ten traits of intimidating people

[low_delta]

This is one of those almost-clickbait "articles". As such, I hate to say it sounds like me, but it does. And I wouldn't have brought it up except it seems to have been a common subject lately. I was talking with my dad recently about how we find that a lot of people are afraid of us. I've known people who said that when the first met me, they had no idea what to make of me. It took them a while to "get" me. A cousin at our family reunion likes to talk about how intimidating she is (she was a schoolteacher). This time she had some stories about how some kids chose to trust her in spite of that. So after having these discussions, the article caught my eye.

On the other hand, some of these are like, sure, who doesn't feel that way?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The world we live in is full of people who judge us. They know nothing about us. Some do not even know our names, but they judge us all the same. We should not let the words or actions of these people bother us, We are who we are not who they think we are. Has anyone ever called you intimidating?

Sometimes intimidating people come off as rude or even ‘evil’ for the way they react to things. Those around them fail to see the kind person behind the tough exterior and it can cause issues from time to time. I have found that the most intimidating people are also the most caring when you get to know them.

The 10 most common traits I have noticed with ‘intimidating’ people are as follows:

1. Your word is good.
Honesty is something that you value big time. If you say you will do something you always follow through.
[Yes]

2. You are straightforward.
You always speak your mind and do not care who gets upset. Lying is never an option.
[Yes]

3. You are open minded.
You are open to new ideas and always willing to try new things. This allows you to achieve success through any opportunities that you are willing to take.
[Somewhat]

4. You create solutions.
You focus more on the solution than the problem. You don’t make excuses and you just get things done as you should.
[I'm very solution oriented. I'm the stereotypical guy who offers unsolicited solutions.]

5. You are strong-willed.
You are focused and will go to extra lengths to make something happen.
[Yes, but maybe I don't set my sights too high]

6. You do not like people who complain.
Complaining is something that makes you mad, you would rather work alone than with someone who spends the whole day complaining. You don’t have time for their shit and will not pick up their extra weight without letting them know where they can shove their complaints.
[Yes. Also, see # 4.]

7. You do not tolerate willful ignorance.
You are open minded, yes, but you will not entertain anyone who is judgmental. You will either walk away from them and their ignorance or lose your patience with them and let them have a piece of your mind.
[Yes]

8. You are wise.
You are always learning new things and new ways of thinking. You think things through and never waste time. You are wise beyond your years.
[I like to think so]

9. You do not like small talk.
To you, small talk can be a bit annoying. You do take the time to deal with it often and would rather be sitting alone. You only want to partake in conversations with meaning. If someone cannot have a real, deep and meaningful conversation with you then most likely they do not even converse with you at all.
[Yes!]

Comments

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

I'm not wise yet, but I do like this list and I think the other points are all pretty easily demonstrated for me in my jobs. And I've also been told that at work, I scare the shit out of people. So, there's that.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

And I've also been told that at work, I scare the shit out of people.

Scary, yet respected. I like to think I'm respected too.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

I did not find you intimidating when I met you. Mostly I thought if Cindy loved you, you must be a great guy (I was right) This kind of explains me in most ways, too. I also have a bridge partner who is mega-intimidating, but deep down a super guy. People tell me all the time I am amazing to put up with him. They are very wrong about that. He is difficult but a terrific person so people just don't bother to get to know others.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

A lot of this intimidatingness comes in environments where we don't get to know people well. Like in business. Or maybe at bridge.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Huh. I am not intimidating in the least... but most of these traits apply to me as well. Except... I don't generally give people a piece of my mind unless they ASK me to, or I am pushed to it. Like #7, I walk away. And #2, I try not to hurt people, so I keep my opinions to myself, unless asked.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I keep my opinions to myself

I've gotten more like that over the years.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it took me a LONG time to learn to do it too.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

I am purposely not responding to your last comment from your entry mid june (I think that is the entry) about the cactus with a trunk to keep the comment on the top of my comments list to remind me to look up the info. Just wanted you to know.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have noticed or cared that you didn't respond. :-)

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

*laughing* I don't notice that kind of stuff either, but I have been made aware that some people DO.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I am certainly not intimidating and whileI would like to be more strong/willed,I think most of it applies to me as well.

You are not intimidating...I showed this to Manolo and we just looked at each other. We both liked you right away and our thoughts were that you are a nice guy, droll sense of humour, straightforward...and hey, wine and single malts.
;)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

This probably applies more to a business environment. Though there are people in the personal environment that have found me... different.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Is there anything wrong with different?
:)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Of course not. But people don't know how to deal with it, because it's different.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

LOL
I suppose that's true for a lot of people...they can't see past or around "different". Their loss.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

I am exactly the opposite of this. My tolerance for someone who thinks and acts just like me is used up by living inside my own skin. The quickest way for me to run screaming is to be like me.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

LOL
I guess I wouldn't want to see a reflection of me in anybody else either though sharing some traits is not a bad thing.

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

agreed! Those people who want everyone to think and behave like they do just confuse me.

[promiseoftin.livejournal.com]

I guess this makes me intimidating, too? People HAVE called me that before, and I'm like, whuh? I'm just a dork. :)

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Apparently your dorkiness manifests itself in a certain way. ;-)

[smittenbyu]

I wonder if your physical features do that?

My friends have me checked on all that on the list (I'm not sure if I would check all of them) but laugh at the idea of me being intimidating because of my height, or lack thereof. lol... ah well.... sorry this was a trigger to an old joke midst my friends, when someone would not reciprocate something - usually in the dating scene, I'd go, "I must be mighty intimidating!" Gave my friends a good laugh, myself included!! :))

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Aside from being tall? ;-) I don't have a whole lot of facial expression. I don't laugh much, smile only a bit. I have a very dry sense of humor, so people often have to guess whether I'm joking. But I'm not a warm-appearing person. So combine that with always speaking my mind, and disliking small talk, and yes, people aren't sure how to deal with me.

Sometimes short people feel they have to compensate for their small size, and they can be overbearing.