[HAL 9000]

I suppose it seems characteristic of an INTJ not to fear the unknown. The INTJ appears to deal more in the unknown than other people. When one resides in the realm of ideas and contingencies, and rationality what isn't known appears to be a challenge.

Yet at the same time I find it unsettling. Perhaps it is because I spend my time speculating what could happen that the realization there are variables I don't see brings about a sort of low-level paranoia. Some of that has to do with personal authenticity and the idea of compromising who I am for something else due to a life experience or expectation placed outside of me. I wouldn't call it self-doubt so much as a fear of contamination.

Anyone else experience this, or am I the odd man out?

[Oros Ull]

I know what you mean. We all have to do things we don’t like or weren’t expecting. As lame an answer as it is, sometimes you gust have to have faith that you are strong enough in character to overcome said contamination. Those unknown unknowns are a bitch like that.

[spect]

	Originally Posted by HAL 9000 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I suppose it seems characteristic of an INTJ not to fear the unknown. The INTJ appears to deal more in the unknown than other people. When one resides in the realm of ideas and contingencies, and rationality what isn't known appears to be a challenge.

when given a choice of actions, how does judging one thats shown to work and be efficient over others thats unknown and possibly prone to error... why does that mean 'fear' to you? thats rational thinking, right?

and intj's are not the only sub-type that makes decisions based on rational thought.

[HAL 9000]

	Originally Posted by spect To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	why does that mean 'fear' to you? thats rational thinking, right?

Perhaps I am being irrational then. The fear comes when one is blindsided openly by an unknown as I was and while the threat was empty, it awakened me to the fact there is so much I am unaware of.

	Originally Posted by spect To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	and intj's are not the only sub-type that makes decisions based on rational thought.

I can't see where I implied this, but I agree with you. I had merely wondered whether or not this is a characteristic other INTJ's share and figured this would be the best place to quell that bewilderment.

[davai]

It seems INTJs pride themselves on exploration of knowledge in any field, relying on thought and mental power to ascertain truth. On the flip side, it is exactly in this mental realm that I see many INTJs fearing to tread.

[HAL 9000]

	Originally Posted by davai To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	It seems INTJs pride themselves on exploration of knowledge in any field, relying on thought and mental power to ascertain truth. On the flip side, it is exactly in this mental realm that I see many INTJs fearing to tread.

An interesting paradox, isn't it? Perhaps it is this very sort of fear that keeps some of us going.

Then again, fear is the mind-killer.

[masterpeach]

	Originally Posted by spect To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	when given a choice of actions, how does judging one thats shown to work and be efficient over others thats unknown and possibly prone to error... why does that mean 'fear' to you? thats rational thinking, right?

Um, no, not necessarily. I'd say it's just a lack of curiosity or need to change (aka "laziness"). How can you know there aren't other ways even more efficient if you don't give the unknown a thought?

Being afraid of the unknown is normal to a certain extent, I think, because you cannot know what effect it will have. Not taking it into consideration at all is worse in my opinion.

[Seablue]

It depends if you're talking about intellectual/philosophical inquiries or about our life (relationships, money, etc). In the personal area, I do not like the unknown at all. In the intellectual area, I don't think I'm afraid of the unknown. Except when I'm afraid that I'll chew more than I can bite (start researching a subject, understand nothing, come up with a ridiculous conclusion).

[masterpeach]

Does mere thinking about the unknown make it known?

[HAL 9000]

	Originally Posted by masterpeach To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Does mere thinking about the unknown make it known?

With that I appeal to Donald Rumsfeld.

"[T]here are known knowns; there are things we know we know.

We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.

But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know."

[spect]

	Originally Posted by HAL 9000 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Perhaps I am being irrational then

by my standards you are being very reasonable and rational.

	Originally Posted by masterpeach To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Um, no, not necessarily. I'd say it's just a lack of curiosity or need to change (aka "laziness"). How can you know there aren't other ways even more efficient if you don't give the unknown a thought?

inference and intuition. one of the primary ways people learn is through trial-and-error, then not repeating mistakes, then tweaking a successful strategy to work in the situations it doesnt. i know thats only one of the ways and certainly not the only.one, but i dont think thats lack of curiosity, laziness, or fear. guess i might call that being reasonable in a way thats similar to copying each others behavior during infancy. starting out by watching what others do, trying it out, then keep trying with minor adjustments when they dont work as intended.