Enneagram Type 4 Board Archive

Re: Different E-types reaction to the enneagram

Re: Different E-types reaction to the enneagram

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Posted by Ev on September 13, 1999 at 23:29:50:

In Reply to: Re: Different E-types reaction to the enneagram posted by Derf on September 13, 1999 at 22:39:03:

: I won't go through the predictable details of my story, but I've come to the conclusion that my chances of happening upon someone who's as taken by this stuff as I am are similar to, if not quite equal to, my chances of getting struck by a bolt of lightning while strolling down the beach on a hot summer day.

: Perhaps that conclusion is a bit premature, since I've never tried the "Gigi" approach, which is to give it a commercial pitch. I vaguely remember some implicit comparison to sex being part of the picture. Why not? If sex sells toothpaste, it can certainly sell the Enneagram.

: I don't know about you, Ev, but I learned long ago that there's a catch to this idea of getting people interested in things they aren't already interested in. It's not a matter of your personal presentation of the subject material (nice try, though, Gigi). I wouldn't encourage that viewpoint, because I think it's misleading. Let me suggest a simple maxim: what people are capable of being interested in at this point in their lives, they are already interested in. If they're not interested in something, then this is specifically BECAUSE they are not interested in that thing, and, as logic must have it, this fact will preclude any attempt on your part to get them interested in it. Period.

: Of course, there are many people who haven't heard of the Enneagram. So obviously, I am not referring to the Enneagram specifically when I state the maxim. What I'm referring to is an interest, in general, in the study of personalities. One's familiarity with this concept is not caused by one's having read a book, or seen a symbol, or listened to an academic argument. This is an interest that either arises spontaneously in a person, after his or her own nature, or does not.

: Anyway, the only way I can think of to get some interesting results in your quest to find a like mind is to attend an official congregation.

: That will be an interesting day, even if it doesn't impress me.

As usual, I'm in complete agreement with what you've said. I'd never thought about it in those terms, but what you say definitely has merit. I'm the only person I know who is truly interested in finding out what makes us tick. ( In person, I mean, present E-gram company excepted)

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: : I won't go through the predictable details of my story, but I've come to the conclusion that my chances of happening upon someone who's as taken by this stuff as I am are similar to, if not quite equal to, my chances of getting struck by a bolt of lightning while strolling down the beach on a hot summer day. : : Perhaps that conclusion is a bit premature, since I've never tried the "Gigi" approach, which is to give it a commercial pitch. I vaguely remember some implicit comparison to sex being part of the picture. Why not? If sex sells toothpaste, it can certainly sell the Enneagram. : : I don't know about you, Ev, but I learned long ago that there's a catch to this idea of getting people interested in things they aren't already interested in. It's not a matter of your personal presentation of the subject material (nice try, though, Gigi). I wouldn't encourage that viewpoint, because I think it's misleading. Let me suggest a simple maxim: what people are capable of being interested in at this point in their lives, they are already interested in. If they're not interested in something, then this is specifically BECAUSE they are not interested in that thing, and, as logic must have it, this fact will preclude any attempt on your part to get them interested in it. Period. : : Of course, there are many people who haven't heard of the Enneagram. So obviously, I am not referring to the Enneagram specifically when I state the maxim. What I'm referring to is an interest, in general, in the study of personalities. One's familiarity with this concept is not caused by one's having read a book, or seen a symbol, or listened to an academic argument. This is an interest that either arises spontaneously in a person, after his or her own nature, or does not. : : Anyway, the only way I can think of to get some interesting results in your quest to find a like mind is to attend an official congregation. : : That will be an interesting day, even if it doesn't impress me. : As usual, I'm in complete agreement with what you've said. I'd never thought about it in those terms, but what you say definitely has merit. I'm the only person I know who is truly interested in finding out what makes us tick. ( In person, I mean, present E-gram company excepted) : Ev

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