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So I have been living with an SLI for the past few months and did so for several years awhile back, and quite possibly a much younger version of an SLI as well as roommates. The two, despite the large age difference, are very similar people. The are both quite for the most part, keep to themselves while around home. The younger one is a lot more emotive, he likes watching Adventure Time, laughing lots. Mostly he gets worked up only about his jobs, is he getting paid enough? are the benefits worth the hassles? and so on. The older one hardly, if ever in all the years I've known him, opens up about personal things unprompted. I have to read between the lines most of the time.
Me: how was work?
Him :fine
Me: fine? what does that mean?
Him: means work was good.
Me: so what did you do?
Him: Worked on a bathroom getting the tiling finished.
Me: did it go okay?
Him: yeeeaah.
Me: it sounds like it didn't.
Him: it went good.
Me: so why don't you seem happy about it?
Him: I am happy about it.
(clearly not happy about it)
SO I stop asking and move on to something else.
Pressing an SLI for answers I have found to be fruitless. You got to see how they are really thinking and feeling, then the trick here is to move on, without assuming to much.
Me: So it looks like you are hungry, I'm starving, you want to go out for dinner?
Him: Sure. No expression, no tonal change, just yes.
I know he will feel better soon….
When an SLI says yes, the mean yes. They are not going to elaborate to appease you, and if you want more in depth answers, you got to get them with tact, pressing for answers, then pulling away. This is def true of this older SLI here, and even more so of the younger one. Asking him: what do you think of …this, that, and the other thing? how did you feel about it? seems like you are sad? He often replies with condescending laughter and repeats back what I said to him as if he was surprised I asked and is buying more time: what do you mean what do I think about it?
It's all very one step forward, two steps back.
SLI are chill, like they don't make issues were they don't see issues. So like Matrix and Iris said, from what I have seen the best way to relate with and live with these guys and girls is to go about it in a Fi way, for instance respecting the relationship with them, not pressing for answers when they are getting irritated (they don't want or need emotional release in the same way an LSI needs it), and being chill at the right moments. Both the older and younger SLI's like to go to house parties, and as cliche as it sounds love to go to food parties. The older one honestly just sits in the back of the room with this shit eating grin on his face, not participating, but certainly not NOT involved in the festivities, you know?
If I go over to him and sit beside him and say: are you having fun?
Him: yes I am.
Me: but you are back here?
Him: so? I'm watching.
Me: okay, smiles and pats his back and walks back to the group. Or I sit there with him just to show him I'm his friend. After all these years I still do this, even though it does annoy me about him. BUT, people don't change in some regards. I've learned the SLI lessons. IF he says yes, then usually he means yes.
I relate to them because like me, they tend to roll with the punches in an IP fashion. But different at the same time? I would like to elaborate more on this point if interest is shown.
They are like quite house pets in a way, I'm sorry to say guys but you are.
I can see the confictor relationship going quite well in some ways simple because the SLI is so adept at keeping to themselves. Even in a working relationship I would wager that the EIE wouldn't mind SLI because the SLI gets stuff done. However, I caution to say the SLI gets stuff done, BUT preferably in their own way on their own schedule. They do not flourish under strict management's and will complain profusely if they are constantly being monitored. Which an EIE might tend to do, through no fault of their own, they just simply need verbal feedback. So maaaybe SLI's keeping to themselves is exactly the kind of thing that would confuse an EIE.