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BS: anal retentive
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Subject: anal retentive From: allanwill Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:34 PM We are having a discussion at work and my (American) boss just described Type B personalities as anal retentive. Of course, everybody laughs, but then I asked does anyone know what being "anally retentive" actually means. No-one could could give a proper definition. So, over to you lot. Allan |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Ringer Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:36 PM And what are "type B personalities"? |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: allanwill Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:41 PM Roger The opposite to Type A's. Allan |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: MMario Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:43 PM get hung up on details; usually pretty unyielding; follow the rules to the letter and not the spirit - at least that the type people that usually get referred to as "anal retentive" |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Little Hawk Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:49 PM When used as a descriptive term, anal retentive means "the character trait or traits typical of a person whom I think is an idiot or with whom I disagree or for whom I have quite low esteem...or all of the above". Either that or it's a more complicated way of saying "constipated". The accuser of anal retentiveness and the accusee of same frequently each see the other as being anal retentive while denying any such tendency in themselves, which further complicates an already complex issue... This has led, in some cases, to wars and protracted disputes. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: allanwill Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:53 PM Thanks, Little Hawk. I think you've hit the nail on the head with the word "constipated". Allan |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Little Hawk Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:57 PM You're welcome. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Les B Date: 22 Mar 02 - 01:01 PM I seem to remember hearing the explanation that an "anal retentive" is someone who literally will not have a bowel movement unless conditions are just right for their mental well-being. Thus leading to the idea that they're constipated and a bit tense and irritable. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: katlaughing Date: 22 Mar 02 - 01:56 PM I also equate it with perfectionism in some people I know. I think it borders on obsessive-compulsiveness about details and can, indeed, carry over to physical problems. BUT, I thought TYPE A people were more likely to fall in this category? Maybe I have them mixed up. Type A's are the ones who go, go, go, never rest, always have to be doing something and pushing the envelope, often easy to anger and to excess, if I remember rightly, so maybe that doesn't fit with the above and it IS Type B?:-) kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Amos Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:19 PM Its a Freudian classification systemn which divided people (quite erroneously) as "oral" or "anal". Anal fixations are concentrated on controlling outflow, obviously, and the retentive subdivision is, as mentioned, very reluctant to allow outflow -- extremely picky about details and even when something is perfect only sending it out into the world withthe greatest reluctance. I suppose there is an opposite obsession which is more diarrheoeic in nature -- outflow at any cost. I am not sure what an oral retentive would be -- perhaps not allowing things into their space readily, as contrasted with suckjing up everything in sight. But I don't remember my Freud that well -- been too many years to hang on to a marginally useful model! A |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Steve in Idaho Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:19 PM Well Geezzzzz - We could go into the beginning of Freud's theory of stage-age development and how the 2-4 year olds task to to learn to let go, and how Freud equated that to bowel movements (toilet training and such was a biggy for him), and a subsequent failure at adulthood to "let go" of things. So any of the above that says an "anal retentive" type is one who doesn't let go of anything is pretty close to the mark. In the USA it generally equates, or is a colloquializm, to exactly what my Brother Little Hawk says - they are assholes. It started in Germany/Austria - and through Carl Jung moved about Europe and then crossed the Atlantic to the good old USA - Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: SharonA Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:19 PM Characteristics of a Type A Personality (someone else's list of) Characteristics of "Type A" Personality How to Tell Who Has a Type A Personality Stress and the Type A Personality Type A/Type B comparison Take the Test: Are You a Type A or Type B ? |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Don Firth Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:30 PM Methinks the boss got it bass-ackwards. Here is a breakdown on Type A and Type B personalities. I also found the following:— Anal-Retentive Personality: If a child receives excessive pressure and punishment from parents during toilet training, he will experience anxiety over bowel movements and take pleasure in being able to withhold such functions. Individuals who fail to progress pass this stage are obsessively clean and orderly, and intolerant of those who aren't. They may also be very careful, stingy, withholding, obstinate, meticulous, conforming and passive-aggressive. This appears to be more characteristic of Type A than Type B. Type B tend to be pretty laid-back and are far less prone to heart attacks. (Hmm. Looks like I was stepping on Sharon's heels as I cruised through cyberspace.) Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: SharonA Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:30 PM More... emergency stress reduction techniques for both personality types, A & B Temple University's Type "T" Personality "B Relaxed" Stress & Personality Questionaire (turn off your sound unless you want to hear the "relaxing" music!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: SharonA Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:33 PM Don: ... or I on yours! *G* |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Steve in Idaho Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:38 PM I was a 21 - balanced it says - but who knows! Steve |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: allanwill Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:40 PM I just did the test - I am relatively balanced between Type A and Type B. I guess that's a good thing? Allan |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Don Firth Date: 22 Mar 02 - 02:47 PM I came out a 22. Jeez! We're all so well-adjusted! Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:20 PM 27........balanced......age is an asset. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:30 PM Excuse me, but I think "anal-retentive" is supposed to be spelled with a hyphen. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:34 PM Anal-retentive is what Spaw isn't. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Don Firth Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:37 PM If a person is anal-retentive, doesn't that mean that he's full of it? Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: SharonA Date: 22 Mar 02 - 03:41 PM 23 here (on the first test, not the questionaire with the music!). Questionaire has me at a 59. Both slightly to the "B" side of balanced. My theory is that it's our interest in music that keeps us all so well-adjusted! |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: sophocleese Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:14 PM I always figured it was a mistake to label Type A's Type A's. They should have called them Type B's, that way they'd all be striving to become Type A's and the world might be more balanced... |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:27 PM At the moment, I can tell you from first hand experience that Diverticulitis will make you anal retentive. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: gnu Date: 22 Mar 02 - 04:48 PM NEEDING a definition of anal retentive is anal retentive. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: wildlone Date: 22 Mar 02 - 05:03 PM 22. well adjusted.GREAT I will now go and pollish my axe collection. My beutiful shiny sharp axes with the light catching them just so *Ting*. Not that I have a thing about sharp shiny blades. dave well adjusted [if you want any "body" adjusting send for me] |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Little Hawk Date: 22 Mar 02 - 05:35 PM I come out at 21...right there in the moderate center. Looks like all that spiritual study is paying off... - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Mr Red Date: 22 Mar 02 - 05:37 PM call me a boring fart but... before I read the crap I will flush this one out a person can't let go of some cherised nonsense (ie crap). |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Hrothgar Date: 22 Mar 02 - 07:25 PM Do anal retentive people (with or without hyphen) give other people the shits? |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Ian Darby Date: 22 Mar 02 - 07:37 PM What about Nasal retentives? Lenny Bruce said you could tell a well adjusted person because they never looked in their hankie after blowing their nose.
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: dagenham doc Date: 22 Mar 02 - 07:59 PM I'm fucked....then again I'm that type. Doc.
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Lyrical Lady Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:14 PM Yeah ..What Spaw said! Are you and I the only two openly admitting to being anal-retentive on this thread Spaw? *BG* LL |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Bill D Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:14 PM did you ever have someone come to your house, and after awhile start to figet...and eventually offer to "do some straightening up" because they simply couldn't stand clutter beyone a bare minimum? I have. They can be perfectly nice people, just VERY hung up on 'proper' and 'clean' and 'orderly'. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Rick Fielding Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:33 PM Well it can also be a convenient self-deprecating put down, when you want to say how annoyed you were because some film got a bunch of details wrong. However if keeping your place neat and tidy is one of the criteria, I'm gonna have to stop labeling myself as A-R. I guess "simply irritating" will have to do. Heather just LOVES it when we're watching a 'period' film and I have to point out that some guitar in it was made two years 'after' the period. Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: catspaw49 Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:44 PM Damn LL, but I believe we are!!! Rick is a bit anal retentive here, but somehow it just ain't the same thing is it? Actually though, you and I aren't "anal" retentive, we're "Sigmoid" retentive! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: technission Date: 23 Mar 02 - 10:09 AM I would have posted sooner, but first I had to decide precisely where to file my copy within my carefully catalogued heirarchically organized archives. *BG* michael P.S. Open invitation for analysis: What does it mean that I really *want* to be perfectly organized and I *hate* not being able to find the phone number I jotted down yesterday, but I seem to keep a permanent layer of jumble and waiting-to-be-done things surrounding myself and my spaces ?? I think I am chaos-retentive. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 23 Mar 02 - 06:05 PM Is it a choice between being anal-retentive or being unable to avoid crapping all over the place? Would the term be anal-productive? If you're a passenger in may car I'd sooner you were anal-retentive for the duration of the ride.
So apparently you've got type A and type B - what about the rest of the alphabet? (I've just corrected a spelling mistake in thta last sentence - I had as "trype A" and "trype B". I suppose the Freudian-slip thing would be to believe that the fingers know what they are doing when they make a mistake like that.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River Date: 23 Mar 02 - 10:30 PM This F-in thread is one big load of crap! BDiBR |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: GUEST,Captain Swing Date: 24 Mar 02 - 03:15 PM I used to be anal retentive but now I couldn't give a shit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: JohnInKansas Date: 24 Mar 02 - 08:02 PM technission - Take it from an expert at AR - obsessive attention to detail and organization has nothing to do with NEAT. Most of the GREAT EXEMPLARS of AR (like myself he says modestly) were noted for their piles of "details" spread all around their workplaces. Piles from which they could instantly retrieve any detail needed. The NEAT desk, however, is the sure sign of a person with little capacity for handling detail. As such they must have everything in it's place, or they'd never be able to find anything. John |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Liz the Squeak Date: 25 Mar 02 - 03:53 AM I'm a screaming type A with a score of 33..... HELP!! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Paddy Plastique Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:13 AM In de Dublin demotic, we say 'tight up the arse' - sums it up pretty well... What the hell is 'Type B' ? Does it go all the way to Z |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Wolfgang Date: 25 Mar 02 - 05:48 AM Type A and type B personalities (e.g. in reaction to stress) were thought in one model to be predictors of risk for coronary disease (more risk for type A). The distinction was never well founded empirically and is used less in the last years (one reason: most studies were done in retrospect and what seemed to be a personality structure often found in patients with coronory disease was more likely an understandable reaction to a diagnosis with a potentially life threatening content). "Anal retentive" is not viewed in general as a useful category (except by followers of psychoanalysis). But it qualifies as a good insult with spurious scientific background. Useful for those types who want to impress someone with a nonexisting knowledge. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Dave the Gnome Date: 25 Mar 02 - 08:31 AM I'm with McG on this one - I would rather my neighbour retain their personal functions than otherwise...!
DtG |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: catspaw49 Date: 25 Mar 02 - 08:52 AM Damn Wolfie!!! I think you're anal retentive! ...... That's just spuriously speaking of course.............. Spaw (:<)) |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Homeless Date: 25 Mar 02 - 10:58 AM In regards to the hyphen, it's use depends on the word following the phrase in question. A multiword adjective will only have a hyphen if the noun it is decribing follows immediately after the adjective phrase. If any other word follows immediately or there are no more words, then there is no hyphen. For example, he is an anal-retentive person, but she is generally not anal retentive. However, she is sometimes an anal retentive, irritable fiend. Oh yeah, I'm an 18 - moderate type B. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Little Hawk Date: 25 Mar 02 - 11:37 AM "it qualifies as a good insult with spurious scientific background. Useful for those types who want to impress someone with a nonexisting knowledge." Right on!!! Bravo, Wolfgang! I've always been irritated by people who frequently use the expression "anal retentive", and you have summed up their state of mind perfectly. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: catspaw49 Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:23 PM Well Hawk, again just spuriously speaking, I think you're anal retentive too.............. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: CarolC Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:49 PM Nothing anal retentive about the Little Hawkster. He's a free spirit with an amazing mind for detail. That probably describes Rick F, as well. Probably part of what I like so much about the both of them. That plus a talent for some of the most amazingly subtle and elegant irony I've ever encountered. (Along with Jack the Sailor, Bardford, gnu, and flattop.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Dave Bryant Date: 26 Mar 02 - 04:41 AM Anal retentive is what you have to be when you're manning a support desk on your own and dying for a crap - but the bloody phone keeps ringing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: GUEST Date: 08 Apr 02 - 12:39 AM I don't understand, is this reflection upon YOU, your BOSS, or the music of MudCat?
Can the condition be cured?" |
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Subject: RE: BS: anal retentive From: Little Hawk Date: 08 Apr 02 - 05:22 PM Hey, Spaw...I'm glad I made your list! :-) Do you also consider William Shatner to be anal retentive? True anal retentiveness can be a serious threat to health! To combat it, drink LOTS of water daily, eat less cheese and meat and dry junk food, and more fresh vegetables and grains. Exercise! If all else fails, use simple enemas. A hand-held squeeze bottle with a wand can be inserted in the appropriate orifice, and warm water squirted therein. Wait five minutes and your problem will be solved! "You go to move...you got to move...you got to move, child...you gotta move...when the Lord says 'Get Ready!'...you gotta move..." - LH |