[Icewater]

Mounds of people have told me that I seem to have a naive view of the world. I personally think that I am not naive, but just act this way. I think the reason for this is partly because as an INFP, I have idealistic views of life that I like applying to real life, to try to make sense of it all. But this could be just my personality, as well..

But anyway. Have others told you that you seem naive? Have you got the impression at times that you act naive? If so, why do you think you act this way? Do you enjoy being thought of as such? Why/why not? Do you think you'd be able to change into acting naive or into not acting naive? If so, would it be easy to act this way? Or is being naive simply a part of your character that you think you could not erase?

Okay, I hope these questions make sense.. :crazy:

 

[hasenj]

Nah, they're the naive ones. I also get told this often.

Here's why they are the naive ones: they learned a set of rules for how to survive this world, and they take these rules as hard-facts, timeless truths that never change; now *that* is naive.

They can't grasp that the world has changed a lot since these rules were written.

One common rule (that annoys the crap out of me): you should become a doctor.

wtf? why should I? Millions of people lead happy lives without being doctors or any non sense like that.

 

[Ectoplasm]

I'm starting to wonder sometimes whether a person could or should be little else except naive. Sure it has its negative connotations but who can truly say they know what the world is; both the past and present? It's changing endlessly, even if its as minor as somebody changing the colour of their socks or wearing a different tie to work. The changes are everywhere, the effects and reprocussions spiralling out in every direction and causing all sorts of mischief. I don't think any human mind in the world could map or keep track of them all. As said on the previous post, the rules have already changed from since they've been written, maybe they've changed more than a million times even whilst they were being written. I think its most likely that a mind would only ever know very little about the world so it will always be naive in one respect or another.

So I desire and try and keep my mind open (my Fi tells me my mind is becoming closed as it gets older :sad so I all have more to learn and I'll will always learn with an open mind. If the mind of a student or a learner is naive and inexperienced, then it sounds better than a closed one which claims to know it all - but only being one which did know it all, until it closed itself off from new ways to learn and is now stuck in bygone ways.

 

[Icewater]

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Lad]

I acknowledge a lot of the things I say -sound- incredibly- naive, and I may be tooting my own horn, but the reality is that I truly believe in whatever I say and while people may not agree, they're usually entranced by my desire to do it anyways.

I do get the odd look sometimes, a face that says enough, but rather than bring myself down and create a safety net, I notice that the person I'm talking to will usually bend a bit on their firm stance and offer some advice on how to achieve my goal. This means I'll usually get a story, or something they once read before that pertains to it.

Deep down, I'm sure they think "good F'n luck", but they still have a little hope that I prove them wrong. There's nothing wrong with being naive and following your passion, those are the types of people that usually break the mold and have the potential to do something completely incredible. Too many people fall in line nowadays.

 

[Raichan]

So what is naive? What is reality in their eyes then? Longing to fill your life with personal, deep inspirations and committing to your ideals because your heart feels fulfilled by it; naive? Would it be naive to long for more peace even in the most seemingly darkest situations? Would it be naive to find inspiration from poetry and try to find similar emotions in real life? Would it be naive to find how your imagination can connect to some of your wants? Would it be naive to trust your guts as a way of trusting yourself; well who else are you going to trust? Would it be naive to know that although many material things, dreams, emotions can evolve over time; that emotional intelligence actually has a value in its growth?

I don't get it. Maybe I'm just tired of how people seem to look down on visionaries as if every invention never started with a strange thought or a dream!

 

[Raichan]

I acknowledge a lot of the things I say -sound- incredibly- naive, and I may be tooting my own horn, but the reality is that I truly believe in whatever I say and while people may not agree, they're usually entranced by my desire to do it anyways.

I do get the odd look sometimes, a face that says enough, but rather than bring myself down and create a safety net, I notice that the person I'm talking to will usually bend a bit on their firm stance and offer some advice on how to achieve my goal. This means I'll usually get a story, or something they once read before that pertains to it.

Deep down, I'm sure they think "good F'n luck", but they still have a little hope that I prove them wrong. There's nothing wrong with being naive and following your passion, those are the types of people that usually break the mold and have the potential to do something completely incredible. Too many people fall in line nowadays.

Ah Lad, I must say I'm eternally thankful for your presence and insights.

 

[Raichan]

I sometimes wonder whether it's a case of an INFP being naive or an INFP's heightened emotional self-awareness that some of the things that most people hold on to can evolve unexpectedly over time.

 

[PhotoBrew]

Most definitely have been told that some of my views are naive. And that is very natural, considering as an INFP personality, my views tend to be more grandiose than reality generally allows. But you can still dream right... and I still chase those dreams for better or for worse.

Do I enjoy being thought of as such?
Honestly, I don't think I really care if people think that of me. Better to be naive and shoot for the stars than to quit because someone told you it can't be done. (But yeah it probably bothers me a little bit if someone tells me that ... that whole F thing).

Do you think you'd be able to change into acting naive or into not acting naive?
Maybe throughout life if my ideals crash and burn too often. Let's just hope that doesn't happen though.

All in all, there is that constant struggle to take others criticisms in stride and continue on to pursue your dreams. People will always tell you "it can't be done" or "you need to be realistic" or "be happy with what you've got". But part of the fun is searching out that mystery we may never discover. Bumpy ride to get there.

 

[rowingineden]

Lots of people say/think I'm naive. I just find that hilarious, because it just goes to show how clueless people are. They really can't even comprehend the reality of me.

 

[refugee]

what's that smell? ah, it's stench of ignorance.

 

[Raichan]

Lots of people say/think I'm naive. I just find that hilarious, because it just goes to show how clueless people are. They really can't even comprehend the reality of me.

I can. In that little free, dark fantasy of mine :wink:

 

[niki]

always. many times.
what's helped me so much is some of these inspiring quotes from the seemingly 'naive, dreamer' (whatever) type of successful individuals:

“It is always the minorities that hold the key of progess; it is always through those who are unafraid to be different that advance comes to human society.” – Raymond B. Fosdick

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
- Steve Jobs

“Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.” – Robert F. Kennedy

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

 

[Raichan]

Better to be seen as naive and at some point, know what really matters in life rather than be seen as right but ignorance towards what is important and the bigger picture of things.

 

[Azura Nova]

I've actually never been called naive before (to my knowledge). I tend to be pretty skeptical, I can't really help it.

 

[Nasmoe]

My mom loves calling me naive. I think it's just that we tend to think differently and my perspective on life is more optimistic or ideal and hers is more of a cynical been there done that so it's alway gonna be like that perspective.

 

[Icewater]

Thanks everyone! Those responses gave me goose-bumps.. and the cool, powerful ones. Not the cold, freaked out ones..

 

[youll.never.know]

I have idealistic views(shocking I know) that I apply to my life, and often, because I stick to them so concretely even when it isnt the most obviously "practical" thing to do, people will tell me that I am being naive. However I disagree.

I think there is a big difference between being naive and being idealistic. Ideals are beliefsused in a way tohelp you process and deal with things in life based on knowledge you have gained, whereas naivety comes from a lack of knowledge and blind belief without much thought or experience. They may be similarly impractical, but they come from highly different places and serve different purposes.

I enjoy being called idealistic, as that is true and a huge part of who I am. But naive is not a word I would use to describe myself, nor a word that I would want others to use to describe me, as it doesnt fit me in reality.

 

[SubterraneanHomesickAlien]

I am much more cynical than naive. Time after time, I've placed trust in my fellow man, and then had all my hopes shattered (not just on personal levels, either... Bush being elected = facepalm of epic proportions). While I'm certainly a dreamer, I just don't see a connection between that and naivety.

 

[Windswept Sky]

People think I'm naive all the time. What they don't understand is that sometimes it is wiser to appear as if you don't know anything and are just going along with things, while actually thinking intensely to make a good decision. If you don't appear to be a threat to anybody, people are less likely to lash out at you! And if they do, I may have been considering that possibility the entire time... :wink:

Also, I look at the world with wonder. I'd rather be perceived as naive than be so jaded as to not enjoy as much of life as I can.

If people say I am naive because I don't want to dress like some brainless girl who's desperate for everyone to stare at their ass, well then I'll be as naive as I damn please :crazy:

I'm actually a very skeptical person, so calling me naive in terms of actual knowledge does not make any sense. I don't adopt beliefs without logically thinking them through and doing research (which is why, despite being raised that way, I probably won't ever be religious).