User:Poppytat

what is a poppytat?

To outsiders, poppytats may appear to project an aura of “definiteness”, of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most poppytat start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise — and poppytat can have several — they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. poppytat know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don’t know.

poppytats are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: poppytat apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion “Does it work?” to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the poppytat from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.

poppytats are known as the “Systems Builders” of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an poppytat happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as poppytat can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be “slacking,” including superiors, will lose their respect — and will generally be made aware of this; poppytat have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.

In the broadest terms, what poppytats “do” tends to be what they “know”. Typical poppytat career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). poppytat can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.

Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the poppytat’s Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.

This happens in part because many poppytats do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, poppytats are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that poppytats really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete’, paralleling that of many Forward thinkers — only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the poppytat will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.

Probably the strongest poppytat assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to “work at” a relationship. Although as Thinkers they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an poppytat tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.

poppytats are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, poppytats are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; poppytats see what might be and say “Why not?!” Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors’ amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. poppytats enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems.

Thinking in this auxiliary role is a workhorse. Closure is the payoff for efforts expended. Evaluation begs diagnosis; product drives process. As they come to light, Thinking tends, protects, affirms and directs iNtuition’s offspring, fully equipping them for fulfilling and useful lives. A faithful pedagogue, Thinking argues not so much on its own behalf, but in defense of its charges. And through this process these impressionable ideas take on the likeness of their master.

Feeling has a modest inner room, two doors down from the Most Imminent iNtuition. It doesn’t get out much, but lends its influence on behalf of causes which are Good and Worthy and Humane. We may catch a glimpse of it in the unspoken attitude of good will, or the gracious smile or nod. Some question the existence of Feeling in this type, yet its unseen balance to Thinking is a cardinal dimension in the full measure of the poppytat’s soul.

Sensing serves with a good will, or not at all. As other inferior functions, it has only a rudimentary awareness of context, amount or degree. Thus poppytats sweat the details or, at times, omit them. “I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts” could well have been said by a poppytat on a mission. Sensing’s extraverted attitude is evident in this type’s bent to savor sensations rather than to merely categorize them. Indiscretions of indulgence are likely an expression of the unconscious vengeance of the inferior.

Famous poppytats:

Dan Aykroyd (The Blues Brothers) Susan B. Anthony Arthur Ashe, tennis champion Augustus Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus) Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice) William J. Bennett, “drug czar” William F. Buckley, Jr. Raymond Burr (Perry Mason, Ironsides) Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane) (Fletch) Phil Donahue Michael Dukakis, governor of Mass., 1988 U.S. Dem. pres. candidate Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster Hannibal, Carthaginian military leader Veronica Hamel (Hill Street Blues) Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) Orel Leonard Hershiser, IV Peter Jennings Charles Everett Koop Ivan Lendl C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) Joan Lunden Edwin Moses, U.S. olympian (hurdles) Martina Navratilova Charles Rangel, U. S. Representative, D-N.Y. Pernell Roberts (Bonanza) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California Josephine Tey (Elizabeth Mackintosh), mystery writer (Brat Farrar) Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defense General Colin Powell, US Secretary of State Lance Armstrong Richard Gere (Pretty Woman) Katie Couric

U.S. Presidents: Chester A. Arthur Calvin Coolidge Thomas Jefferson John F. Kennedy James K. Polk Woodrow Wilson

Fictional:

Cassius (Julius Caesar) Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein’s Middle Earth books) Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis Ensign Ro (Star Trek–the Next Generation) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet) George Smiley, John le Carre’s master spy Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)