Someone tweeted about Typealyzer the other day – a website that is supposed to be able to decipher your Myers-Briggs personality type by the writing on your blog. You can’t really ever trust what these types of sites really claim to be able to do, but I thought I’d give it a try. I know that I am an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs scale, and so I wanted to see how close it would get. First, I tried this site, Pomomusings. And it gave me an ESTP. This was the description:
The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.
And then I thought I’d run Dazed Dad through the Typealyzer. And it gave me an ISFJ – almost the exact opposite of the ESTP, and a lot closer to INFJ, which is what I have been told I am. This is the description for an ISFJ according to the site:
The quiet, devoted and sympathetic type. They are especially attuned to the present moment, the details of the task at hand and the people involved. They are not big-picture people and tend to be suspicious of future possibilities. They tend to trust history MUCH more than the future. The Nurturers enjoy safe and harmonic work places with few surprises and clear goals. Because they are so nice and generous people they have to look out not to be taken advantage of. It might be important for them to learn to speak up for themselves.
All of this makes me think about my writing on both sites, and which is perhaps truer to my actual voice, to who I actually am. I won’t read too much into this, because who knows how accurate the site really is. But I have had many people tell me that the writing on Dazed Dad is obviously much different, much better, and much more revealing than what I have written about on Pomomusings. The goals of the sites are obviously different – but I think that I must just be letting much more of my actual voice come through on the Dazed Dad posts, than my writing here. And maybe that’s okay.
I have also had a few friends throughout the years tell me that I’m a very different person on Pomomusings than I am in person. Perhaps that’s because the author of Pomomusings likes to rile people up, rock the boat and push people…and I don’t really come across that way in person, face-to-face.
Anyway – have some fun with Typealyzer today – check it out. Does it match up with your Myers-Briggs classification?
Very interesting. I don’t put much weight in the Myers-Briggs… but I do find it this concept of computer intelligence intriguing.
I like this site, as one who always found it easier to express through writing. MBTI is a great tool if it’s understood (every letter is on a spectrum and thus not easily boxed in) and I think this would help people who write a lot see if there are masks that they wear. Or if the less dominant side of them is more easily expressed in writing. cool stuff.
Mine was only one off. I test as an INTP but my writing was analyzed as INTJ.
I’ve heard that us INFJ’s are the rarest personality type … it would be interesting to get a view of what our type’s chosen professions are.
BTW, the Typealyzer said my blog categorizes me as an INTP. I can see why it would think that.
Melissa – I didn’t know that. I do know that there are a lot of INFJs who are pastors…all of the personality stuff is very interesting.
I think I’ve seen us identified as “The Counselor,” which does work perfectly for pastors. I remember when I discovered the MBTI, I was amazed at the accuracy and insight. It definitely helped me to understand myself better.
It got me perfectly, an INFP, just as I test! I’m not sure if I think that is great or a little scary. Very interesting, though… Thanks for sharing!
I got INFP, but I am really INFJ (though rarest, INFJs are the only top 5 introverted type among clergy.) I figure maybe i am just less snarky on my blog than in real life, so P instead of J! :)
This is a great tool! Each one of my websites has different purposes, but the one where I write because I like to share my life and my stories is pretty much exactly who I am according to the tool. The last time I took one of these tests for real was 20 years ago. I don’t have any idea what I supposedly am, but the Typalizer tool said I was ESFP. Sounds good to me.
“They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation – qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.”
I recently got tapped to head up a whole department. I keep telling them I am not the man for the job. I guess this test proves me right.