Am I IEI-Fe or EIE?
Background: I feel like I'm pretty solidly Beta NF, but I've been having some doubts as of late as to whether I'm really IEI-Fe or an EIE. I am pretty rock solid on my enneagram typing, have been for the past several years, but I'm more fuzzy on the Jungian theories.
On to the questionnaire...
Tell me about yourself.
Well, this isn’t going to be an entirely naturalistic answer because I’d talk about a lot more personal detail in real life, but… alright. I’m a college student. I would describe myself as outwardly playful but ultimately a bit of a stick in the mud. I’m nerdy in a humanistic sort of way: less geek culture, more overanalyzing characters in sitcoms. I’m noticing that a lot of the upcoming questions will answer anything else I was planning on saying, so… onwards?
What do you study or do for a living? How did you come to do that? What do you like or dislike about it?
Personal, personal! I’m studying in the video production field, planning on becoming an editor. Long story short I liked photography since I was a kid, stumbled into editing AMVs for fun, went “sure why not” on an A/V class in high school, and the rest was history. Really, I love the work. Editing feels like a puzzle to me. It fascinates me that putting imagery and sound in certain special patterns can evoke deep emotions. I play with timing here, a little timing there, hmm, what if I put it in this order—and I can make people feel things. That’s really cool.
I also think that, in such a media saturated world, getting to influence some of what people see is very valuable. I enjoy being given a project and helping to make it the best it can be, I enjoy making people’s viewing experiences pleasant, I enjoy the work, I enjoy it all. Does it feel like labor? Yes, and that’s why I don’t feel like I’m betraying a hobby doing it. But it’s work I can sit in a room for 10-11 hours and do and not feel like hitting myself at the end of the day. That’s very good.
What are your values, and why?
Integrity is a big one for me. It incorporates a sense of responsibility, being trustworthy, believing in what you say, etc. As an umbrella term, it’s my biggest value.
I also value empathy. People confuse that with sympathy too much. Half the things that make me angry in the world are just caused by people refusing to understand each other. I don’t mean that in a hippie way. Sometimes you reach down and understand someone and what you understand is that they’re a piece of shit, but at least now you know the specifics of it.
What else do you do on a daily basis? What are your interests and hobbies? Why do you do them?
As I mentioned above, I’m a humanistic sort of nerd. I like character and dialog focused media, as well as talky RPGs and (especially) tabletop roleplaying like Dungeons and Dragons. Reading the temperature of the room and figuring out the right thing to say is a form of gameplay for me! I’m also into comic books. Thinkpieces are enjoyable too, they’re like intellectual junk food.
Other than that, I like photography as a hobby. Sometimes I just go on long walks alone with my camera. Very relaxing.
Describe your relations with family and friends. What do you like and dislike about them?
In terms of family, they’re really good overall. They’re supportive of what I want to do, they trust me, and they’re funny. Due to family fights and stresses, I have always felt a pressure to be the “golden child”, but I put a lot of that on myself. Maybe my problem is that they raised me to be rather risk-adverse, but if that’s all… I can’t be too mad.
Friends… I usually have one-on-one friendships. It took me until recently to really grasp how to maintain most long-term friendships, so that element of my life is, er, under construction. My best friend is awesome, no complaints I can think of.
What do you look for in friends? In romantic relationships?
The best people out there are people who are enthusiastic and find a lot of things genuinely fascinating. Nothing feels better than talking to someone that makes you feel like you’re interesting.
What conflicts have you encountered recently with other people? Why did they happen? Which kinds seem to happen on a regular basis?
I tend to be pretty easygoing in this aspect, but earlier in the year I had some conflict with a video production crew member. I’m pretty sure I bothered them because of my nervous tendencies and a bit of stubbornness on my part, and they bothered me by… how much they disliked me? It was a very one-sided enemy relationship.
I tend to be nit-picky, which can annoy some. I get really annoyed when people ignore me.
How would your friends describe you?
Actually got a somewhat accurate measure of this using a Johari window. One of my closest friends put down “witty, trustworthy, kind, clever, idealistic”, and I think that’s accurate for my positive public image. My friends also pick up on my neurotic tendencies, though.
What do people generally see as your strengths? What do you like about yourself?
See above. I really like… well, I like that I’m smart. That feels so arrogant but I like that I can say things that impress people and I know how to tackle intellectual problems. I also think I’m very warm-hearted in general, and I like that. I harbor good will towards most and I try to keep positive.
What are your weaknesses? What criticism do you often face from others? What do you dislike about yourself?
I’m a little vain, although that might be in my head because most people disagree with that self-assessment. I have no talent for mechanical thinking, which gets on others’ nerves as well as my own. I have to rigorously go step-by-step to have it all fit together in my head, and even then, I am very easily confused.
I have a tendency to berate myself every time I’m not good at something. It’s like I assume I have to be good at everything even if I never knew about it before. At the same time, I have a sense of learned helplessness about things I’ve decided I’m bad at, which is just as detrimental.
In what areas of life can you manage well on your own? In what areas of your life would you like help?
Academics I can manage on my own, 100%. Social life too. Life skills topics are a mixed bag, but that comes with the territory of being a young adult. I’m trying to overcome that hurdle as fast as I can.
What things do you find to be a chore? What things do you enjoy more than others?
Boring stuff like cleaning, filling out forms, etc. I like thinking about the traits of things; stereotypes, for instance, are a really interesting topic for me. Anything that engages that part of my brain makes me happy.
What goals, aspirations, or plans do you have for the future? How did you come to have them?
I want to be an editor, and I’m working on forming really solid friends now that I know how to. Maybe have a relationship in the future? Short term I’d like to go to a big party for the first time. I’m not sure how to answer the latter question. I came to have these goals because I wanted them.
If you had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life without working, what would you do with your time?
I would still work, but at a more languid pace where I focus on on pet projects. I’d get to push for things I want (for example, representation of certain minority groups in media) because I wouldn’t be concerned about paying the bills. I’d move to a fun neighborhood in the city and otherwise live a relaxing and fun life. Travel once or twice a year. Go on long walks. It’d be nice.
What traits do you find endearing that others might dislike? What traits are considered positive/neutral by others but tend to annoy you?
I get along well with people who are a bit attention-grabby and loud and obnoxious. At least they’re lively!
I don’t like the strong silent types. They deflate me.
What kinds of things do you do to manage and/or beautify your environment (your room, your house, etc.)? What do you think of daily chores?
I usually clean once a week, not daily. I keep my living space a little bit messy, I’d say, but a type of mess that can be cleaned up in 20 minutes per room easy. Generally it seems like I have to ask more questions than most people about how to maintain/take care of things, but if I know how to do it, it’s not so bad. I just take longer to learn.
Otherwise, I’m very much focused on aesthetics. My tidied up living space is visually appealing. I have a strong fashion sense and a very strong eye for color, and I can explain exactly why I think something does or does not look good. I can easily imagine my visual space and rearrange the bits and pieces compositionally.
How do you behave around strangers?
Polite, friendly. In some environments somewhat introverted, but I’m often the person who strikes up small talk. I smile a lot.
How do you react to conflict? What do you do if somebody insults or attacks you?
I seethe a little, sometimes panic slightly (“what if what they said was TRUE”) if I have reason to believe they aren’t entirely off the mark, and then I usually try to wave off the conflict as smoothly as possible. Depending on how much danger there is in contradicting the aggressor and how much I care, I will try to soothe their anger and present my case more gently.
What is one common misconception that people have? Explain why it is wrong.
That witch-hunting is good. Internet vigilantism is ugly hatred under a different name, just a bunch of vindictive people playing judge, jury, and executioner. No, you DON’T have the right to ruin someone’s life way out of proportion without due process.
What did you do last Friday?
Worked on a video set. Kinda sucked since off-camera sound broke but we did what we could. I got props for being one of the few newbie crew members to actually show up. Well dang, if all I have to do is show up, I have it made!
What is your biggest accomplishment?
Hm, something I worked on in high school got into a film festival, but I’m mostly proud about how I got my class on a field trip there. We lost our A/V teacher partway through the year and I personally took over all communications with the festival workers, my high school, etc. to make sure we got to see our work.
What is something you regret?
I’ve spent too much of my life inside a lonely comfort zone. First I read books, then I read things online. I still spend too much time online.
Who do you admire, and why?
Alex Hirsch, creator of Gravity Falls (a show I need to finish). He seems very similar to me in personality, and is also very successful. That gives me hope!
What's been on your mind? Has anything been worrying or concerning you? What problems have you encountered lately?
I’m going to need to find another job soon if I want to maintain the lifestyle I have. I’m getting good grades, but I also took relatively easy classes this semester so that could be deceptive. I still waste a lot of my time, I need to stop wasting time. I need to manage my time better. Everything is happening so fast. I need to have everything in order by the time college is over, or I’m screwed. I can’t fail. I have to get into my industry. I need to succeed. I have such an opportunity. I need to succeed.
What are your religious or spiritual beliefs and why do you hold them?
Atheist (I usually say “agnostic” because I’m afraid of negative reprisals). I wish I felt like something was out there, but I can’t.
What are your political beliefs, and why? To what extent do you care about politics?
Center-left. I have a somewhat utilitarian outlook on political issues and I believe somewhat left-wing policies support that. I’d say I follow politics more than most, but I still feel rather uninformed. There’s just so much out there.
Would you ever be interested in starting a business? Why or why not? What role would you play in it? What kind of business would it be?
Sure, yeah, a lot of editing work is freelance. Stay tuned for when I start working on my business minor...
What kind of work environment do you prefer? What do you look for in a job?
I really need the people to be nice. My least favorite job I’ve done involved a lot of angry customers and otherwise sitting at a desk alone. When another friendly employee was in the office it made my day go by so much faster.
What is or was your favorite school subject and why?
I always loved history. It’s great fun to think about how people used to live their lives. I am amazed every time when I think about how someone really experienced the world as a Roman, or as an Aztec, or the works. Time is so huge.
How do you approach responsibility? What do you tend to expect of others?
I have a strong sense of responsibility. I expect others to keep to their word and get done what they need to do. Being a responsible person is an easy way to get into my good graces. Irresponsibility puts you on my shit list.
Where did you go on your most recent vacation? What did you do there? How did you like it and why?
Los Angeles. Drumroll please… I was looking at colleges. We were only there for two days so I didn’t explore much. I liked walking around LA though, lots of mixed-use residential-commercial developments. Our hotel was in a heavily Hispanic area and I loved the wall murals.
What were you like as a kid? How have you changed since you were a child?
I was a serious, full-time loner as a kid. I always sat on the bench during recess and read science books. I was very sensitive as well. I still am kind of sensitive, but I keep it under wraps. I was really obsessed with animals back then. Not so much now.
What was your high school experience like?
It was a lot of things. I moved to a new city, I learned how to make friends, I spent most of my time being laughably self conscious, I made good academic/career choices. Perhaps with more distance I could crystallize it more.
Talk about a significant event from your life.
This was in high school. I was in a group chat with some “friends” of mine and they asked everyone to show up at someone’s house to brainstorm some music for a video they were working on. I show up, and they frown slightly and say “Oh… we weren’t expecting you to be here”.
I sat there for a bit in the corner while they talked amongst themselves. Only amongst themselves. After about 10-15 minutes of this, I benignly commented “I guess I’m not needed since we’re not focusing on the music. I’ve got homework”, got in my car, and drove home.
That was the first time I realized that I needed to get over my obsession with finding a friend group and focus on the few people who actually cared about me. Before then, I took rejection as a sign something was wrong with me. The relief that washed over on that car ride was amazing. Such a coming-of-age-movie moment!
Do you like kids? Why or why not?
Sure, yeah, they’re fun! I like hanging out with kids, although I feel a lot of pressure when I do so. I feel like I’m always having to perform for them to keep their interest up.
If you were to raise a child, what would be your main concerns, what measures would you take, and why?
I’m worried about my maturity level and suitability as a parent at this time. I’d have my parents on dial constantly to ask them for advice about every little thing, and I’d buy so many parenting books. I’d be terrified that I couldn’t make enough money to support my child or that I’d screw them up by being young and stupid. I know I’m not ready to be a parent, I don’t even like taking care of the family cat that much.
Ever feel stuck in a rut? If yes, describe the causes and your reaction to it.
Yes, so often! It usually happens when I’ve been spending too much time reading on the internet instead of either interacting with others or doing something productive and creative. I get down on myself and sluggish. Only cure is to do things I’m proud of. Exercise helps.
How do you see other people as a whole? What do you consider a prevalent social problem? Name one.
I think people are all trying to do what they think will make them happy. Most people have a sense of morality to where that happiness includes being kind to others or taking care of their family or what have you. Some don’t. I try to see the best in people, generally.
I really, truly hate the dogmatic “let’s find an enemy to go hunt” culture in society. Sure, if we can just dehumanize someone and hurl all our vitrol at them, it makes us superior! No. It makes you a nasty animal succumbing to your worst impulses. There are times where public shaming is the right move, but you have to be very careful that you are doing so in order to achieve a goal, and not just to make yourself feel vindicated.
What do you do if you're not getting what you want? What approach do you use?
That’s a rather vague question. I problem-solve? Every problem requires a different approach. My first response is typically to sit back and try to arrange all the pieces of the issue in my head, and figure out which vulnerabilities in the problem I can exploit. For example, person X refuses to give me clearance to do something. Hm… exploit, they probably just assume I’m going to abuse it. If I explain to them my intentions I can navigate through the exploit.
Are you comfortable taking leadership roles? In what areas? Why or why not?
Yeah. Didn’t used to be, but I get annoyed when other people are bad leaders so I step up to the plate. I’m good at getting things moving and delegating tasks. The big problem most of the time (at least in a non-corporate setting) is that people are afraid to step on each others toes so they spend all their time in the decision room. Nobody ends up happy that way. I delegate tasks to people so that they start doing things.
How often do you get angry? What kinds of things make you angry?
I feel like I answered this already in the conflict questions. I don’t get angry much.
What is the best thing that happened to you during the past week?
I told my parents I got As on all my midterms and they texted back that they were proud of me. It’s the little things.
What is the worst thing that happened to you during the past week?
Eh, it’s been a very good week… I got my flu shot? But the line was so short!
What is the purpose of life? What do you find personally meaningful in life?
I think that the purpose of life is to find a way to be happy. I feel like creating things, experiencing the world, and connecting to other people makes my life feel meaningful. It’s hard to nail down the specifics. You know it when you feel it.
What is the most interesting place you have been, and why?
A cold January night in the desert. I could see the whole Milky Way. Indescribable.
How do you dress or manage your appearance?
My fashion sense is smart-casual, with a focus on empathizing the waistline (lots of tucked in shirts, crop jackets, high skirts). I wear my hair down, mostly because for some reason I am a grown adult and can’t figure out how to do a ponytail. Thin eyeliner and a little foundation over discoloration on my face.
I really enjoy picking out clothes, actually. It’s like getting to make a visual statement about how you want to be perceived every day, with you as the canvas.
Do you like surprises?
Sometimes? Not that much.
Is there anything else important about you that we should know?
Think this about covers it.
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Originally Posted by Sol
Setting out tasks is actually kind of fun so I don't mind this role at all, plus it makes me feel a bit like an idol being worshipped if everyone looks to me. I'm pleasantly surprised, but not necessarily relieved, when someone else decides to take the bull by the horns first.
I guess it's just my nature? It's probably the Sx-lastness. I haven't seen any other Sx-last betas on this forum. Ah, such a lonely, sensible, and collected existence. 
But the creative function (Fe) can be emphasized. That's certainly not an EIE because they have base Fe. But there can also be a general consciousness or energization of Fe. That's the Dominant subtype. That's also not an EIE because the whole phenomenon is partly disconnected from the main type. You'll have to compare lots of people irl to figure it out.
I wasn't expecting such a unified response for IEI.
