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What are you teaching yourself at the moment? (self.INTP)

submitted ago by mingie

According to our "personality" we aren't ever really content with what we know, there's always the urge to explore everything and be proficient to some degree in all areas.

Anyone got any interesting topics they delve in on their own time? Also feel free to share the resources you're using, it would be much appreciated!

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[–]anagrammatron 8 points9 points ago

Yup, I'm always learning something. Not always to the completion, I ditch many things halway too, but I just can't stand just sort of vegetating through life not constantly expanding my horizons. Currently I'm learning Mandarin Chinese. And I'm just few years short of 40.

[–]harlanji 12 points13 points ago

Not always to the completion

Isn't that the truth... I think I abandon things as soon as the particular curiosity I had about it has been satisfied. There are always 5 more things on my plate that take over once that happens. Sometimes I wonder if I have ADHD, but it's never been a problem so I've never sought diagnosis ;)

Currently I'm learning Mandarin Chinese

Good challenge, I want to do this and have tried and failed to launch--typical complaint of not being able to distinguish tones. What resources are you using?

[–]anagrammatron 4 points5 points ago

I actually enrolled in local university course. I'm old enough to know that unless I have external pressure and schedule I tend to wander off, break the schedule, postpone things and generally grow more lax about things. To avoid that I decided to make it official so that I'd feel some sort of obligation to keep going. I can effectively teach myself things that take few weeks or monhts to master, but this project is much more serious so I need someone else to push me along too.

We're using New Practical Chinese Reader which is not exactly a fast paced textbook, but it seems to be a standard. There's a series of them, all with workbooks and audio.

[–]imadethistotellyou 5 points6 points ago

Well you know, it isn't only you INTPs who have this urge. ;) I'm an INTJ - here because I find this community a little more tasteful. I'm teaching myself kindness and empathy, two skills I find absolutely essential to a happy life.

[–]mingie[S] 2 points3 points ago

Ah yes I would agree with that. I dont know about you but by default I'm very logical and rational most of the time which comes off to other people as being cold and distant. I wouldn't say im a cold or distant person, I just am very aloof when people may be acting based on how they feel and I dont respond accordingly unless im being mindful of it.

Ive found that my relationships have alot more value when I'm able to let myself empathize with a person and try to understand what they are feeling as opposed to why they are feeling

[–]imadethistotellyou 0 points1 point ago

Yes, I've been called "cold" too many times to count. Little do most people seem realize you don't have to put on a show to be empathetic. When I can let go of the worry of other people's feelings, then I can let my own feelings flourish and connect with them. My personal problem is that I've recently come out of some years of emotional abuse and it takes time to "fix" the defenses I've put up. So, empathy and kindness remain my top goals until I can correct the kinks. I haven't met many INTPs in my day but of the ones I have met, many seem to have this same problem - very cold and distant as far as I can tell, and I'm even one who might understand it a little better!

[–]mingie[S] 2 points3 points ago

I feel its a matter of letting the never ending thought train take a back seat. if you can slow down the whirring of the mind other things start to come into focus. I feel that our mind is a tool, not our identity, and when the lines blur things can lead to unhappiness

[–]desktop_ninja 0 points1 point ago

I'm an INTJ - here because I find this community a little more tasteful.

if i may be a bit ironic for a second, i often find the INTJ community to be a bit too patronizing for my sake.

[–]imadethistotellyou 0 points1 point ago

What's the irony? :P A lot of INTJs online seem to have something to prove. I definitely get that feeling when I head over to r/INTJ. Here, it's a little better, but maybe only because it isn't as obvious. What really gets me is their use of language. Yes, okay, we're smart, I get it, can you please stop talking like a robot? "But we are robots." groan

[–]desktop_ninja 1 point2 points ago

haha, i just find irony in the fact that I'm criticizing a community of people for being too judgmental.

[–]ENFour 4 points5 points ago

I started learning to fix cars. After dealing with car dealerships and mechanics and living in ignorance, I started with changing tires and most recently installed my own struts (among other things), according to factory specs with the factory service manual. Weird, but I enjoy it tremendously... Thank you for this question. I learned something about myself, I didn't realize.

[–]Sforza 2 points3 points ago

I'm currently trying to get a decent understanding of Ruby and using RoR (Ruby on Rails), and learning how to code SQL databases properly for Java programs. I'm doing this because I'd like more career options as a programmer. It's a bit boring honestly but there are lots of free tutorials and resources floating around.

[–]scootey 1 point2 points ago

I'm trying to learn Rails at the moment too. It seems like the biggest obstacle for me would be the various conventions for everything that you're supposed to follow. Maybe it's an intp thing in a way...hard time getting used to a rigidly structured way of doing things? Regardless, I figure it'll be for my benefit in the end. Compare it to, say, some of the stuff i've written in PHP...where you can write code however you want and it will work even if it really shouldn't.

[–]dichotomie 2 points3 points ago

Longboarding and driving stick shift.

[–]hollywoodending 2 points3 points ago

I'm teaching myself how to...run. Or rather, I am taking up running (and miscellaneous fitness) as a hobby. I definitely feel out of my element as running doesn't really require any involved thought processes, but it's been an interesting experience coming at it from an INTP mindset.

[–]mingie[S] 0 points1 point ago

Hah I know what you mean, its a very physical activity and once you kinda find a "zen" place its just your physique in control and the mind takes a back seat. I find it to be very calming

[–]_beeks 2 points3 points ago

Sociological theory, how to better get along with other types (particular S' and J's, of course) and the interplay between my family--how exactly everyone works with each other (in part so I can laugh at some of the more subtle things).

[–]runtotheabyss 0 points1 point ago

I love sociological theory so much! Whose your favorite?

[–]_beeks 0 points1 point ago

Well I really like Marx's approach to capitalism (and everything really) but it's so emotionally based that I can't really hold it in as high of a regard as I'd like. His arguments are totally just "things are this way cause I said so. Look, history says so too!" I'm not a pure empiricist, but it doesn't feel solid enough a lot of times.

I haven't read much yet, unfortunately (I think I'm going to go into social psych rather than sociology--theory is the only thing that interests me and there's no jobs in that) but Durkheim is probably my favorite. Derrida and Foucalt and the Frankfurt School sociologists all seem fascinating but I don't know much about any of them, unfortunately. Deciphering academic texts is just too draining to be constantly pining over them, unfortunately.

[–]runtotheabyss 2 points3 points ago

I'm doing a study on my own of the writings by the Frankfurt School this semester, tied in with writing by C. Wright Mills and Max Weber and see how their theories can be combined. But it's mainly just to actually read the works of the theorists I liked the most in my Sociological Theory class. Durkheim I liked as well, I just wasn't as interested in some of the topics he studies though.

[–]_beeks 0 points1 point ago

Man that's awesome. Is it independent study?

[–]runtotheabyss 0 points1 point ago

I can't go back to school next semester because of financial aid bullshit so I'm doing it on my own time. It sucks I won't get credit for it, but I figure it'll be useful for grad school.

[–]_beeks 0 points1 point ago

Wow that's really incredible... Do you expect to get it published? How long do you think the final product will be?

[–]runtotheabyss 0 points1 point ago

I'm not planning on getting in published or at least I hadn't considered that until now. As for how long, that all really depends on how well I apply myself over my next semester of nothing to doingness. First I need to read the material I select and make sure I critically understand the theories in their own right. That is my main goal just to educate myself about these theories. But after that I'll have to analyze how I think the theories might fit together usefully, I haven't decided how I want to go about doing that (like maybe showing how it helps shed new light on some social movement etc), I'm just not there yet.

[–]_beeks 0 points1 point ago

Man, that's awesome. I wish I had drive like that. Good luck, and hey, if it turns out good, you should actually try to get published. Grad schools would love a great thought-out paper, but I think they'd like someone published even more!

[–]n2dasun 0 points1 point ago

I was teaching myself python, but I just finished taking some courses and decided to take a break and just play video games for a while. I have some coursework in project management and supply chain management to finish by spring, but that's just me trying to get my engineering management graduate degree over and done with so I can study psychology. Also, trying to start teaching myself spanish and/or hindustani, but I'm not ready to commit to that one yet.

[–]Jack-is 0 points1 point ago

The only thing I've been working on steadily is Gregg Shorthand.* I dabbled in C a bit but stopped after a while. I might revisit it again soon as I still have The C Programming Language on my computer.

*Now when the apocalypse comes and the grid fails I can be one of the last stenographers on earth. :P

[–]harlanji 1 point2 points ago

For the past couple months I've been learning software business/marking/management-like skills. I'm a developer who just moved to Silicon Valley and wants to be more of a leader. I am studying Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams and Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. I've finished Managing Software Debt and have The 48 Laws of Power and Quality is Free in the queue.

So-far the stuff is giving me some good insight, with Influence being the most directly applicable. In addition to describing persuasion techniques via anecdotes and a little "evolutionary" theory, each chapter has a "How to say no" section which is invaluable.

[–]crusader86 0 points1 point ago

Access shudders... I bought the Access Bible and I'm reading through it. Stupid job requirements.

[–]Let-them-eat-cake 0 points1 point ago

Today requires further reading (v14567.21) of "Being patient with idiots"

[–]brickabrack 0 points1 point ago

Presently familiarizing self with AudioMulch by remixing Yakety Sax.

[–]vinceredd 1 point2 points ago

I'm learning how to DJ electronic music and prepping to write a story that may become a novel if I can keep at it.

[–]ricemilk 1 point2 points ago

Going through approx 20 audiobooks on assorted topics currently. Not sure I'll actually want to complete them all. Some for sure. Damn you audible.com and your seductive ways!

[–]erez27 0 points1 point ago

You guys have just one thing? I can't focus on one for so long, I have to juggle several. Right now I'm learning Lazy for the guitar by Deep Purple, I'm learning about exercise (decided to build a bit of muscle. This is an outstanding article ), and I'm thinking of learning a new programming language, maybe haskell or some flavor of LISP.

[–]gorgewash 1 point2 points ago

I'm learning about automated trading systems.

[–]syle 1 point2 points ago

My latest thing has been hostage negotiation techniques (utterly fascinating ; too bad even the second-hand manuals are expensive). I'm also learning new computer languages and I've recently been making my own necklaces and jewelry (though sadly nothing with real silver/gold).

[–]MeINTP 0 points1 point ago

Awesome! Please tell me more.

[–]deuteros 1 point2 points ago

Right now I'm taking classes for a second bachelors degree in Computer Science.

I actually haven't been intensely interested in anything in particular for a while now. I was really interested in Eastern Orthodox theology a couple of years ago because I recently converted. Recently I've just been playing a lot of Xbox and reading a lot of random stuff online.

[–]establish_a_norm 0 points1 point ago

Teaching myself how to learn.

[–]Dev1l5Adv0cat3 0 points1 point ago

I'm teaching myself how to draw; it's weird, I tend to fall into an analytical poise. It's terrible for actually understanding how a shadows create the illusion of 3 dimensions and how things fit in perspective.

[–]runtotheabyss 0 points1 point ago

I'm taking the next semester off because of financial reasons. In the mean time I mean to expand upon my sociological theory course by actually reading the material of my favorite theorists and trying to write my thoughts on the matter (this is so it remains academic and I don't lose touch of analytical writing). Also I'm a music major so I have to learn some skills for my trumpet, but I also want to get back to playing guitar so I've compiled a small list of songs I'm interested in learning in my free time.

[–]TheDebaser 1 point2 points ago

I'm trying to develop perfect pitch. Essentially it's a talent that anyone can learn that let's you discern what every note in a musical piece is. Once it has been mastered, apparently listening to music will be a completely different experience.

[–]ignatius87 0 points1 point ago

This also really helps if you are at all interested in playing music, it's something I'm working on too.

[–]SOPA_NO 0 points1 point ago

I'm learning how to program in VB, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript right now.

[–]nk92hp 0 points1 point ago

I'm trying to learn some neurobiology before I take a class on it next semester in college. And i'm trying to learn Farsi online. Haha, i'm probably going to ditch both eventually though... always happens

[–]coolsmith3991 0 points1 point ago

Old but I don't care and I'm guessing you people probably don't as well since we are all supposed to be "Meh, rules". So here it is, Chemistry, classical guitar, biology, juggling, philosophy, logic, french etc. I don't do everything at once I go through intervals of learning two or three to keep things from getting monotonous.

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