These are the results that I got from the Myeras-Briggs (Kiersely) thread;

GI Rational (NT) 7 Idealist (NF) 5 Guardian (SJ) 1 Artisan (SP) 1

DGI

Rational (NT) 0 Idealist (NF) 0 Guardian (SJ) 1 Artisan (SP) 0

So what does this mean, you ask? Well, on that thread I predicted that most of the people here would be Rationals, the DGI's guardians. Although not enough DGI's responded, the results tend to uphold my theory.

In the general population, Guardians comprise about 70% of the population, the Artisans 15%, and the Rationals/Idealists the last 15%. As you can see, this forum is skewed more towards the Rationals/Idealists then the Guardian/Artisans, where, in real life :), Guardians/Artisans are predominant.

Now, how this all relates to Y2K; Temperment is a good indicator of core values. There should be a direct correlation between core values and how you view Y2K. I've arranged core values in the order of relevance to the issues of Y2K. I'm quoting directly from Please Understand Me vol. 2 by David Keirsey. I've excluded his analysis of Artisans and Idealists.

Values on athority:

Guardians; "Guardians trust authority. They believe in a hierachical structure of authority- rule from the top down.They believe there should be subordination and superordination, that the actions of members of the communities, schools, churches, and corperations, but also of families, should be governed by those in the highest position. Moreover, SJs have an abiding trust in the heads of church and state, and popes and pontiffs, presidents and prime ministers, and royalty of all types seem to capture their trust and their loyalty."

Rationals; "Rationals want to govern themselves, and also think for themselves. From an early age Rationals will not accept anyone else's ideas without first scrutinizing them for error. It doesn't matter whether the person is a widely accepted authority or not; the fact that a so-called "expert" proclaims something leaves the Rationals indifferent. Title, reputation, and credentials do not matter. Ideas must stad on their own merits, and NTs simply do not trust anyone else to have done the necessary research and applied the rules of logic adequately.

"The only thing Rationals trust unconditionaly is reason."

On Looking-Ahead;

Guardians:

"Pessimistic in Looking Ahead "Because so many of their efforts are holding actions, trying to maintain the status quo in fast-paced, ever-changing situations, Guardians have learned to expect the worst. Above all else, Guardians are prepared, and even though many of their preparations are for things to go wrong, we must not conclude that they are gloomily forecasting calamity and disater. Rather, we must see them as being realistic about setbacks and shortages."

Rationals;

"Skeptical in Looking Ahead "In their anticipation of things to come Artisans are optimistic, expecting to get the breaks, Guardians are pessimistic, expecting pitfalls, and Idealists are credulous, expecting the best of people. Rationals are strikingly different in their anticipations: they are skeptical, and thus expect all human endeavors, even their own, to be shot through with error. To an NT, nothing can be assumed to be correct; all is uncertain and vulnerable to mistakes."

This might explain both the tendency in this forum to believe the worst of programming endeavors as well as the tendancy to doubt conclusions. Rationals are constantly re-evaluating the worth of their conclusions in the light of new evidence. They know even their own thought processes are rife with errors.

Now on to the charts;

Interests;

Rationals; Sciences Technology Systems

Guardians; Commerce Morality Material

Values; Rationals; Being| Calm Trusting| Reason Yearning| Achievement Seeking| Knowledge Pricing| Deference

Guardians; Being| Concerned Trusting| Authority Yearning| Belonging Seeking| Security Prizing| Gratitude

Self-Image

Rationals; Self-Esteem| Ingenious Self-Respect| Autonomous Self-Confidence| Resolute

Guardians; Self-Esteem| Dependable Self-Respect| Beneficent Self-Confidence| Respectable

Aspirations

Guardians; "Many a Guardian's loftiest aspiration is to become a distinguished head of an important and well-regarded institution."

Rationals; "Because Rationals value the strategic intellect so highly, they tend to take as their idol the technological wizard, especially the scientific genius."

As for the DGI who said, "I did this thing a few years ago at a Stop-At-Nothing seminar. They tagged me an ESTJ. OK, so I'm a Polly that's an ESTJ. If I remember correctly, that means I have to deal in facts and see the hard evidence before I come to a conclusion. Sound right?? Might explain why I feel the way I do about Y2K. "

You are correct to a degree.

"ESTJs believe the table of particulars and the manual of standard operating procedures are what count, not speculation and experimentation."

Also,

"Membership groups of all kinds strongly attract ESTJs, perhaps because membership satisfies in some degree their need to maintain the stability of social institutions."

However,

"ESTJ's are comfortable issuing orders. At the same time they may not always be responsive to points of view of others and have a tendency to jump to conclusions too quickly. They may not always be willing to listen patiently to opposing views."

Apparently ESTJs like most Guardians base their views on current norms, whereas Rationals pick apart anything they don't preceive as logical, regardless of which athority espouces it, or what book contains it. If you want people who consistantly deal in facts rather than norms or "expert" opinions, look no further than the Rationals.

-- Alison Tieman (fearzone@home.com), March 17, 1999

Answers

Alison, you might be interested in a brief bio on the Polly, Deano.. He's a little league coach, a genuinely optimistic guy, doesn't take sh*t off anybody, and honestly can't understand all the doom on this forum. A very principled, big-hearted guy.

He & I are the only guardians in the poll, which is strange:

Guardians:

"Pessimistic in Looking Ahead "Because so many of their efforts are holding actions, trying to maintain the status quo in fast-paced, ever-changing situations, Guardians have learned to expect the worst. Above all else, Guardians are prepared, and even though many of their preparations are for things to go wrong, we must not conclude that they are gloomily forecasting calamity and disater. Rather, we must see them as being realistic about setbacks and shortages."

That totally defines me. Doesn't seem much like Deano, though... I dunno, what do you think, Deano?

-- Lisa (lisa@work.now_but_not_for_long), March 17, 1999.

Survey error: plus or minus 100%

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), March 17, 1999.

What are you, flint? :)

I don't think people on the forum are going to lie about their temperment type, and the truth is, most of the GIs who responded were Rationals. You can debate the characteristics of Rationals(NTs) and Guardians (STs) with Isabell Myers or David Keirsey.

Rationals are, in a word, "Brain". Guardians are, in a word, "Home". That doesn't make either one right or wrong, but it does cast some light on the interactions between the two on this forum.

-- Alison Tieman (fearzone@home.com), March 17, 1999.