Ok so my dad (who I love dearly)is retired and doesn't clean his apartment and it is starting to get really nasty.

Now being an P and and N I'm damn messy to but his place is getting out of hand. It is uncomfortable for me to visit.

How do I get him to clean his apartment when he just doesn't care?

I don't know what to say. I'm a total slob, and don't see any problem with a messy home, as long as there isn't food rotting on the sofa, and as long as there are no biting insects infesting the apartment. If you can't find a place to sit, you can probably ask if you can move something. Otherwise, maybe you can offer to hire a housekeeper occasionally, to maintain a minimal standard of neatness. Just to clarify, is the problem disorganization, or is there actual filth?

^^are good questions.

Tbh, I have trouble cleaning my house when my parents and stuff live there, too. I will keep college dorms clean-ish and stuff, so as not to upset my roommate, if he doesn't like clutter... but if I had my own apartment, I'm pretty sure I'd just pile to my heart's content. You're probably not gonna motivate him without a reason, and if he doesn't care and he's not sharing the apartment, there really isn't one. Note (to you buncha NFs) : "i'll stop coming to visit" and "it makes you seem [somehow]" don't count, hehe.

I really can't think of any reason to clean, unless the dust is so bad that it's affecting his breathing or health in some way. If I could, I'd do i myself... but I haven't found one yet, so I'm not sure what to tell ya.

Otherwise, maybe you can offer to hire a housekeeper occasionally, to maintain a minimal standard of neatness. Just to clarify, is the problem disorganization, or is there actual filth?

Its the later. I'm afraid he'll get kicked out of his apt. He doesn't care, he has plenty of cash to buy a house. So he is like, "WTF do I care?" he just reads his books all day long and plays with the animals.... I know ultimate life for the INTP.

I really can't think of any reason to clean, unless the dust is so bad that it's affecting his breathing or health in some way. If I could, I'd do i myself... but I haven't found one yet, so I'm not sure what to tell ya.

Yea thats it, there is no logical reason for him to clean so I guess he doesn't do it. I think I'll bring it up to him again and mention he may get thrown out. And that would be illogical because then he'd have to do more work by moving and finding a new place.

I may sprinkle that it is uncomfortable for me.

yeah.... that might work. I wouldn't want to deal with getting thrown out of my apartment and having to waste all that energy looking for a new place to live... er... unless he doesn't actually like the apartment that much to begin with.

yeah, though. Sitting around reading and playing with animals all day would be freaking awesome. Well... minus the reading. I'm probably the only INTP to ever say this, but reading is boring, and books make me fall asleep. Replace "reading" with "snuggling snail" or "lounging around with my computer," though, and then you've got yourself a winning lifestyle .

Saying that it's uncomfortable for you is a hit or miss thing, I think. It might work, but he might also turn around and say "well, feel free to clean it then, if you want." ...I guess it depends on whether or not you consider that a "win."

Posted By sbalbom on 03 Aug 2009 01:57 PMhe just reads his books all day long and plays with the animals.... I know ultimate life for the INTP.

omg!


Cryp, for shame! I know some other INTPs that don't like reading either, or like to but just never get around to it. I kinda remember that though, we probably need to revisit your dislike of reading in another thread. (ENFPf or INTPf?)

Anyway, a good motivation for an INTP to clean is if they think cleaning will help themselves be more productive. To get things done better, to have more efficiency! Unfortunately, he's probably already thought about exactly what kind of efficiency he needs.

But you can impress upon him how specific cleaner areas would help his productivity and efficiency. Makes it easier to find stuff, etc.

Cute hamster ftw!!

So is that INTPs? 'cause it reminds me of my dad.

Cryp, for shame! I know some other INTPs that don't like reading either, or like to but just never get around to it. I kinda remember that though, we probably need to revisit your dislike of reading in another thread. (ENFPf or INTPf?)

lol... sorry about that. I only just saw this part of your post now.

er... we could? I think I already know why that happens, though. From what I can tell, everyone who loves reading visualizes the scenes in their head while reading. They don't even necessarily read the words consciously, but the words themselves become pictures and videos which their minds see. Mine doesn't do that--not even a little bit. My brain sees the text, the ideas get picked out of it, and nothing else happens at all. Stories that are rich philosophically, or thematically, are absolutely wonderful (I thoroughly loved Brave New World, where even the detailed description in the first chapter served to describe the society and their ideals)... but ones that are rich in detail or description are the most hideously boring things in the world.


If you wanted to devote a thread to it, though, I'd prefer it be done here, lol. Most of the INTPs (or at least the ones I've talked to in IRC) know that about me, already, and any extra threads/posts that could be donated to this fledgling forum would help greatly. INTPf is flooded with new posts, more than I could even hope to read, at the moment.

We need to get you some good WWI and WWII books. Every INTP loves war books.

The simplest solution: Clean it yourself.

Seriously, I rarely bother cleaning my apartment - there's almost always something more interested to spend energy on.

I gave up