In a Parallel Universe
Beam Me Up Scottie
By KipParent on 03-28-2008
What's your parallel universe? Occasionally in talking with some of my Rational friends, I mention that if I'd had a choice I might have chosen a different temperament. They don't get this at all - who wouldn't choose to be a Rational if given the choice? Rationals are probably the least humble with regard to pride in personality type - after all we are the least prevalent at less than 10% of the population - we must be special... They honestly can't understand why I might chose to be a different temperament.
You see, I've become a golf fiend. I took up the game seriously about 4 years ago, and am on a quest to get my handicap into single digits. I've been stuck in the 10-12 range for the past year and a half. But, I've figured out my true "handicap" in lowering my golf handicap. It's my temperament.
Rationals are abstract. We are always thinking about systems, we focus on the big picture, we're looking at "what can be" as opposed to "what is". These are all great traits for a systems developer (which is my backgound), but actually get in the way of being a world-class athlete (or single digit handicap golfer).
Here's a short story I was told recently that got me thinking about this. A corporate CEO had the occasion to meet Tiger Woods. He described the meeting like this. "As a large company CEO, I have a very broad vision across my company. My focus is a mile wide, but about an inch deep. Tiger Woods has laser-like focus. It is an inch wide, but a mile deep." You can see this as he walks down the fairway. He is not thinking about his investments, or designing a golf course in Dubai. He's not even thinking about his previous shot, good or bad - he is focused only on his next shot.
Its no accident that many world-class athletes are Crafters (or their fellow STP Promoters). Their ability to focus "in the moment" is tremendous. As an ENTJ, I can carry that level of focus for brief periods of time, but I cannot keep my mind from wandering off. All it takes is that one slip in focus to hit a bad shot that cascades into a triple-bogie...
So, my alter-ego wants to be a Crafter like Tiger. If only I could find a transporter and conjure up an ion storm for Saturday mornings...
 |
 |
 |
 |
Posted by LisaFairhurst on Mar 29, 2008
But if you were a Crafter, how would you still be you? |
 |
|
Posted by sosayssunny on Mar 30, 2008
Yeah ... If you were a Crafter, what would you be able to bring of yourself to that life? What would it mean to have a different temperament? Or, would you just like to switch it on from time to time? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is similar to the question about convicting someone who is cured of their mental illness by medication -- Who is really on trial? Is this the same person, or has the medication (if properly maintained) transformed the individual into someone else? I'm not someone who easily sides with the insanity defense but the argument is intriguing. |
 |
|
Posted by andert on Mar 31, 2008
I am ofter envious of Artisans, but I would not want to give up my own personality. Sosayssunny, I think you ought to look at the purpose of conviction, which (1) prevents the person from committing more crimes (2) attempts to rehabilitate the criminal. The other use is deterrence, but I don't think that would apply in this case. It really does not matter if the medication has transformed the person into "someone else", because the potential for crime is still there. It is unfortunate that we have no way to predict whether somebody will return to crime. If that were ever possible, we would have to ask ourselves, seriously, whether we are using the justice system to prevent crime or to satisfy our need for revenge. |
 |
|
Posted by doctorgiggles99 on Mar 31, 2008
Kip, i agree totally. Our temperament forces us to practice and improve, but not to be in the moment fully. some of the people that i have idolized as a child were the people that could focus on a single task at hand and execute what they needed to do without the overdrawn analysis that i usually employ. Jordan, and brett favre are the first two that come to mind... I would not want to be in that parallel universe, though. I have success with team sports, and team events. Many others envied my abilities to accumulate assists, or make the killer block and protect the QB. More importantly to 'lead' the team, or the system. Golf is an individual sport which plays away from our strengths. I'll stay in this universe. |
| |
|
Posted by KipParent on Mar 31, 2008
Great addition to my thoughts, Dr. Giggles! A particular challenge of the Rational temperament seems to be this need to perpetually improve competence, and with that, almost immediate dissatisfaction of whatever level has been reached. For example, when I took up golf seriously about 4 years ago, my goal was to break 90. 85 was a stretch goal that, at the time, I felt sure would be heaven. Of course, now my goal is to consistently break 80, and I often feel unsatisfied if I shoot an 85. As Dr. Keirsey says, "Competence is the Achilles heel of the Rational" - even as it is hard won, it seems to be short-lived. I would like to have the StarTrek transporter (and the ion storm) just for Saturdays - that single digit handicap is tantalizingly close, yet so far... |
 |
 |
Posted by Faucethead on Apr 1, 2008
The Crafter universe certainly is a fun universe. I'll stay where I am, but as a law student, during final exams I wish I could transform into a Rational Architect. My INTP classmates have incredible powers of concentration. |
| |
|
Posted by KipParent on Apr 1, 2008
What kind of law are you studying? Are you the next Alan Shore? |
 |
|
Posted by mkb32 on Apr 2, 2008
As an ENFP, I would LOVE to avoid boredom in daily tasks, or "team" update meetings. Required prolonged focused on subjects or people that hold no interest for me requires a tremendous amount of energy on my part. Maybe tolerance for folks in denial or bayards is what I want more of, but in my altered universe I'd think I'd like to be Margaret Thatcher or Madeline Albright -ish. Then again, I might like to be Snoop Dog for a day. |
 |
 |
Posted by FPrince on Apr 2, 2008
Kip, I too have tried golfing and come to the realization that I will never be able to compete or join the ranks of elite golfers. My ability to focus on the game is fleeting; to focus on what it takes to make a great shot, almost impossible. I have moments of greatness, where it seems a pro has taken my place and the ball soars in the air straight down the fairway, or rolls straight into the cup from an impossible angle. Yet my very next shot I'll top the ball or miss the cup and roll straight off the green. (sigh!) I am perpetually caught up in how everything fits together--like a the aperture in a camera that's closed, then opens to a pin-piont, then opens wide to see the big picture then snaps to a pin-point again and closes. I try to hit the ball when looking through that pin-point. If I could choose an alternate temperament, I would choose Artisan-Performer or Promoter. I spent many years in the Performing Arts as a director, instructor and acting coach. My interest in acting only took me as far as a successful performance...usually opening night. After that I found it hard to focus on the script and be in the moment. I didn't need the applause or audience appreciation. I mentally moved on to the next script and the next play. |
| |
|
Posted by Faucethead on Apr 3, 2008
Kip Parent said: "What kind of law are you studying? Are you the next Alan Shore?" I started out studying business and transactional law, but now I am more focused on litigation, with a moderate emphasis on tech. disputes. You know, it's funny, though. A little while ago a classmate of mine said that I reminded her of "that guy from Boston Legal." |
| |
|
Posted by Badlands17 on Apr 3, 2008
If I had to change my Temperament, I would probably pick Artisan, but if given an opportunity I would very likely turn it down. Being Rational is part of who I am, even though it has its faults, but so does every temperament. As far as social reception goes, however, I think Rationals have it hardest when it comes to being accepted. Guardians have nearly half the population that is mostly like them; Artisans are probably the most easily accepted because of their love for life, and even Idealists are more accepted because they are more readily emotional. To some degree, I think this is almost fitting, because Rationals also desire social acceptance the least of the four temperaments, not to say we don't, just that it's not a big priority like it is for many other people. |
 |
|
Posted by bsaunders on May 1, 2008
Kip, I, too, love sports but lack the temperament of an athlete. An INFP, I just don't care about competition! And, as an introverted N, sensory input sometimes gets lost in the whirlwind of activity going on inside. |
| |
|
Posted by NimoStar on May 16, 2008
Well, i would like to be an idealist, like Ghandi, but the test said I was an INTJ -Mastermind- (predictable from the options I chosen, I knew the test would't give me idealist because of my scientific and skeptical approach to enerything, even ideals, even the ones I embrace myself, as improvement through understanding over "justice" -that is no more than "reward or punishment", without real advance or reflection-). So, I like to be a rational, I like the fact my mind works with facts and posibilities, but I also like to think of myself as an "Idealist", because I have idealistic goals, that even if I know they are impossible, I still would like to try to achieve (I sometimes feel a more "idealistic" personality would let me think they are more possible, being less pragmatic, and maybe I would like to be "green" -just for a limited period of time-). |
Oh, my. My favorite universe would be one in which you were judged, if at all, by how much imagination you showed and not by social superficials.In which the merciless and relentless teasing, bullying, and exclusion over minute details as perceived by those wanting an excuse (see "John Adams", the scenes where he's at the French court) are absent or unheard of, where Different is Good or at least passes as individuality, and where there were actually jobs that played to my strengths rather than demanding robotic obedience with a perky! upbeat! social facade. And where things meant what they were. Where not only were the rules well known, but made sense - and you got a pass on some of them according to your temperament. End rant - Vulcan or Stirling's Mars would do very nicely except for the "Confucianist claptrap".