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The problem of being misunderstood

814 views 8 replies 9 participants last post by  Kilgore Trout  
#1 · (Edited)
I am sorry if there are some typos, and grammatical mistakes (I hope not) It's hard to write this in another language than my native language.

tl;dr
(but please read it) - How do you convey thoughts to others when you must* that are constantly misunderstood in its deepest meaning? (I don't know if this question makes sense to you, I hope it will.).

*assignments, life in general

This is a problem I fight with constantly. I have only recently started to analyze this problem. It seems to be that the logical possibility is enough for me, I don't need a direct proof, or it to be the case in a situation where you don't know what is the case (only the logical possibility that it could be the case is enough - it's a proof for me.) <--this is the problem, I want to convey this proof to others. It's very hard to explain, it's like a thought with perception that does not care about empirical proof only the possibility in the absent of direct facts.

My thought see, therefore I accept.


To argue with someone is to argue in circles. I can't share my thoughts, because it's alien for them.

People combine things that ought to be separate, i.e. simplify it so much that it becomes false from my perspective (I can understand theirs). I never argue that that my way to see is the truth, only that the truth is not known and this perceptive is the other side of the coin.

It often ends with 'show me x or y or that it is the case that x or y ' which is impossible because the case or the fact does not necessarily exist, it's the logical possibility that 'x or y' could exist that exists logically and from that it could do so empirically (that which we don't know at this moment).

I don't know if I should just accept that this is the way I think and convey "knowledge" or If I can do something about it. We all want to be understood when we need to be.
 
#7 ·
I see what you did there...

Madman, you hit on an important point. Logic is strong in many different viewpoints, understanding how to convey perceptions, aka what is the relevant information for the subject, is something that can really only be done in the person's mind and preferably on their own time. They have to think about it on their own. All you can do is hope you make them think.
 
#3 ·
I have practiced my you're an insane mental patient look from other people giving it to me and then I say, "It's a theory". As though they should have realized that from the beginning, I figure if they're going to do that to me, I might as well beat them to it. Definitely not the way to make (or keep) friends. Most people just become irritated and end the conversation, but some people can understand that I wish to speak theoretically.
 
#4 ·
Metaphors, analogies, parables.

Some people don't want to understand or they are too stupid to understand. If you can't get your point across it may not be a problem on your end. You can only try so much, some people are just hopeless.
 
#5 ·
cat scans. They need empiral evidence otherwise they just can't know. Some people really don't have any Ti. But perhaps the one's that do can be convinced by demonstration.... idk.
 
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#6 ·
OP, I really get what you are saying. It's a problem I deal with all the time too. Is it possible to convince others to consider your point of view if you have no hard evidence? My experience shows that most people don't care to think. They want everything on a platter, sliced and diced... maybe even pre-chewed. What is saddest is that many of those same people will believe what someone says if they SAY they have proof. I think that is worse than those who won't even consider ideas without concrete supporting evidence.
Being INTP has many sucky aspects. But being able to think objectively, to wander the paths of possibilities and explore worlds of oblique concepts makes it all worthwhile!
 
#8 ·
Find yourself a good sparring partner, and stop discussing your complex theories with idiots that will never be able to think outside of the box.
 
#9 ·
Once you feared being misunderstood so you branded your points on the back of a dead horse. Then you resurrected that horse and it ate the brains of your daughter, your ex-wife, and the drunks at the bar. Then after years of anxiety and anger, you gradually stopped caring about what people thought and you actually listened instead. And the more you listened the less you cared about being seen as right or wrong. And now people pick up the phone when you call.