if only they could stop treating every subject like a scientific case, they might actually succeed in fitting into society to some extent. as camus said, the world is absurd and doesn't align with rationality. what they're doing is like dissecting the laws of physics in a cartoon. yet, if you approach the world with the mindset of a child, embracing the absurdity and integrating it, you'll find joy. but every time you question the nonsense, you're pulled deeper into loneliness and depression.
an intj is often alone; even those who manage to blend in with society have a world inside their heads that includes only their own understanding, no one else. subjecting widely accepted societal principles and values to a rational filtering mechanism and mocking them isn't a common practice.
so, from the start, society positions them as "different," which inevitably leads to experiencing social interactions in ways that are unlike anyone else's. those who keep these thoughts to themselves feel the weight of social pressure, while those who boldly voice them are seen as cold or rebellious because they perceive themselves as being on a different plane from others.
if this opposition to the values that shape modern society isn't controlled, it can morph into an overwhelming ego, leading to the destructive depths of isolation. i'm not talking about the kind of loneliness where you can't grab a few beers with friends, that's easy, you can fit in for a while.
what i mean is not a lack of people around you, but the gap in understanding between you and them. it's the kind of isolation where you know you can't communicate what you feel, and you have to bottle up the topics that excite you so intensely because you know others will remain indifferent.
this is precisely why, in a tyranny where the abnormal is considered normal and the majority oppresses the minority, an intj's unmet need for the basic human desire of "being understood" drives them to despise society.
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intjs are a special breed of crazy people (speaking from personal experience here!). they're paranoid, constantly calculating 10 possible outcomes from any situation, and then 12 more possibilities branching off each of those 10.
i'm pretty sure bayes himself must have been an intj. they're perfectionists, but not just any kind of perfectionist; like a borderline obsessive perfectionist. and it's not about some theoretical principle that they latch onto to make sure a job is perfect; it's about creating a framework based on their own analysis of how a task can be done in the absolute best way.
for an intj, doing a job, "any job" accurately is a matter of honor. they can't stand people who complain, whine, or act like a task is too difficult. and they have a special kind of hatred for slackers or those who slow things down. even if those people are their superiors, intjs might throw in a snide comment or at least make their displeasure known.
this, of course, can lead to them being labeled as arrogant jerks and getting into all sorts of trouble. intjs are all about initiative, they make decisions themselves and execute them without needing to ask for input or advice. and while their decisions are 99% of the time the best ones, this trait can cause serious problems with their bosses.
i don't know if this applies universally, but it seems to me that they have their fingers in every pie. they feel like they constantly need to be involved in something. intjs are system builders, but they don't really expect to run those systems, because they're introverts and not great at communication. also, they suck at delegating, so they just end up doing everything themselves.
intjs don't enjoy crowds or explaining things to people; ideally, they'd like to communicate telepathically and would probably only hang out with those they can communicate with that way. i get the feeling most of them die young, but hey, in 40 years they've already worked and produced as much as someone who's lived 80. so, yeah, they're pretty fascinating characters.