From Public vs. doomers dichotomy:

The answer, as several other posters have pointed out, is the lack of critical thinking among the population. This can be explained partly by our "educational system", but personality type, or to be more precise, temperament, also plays an important role. Take a look at the "Promethean" (NT) temperament and contrast this with the other three temperaments ("Dionysian" (SP), "Epimethean" (SJ), and "Apollonian" (NF)) which are described on the pages linked at the top and bottom of the NT page. You will see why the other temperaments are unwilling or unable to "get" Y2K. By the way, NTs make up only about 13% of the population, as I recall, and of course not all of them will really get it for one reason or another. However, the other types have very little likelihood of grasping such a complex, unobvious problem.

That would seem to be a stereotypical misapplication of psychological typology that the theorists (especially Myers and Keirsey) have warned against.

For instance, NTs are exactly those types that are likely to overlook or ignore concrete facts that mitigate the "complex, unobvious problem". As a group, SJ types are far, far more likely to take practical steps to prepare for Y2K problems than are NT types. Briggs & Myers own research (at the National Science Foundation, IIRC) indicated that, while NFs aren't as attracted to sciences as are NTs, they can be just as distinguished in technical fields if they are so attracted (perhaps due mostly to the combination of introversion and intuition), and they are often quicker to see relationships and connections that others tend to miss. And SPs would be the types most likely to find and make workarounds during times of computer malfunctions -- past, present, and future, Y2K-related or not.

Even so, such a brief sketch doesn't do justice to any given individual.

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), June 14, 1999

Answers

Lane, Don't say that near a McKinsey partner!! They positively worship Myers Briggs and the 2 dimensional map they make for their people.

CR

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), June 14, 1999.

Wow. What can I say. Nice call Lane. For better or worse....I know which category I fall into. Thanks for your observation. Sincerely yours, "A bored High School drop-out"

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 14, 1999.

>That would seem to be a stereotypical misapplication of psychological >typology that the theorists (especially Myers and Keirsey) >have warned against.

My comments are the result of my personal observation of people of the various temperaments.

>For instance, NTs are exactly those types that are likely to overlook or ignore concrete facts that mitigate the "complex, unobvious problem".

Such as what?

>As a group, SJ types are far, far more likely to take practical steps to prepare for Y2K problems than are NT types.

Not in my experience. SJs trust the authorities, who are telling them it's "no big deal".

>Briggs & Myers own research (at the National Science Foundation, IIRC) indicated that, while NFs aren't as attracted to sciences as are NTs, they can be just as distinguished in technical fields if they are so attracted (perhaps due mostly to the combination of introversion and intuition), and they are often quicker to see relationships and connections that others tend to miss.

Oh, they might see it all right, but they won't take action. They are overwhelmed by the beautiful sadness of it all.

>And SPs would be the types most likely to find and make workarounds during times of computer malfunctions -- past, present, and future, Y2K-related or not.

As soon as they happen, but not before. That's not much good for preparation, is it?

>Even so, such a brief sketch doesn't do justice to any given individual.

That's certainly true.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), June 14, 1999.

Chuck,

Funny you should mention that. I was at a McKinsey retreat (they flew us down to Florida) and I remember having a few hours of my time wasted on some Myers-Briggs typing.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), June 14, 1999.

Lane, I did the little survey and came up an 'NT'. Since I GI, I find your conclusions about NTs insulting. However, I did notice that my parents, who also GI, are SP and NF. Which of course make the other conclusion wrong. Just because people approach problems in different ways, you can't lump them all in a group and say the entire group DGI. IMHO.

-- DJ (reality@check.com), June 14, 1999.

Just because people approach problems in different ways, you can't lump them all in a group and say the entire group DGI.

That was my point. :-)

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), June 14, 1999.