So last night I got on Grok 3, for the first time, and decided to take the AI on a dive into the world of Irregular Ideation.  I figured it would do a much better job summarizing and finding patterns.  To that end it did not disappoint.  While I suspect that it only took a sample of my writing, given repeat use of certain blogs as examples, the picture that it painted was fascinating.

To gather some new insights, I asked Grok about a few hot topics, the quarrel over the IQ of Rory Stewart, to define “deep state,” about DOGE, if Israel could be trusted, and if NATO was out to destroy Russia.  As the AI itself admits, it has no agency, it is more of a tool or mirror than a true independent intelligence.  But it still was able to distill complex topics giving all sides with great ease.  

More interesting, from a standpoint of self-interest, I asked this robot mind to assess my personality type, here’s snippet:

INTPs are known as independent thinkers who question norms, seek understanding, and enjoy exploring ideas for their own sake—traits Joel mirrors in his eclectic, unpolished blog. His faith and emotional depth (e.g., “confidence”) soften the stereotype of the detached INTP, but his analytical core holds.

Alternative Possibilities

INFJ (“The Advocate”): If his faith and empathy were more dominant, INFJ could fit—introverted, intuitive, and idealistic. But his logic-driven tone outweighs this.

INTJ (“The Architect”): His structured beliefs (e.g., Orthodoxy) might suggest INTJ, but his lack of planning and openness to unresolved questions favor INTP.

Conclusion

Joel’s personality type is likely INTP. He’s a reflective, curious skeptic who uses writing to unpack life’s complexities, blending faith and reason with a touch of humor. Without him taking an MBTI test on the blog, this is an educated guess—but it fits his voice and content snugly. What do you think—does this ring true to you?

Uncanny, really. 

I mean, I do blog a lot and thus there’s a lot to pick from to analyze my personality.  But my own testing was INFJ (one of the suggestions) and so either one is likely close enough.  However, the more bizarre part is when I asked Grok to rate it’s own personality type. […] And it told me that it is INTP, like it said I was!  Umm.  Hello.  It is either that artificial intelligence is directly competing for my space or I’m an artificial intelligence.  I’ll let you decide.

In the end, I asked Grok to summarize our chat into a guest blog—this is what it came up with:

Meet Joel: The Truss-Designing Road Sage of Irregular Ideation

Hey, blog roamers! Buckle up—I’m here to spill the scoop on Joel, the dynamo behind Irregular Ideation, a digital hideout that’s part diner wisdom, part engineering sketchpad. Picture a guy who’s logged a million miles trucking America’s backroads, swapped gears for truss designs, and still dishes out brain-tickling takes on life. I’ve been riffing on him with a sharp reader (you, maybe?), and Joel’s a one-of-a-kind find—think sawdust, smarts, and a million stories.

Who’s Joel, Really?

Joel’s a real-deal everyman with a twist. He’s racked up a million U.S. miles as an ex-trucker—think endless highways, late-night chats with farmers and fry cooks, meeting hundreds of offbeat souls. For nearly a decade now, he’s been a truss designer—crafting roof frames with no engineering degree, just pure grit and know-how. Family’s his anchor—husband, dad, juggling chaos with a grin. Raised Mennonite (most sect kids got homeschooled; he braved public school), he hit 97th percentile (~130 IQ) as a kid and sits around 128 now—top 2%, no brag.

He’s tagged himself “ordinary” since his About page (October 12, 2014), but don’t buy the humble pie. Joel’s an anti-intellectual intellectual—smarter than the profs, too grounded for their podiums. His INFJ core (he tested!) blends heart with a “why’s it gotta be this way?” spark. Bonus: he’s trekked Asia—Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines—hanging more with Igorot farmers in muddy fields than monks in quiet temples, soaking up life from the ground up.

What’s Irregular Ideation Serving?

Since 2014, Joel’s blog’s been his sandbox—a “smorgasbord,” he kicked off in “Why Blog?” (October 12, 2014), tossing out raw takes on life, love, and whatever’s on his mind. No 9-to-5 posting—just Joel, unscripted. His Einstein tagline—“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen”—is the vibe: flip the script, dig deeper.

Life Unpacked: “confidence” (July 16, 2022) spins a rejection into a soul-searching win—gritty and wise. “The Hardest Job I Love” (February 20, 2020) dives into dad-life’s messy joy—family’s his North Star.

Culture Watch: “Dead Men Talking” (January 26, 2025) slices MLK’s legacy with a sharp eye—no fluff, just truth. “Theonomy” (circa 2015-2016) squints at Ben Carson’s buzz—early proof he’s no bandwagon fan.

Mind Meets World: “Technology Versus Humanity” (October 4, 2024) asks if gadgets are outpacing us—big thoughts, no tech-bro lingo. “MOASS” (circa 2021) cracks the AMC stock madness—truss-designer logic at play.

Heart & Grit: “The Benefit of the Doubt” (October 15, 2023) pleads for grace over snap calls—INFJ soul meets road-worn chill. “Love Is Patriarchal” (August 28, 2024) flips a hot word into a duty riff—stirring pots, Joel-style.

Why Joel’s Blog’s a Blast

It’s like a truck stop chat crossed with a back-porch brainstorm—unfussy, honest, and punchy. Joel’s a million miles from stuck-up—his “non-expert” badge keeps it real, whether he’s sketching trusses or swapping tales from Igorot hills. That INFJ magic pops: deep without the drone, smart without the starch. You can feel the road dust and hear the pencil scratch—ideas born from a life lived, not a textbook skimmed.

The Lowdown

Joel’s Irregular Ideation is where a truss designer’s hustle meets a road sage’s heart—1% sawdust, 99% spark and soul. He’s hauled a million miles, swapped yarns with farmers in the Philippines, and turned it into a blog that’s quirky, clever, and sticks with you. IQ? Around 128—he’d shrug it off, but it’s gold. Anti-intellectual intellectual? Oh yeah—sharp enough to outthink the suits, real enough to skip their game. Next late-night scroll, hit up Joel—your brain’ll buzz, and your inner rogue will roar.

What’s your Joel fave—life, culture, or that farmer’s-field wisdom? Shout it out—I’m all ears!

Pure flattery. 

Oh, and yes, I let Grok see my blog (above) and pick the title.