now

* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe


What's Hard About Being a Nine


* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive

* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline

* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch
of the mouth personally

* being confused about what I really want

* caring too much about what others will think of me

* not being listened to or taken seriously


Nines as Children Often


* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant

* tune out a lot, especially when others argue

* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves


Nines as Parents


* are supportive, kind, and warm

* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Creepy is it not?

[sharpsight.livejournal.com]

N) Very accurate introversion article(s), particularly the part about small talk requiring concious effort. *nods!*

[silveradept]

The more I think about it now, the more I realize that there's probably a good deal of introverts in my social circle. It does mean there's very little "small talk" but the conversations that do happen are fantastic.

[sharpsight.livejournal.com]

N) (Now, if only one knew such people in the physical world, instead of being surrounded by idiots. *plots to get into MIT one day*)

[silveradept]

Oh, they're there. You may just have to make a conscious effort to notice them - introverts tend to be good at hiding in plain sight.

[sharpsight.livejournal.com]

N) Hmm. Interesting.

[2dlife.livejournal.com]

I'm either a seven or a two.

[silveradept]

Yay for indeterminate status?