Alright, so I got curious this morning. Saw that “16 Personalities” thing floating around everywhere again. People swear by it for jobs, relationships, you name it. But I’m always kinda suspicious, you know? Thought, “Let’s actually put this famous test to the test myself.” Didn’t wanna just rant, wanted real stories. Here’s what I did, step by step.
The First Try – Me Time
Grabbed my coffee, closed the door. Took the test honestly. Tried real hard to answer like myself. Clicked through all those questions… took maybe 10 minutes? Bam! Got “INFP”. The “Mediator”. They described this dreamy, idealistic artist type. Started reading… “deep personal values,” “hates conflict,” “creative soul.” Half felt spot-on – yeah, I do get stubborn about stuff I believe in. But “quiet and shy”? Nope. Anyone who’s ever had coffee with me knows I can talk a wall down. That felt… weirdly off. Like squeezing me into one box.
Round Two – Same Me, Different Day?
Okay, maybe it was the coffee? Or my mood? Decided to try again a few days later. Different time of day, feeling way more practical – paying bills, fixing a leaky tap, totally in “get stuff done” mode. Answered way more focused on facts than feelings this time. Hit submit… “ISTJ”! The “Logistician”. Suddenly I’m all about order, duty, rules? Huh? Me? My desk looks like a paper bomb went off. They talked about reliability and tradition – solid things, sure, but not exactly my daily vibe. How’d I swing from Mediator to Logistician? The whiplash was real.
Bringing in the Squad
Alright, my own results look shaky. Time to pull in friends. Needed more data points. Got my buddy Jake – super organized engineer dude, makes lists for his lists. He took it. Result? “ENTP” – the “Debater”. Supposed to love arguing ideas non-stop? Jake avoids conflict like the plague at work! Then Sarah, my most outgoing, life-of-the-party friend? Got “ISFP” – the “Adventurer”, which kinda fits her creative side, but “introverted”? Sarah? She drains batteries talking! We laughed looking at each other’s results. The test said we should all “communicate differently” or whatever, but honestly, after 5 years of friendship? We just talk.
Spotting the Big Problems
After seeing my own flip-flop and the crew’s messy results, a few patterns jumped out:
- Moody Results: Change your mood, change your type? Shouldn’t your core personality be… stable? Mine felt like the weather.
- Labels Feel Limiting: That “INFP” description made me feel boxed in. Real people are messy. We can be quiet and loud, dreamy and practical. The letters don’t capture that mix.
- Misses Real Life: The test didn’t know Jake avoids arguments like death, or that Sarah literally walks up to strangers. Real interactions > online quiz scores.
- Oversimplifies Complexity: Human motivation? Deep fears? Past experiences? This test barely scratches the surface. It asks if you prefer plans or spontaneity like it explains your whole soul. Feels way too shallow.
Final Thoughts? Proceed with Caution
So, is it total BS? Not entirely. It might give a vague starting point, like “Hmm, maybe you lean a bit this way.” Fine for icebreakers. But trust it for big life decisions? Heck no. From what I saw firsthand – my own two clashing results, friends not fitting their types at all – it’s far too loose and inconsistent. Personality is way richer than four letters. Feels more like astrology dressed up as science sometimes. Useful for a laugh? Maybe. Useful for understanding complex people? Nah. Got my BS detector beeping real loud after this little experiment.
