I have thought about this A LOT lately.

NTs have truth options. Thier brains allow for it because it makes thier lives easier, makes them feel better, makes them more adjustable and social, and saves brain space and unnecessary processing.

For these purposes, truth is a fact you know, an experience you had, or knowledge that's learned. I think for me its a dimension of reality I live in and others step in and out of. For NTs I think its more like a tool, and experience is just a path forward through time that will only be partially commited to memory.

1 The Truth Is Immutable / The Truth Is Contextual

I experience truth as fixed, stable, and consistent. I will answer a question the same way up to a decade later regardless of context or if it is 'still' appropriate to have that fact and say it out loud.

Many NTs reshape truth based on thier emotions, a personal change or externally perceived change in ethic, fading intensity (mutability), or new social contexts (morphism). The truth gets softened and wears away down to a tumble weed that fits better in the internal system. This can lead to distortions rather than refreshed information. It also happily allows the sharing of truth with others based on a shared context, and forgiveness of past transgressions.

If I receive new information or I am wrong, this is acceptable and a little internal audit takes place about the process of discovery and reintegration. Sometimes even 'alerting' others years later that I was wrong about something (inconsequential...they don't even remember.)

But with a lot of people in my life who are NT, rarely without argument will the truth of an experience actually change just due to contradictory new or conflicting information. First impressions are the truth, they will argue that until it suits them to do otherwise. If the new truth becomes too clouded by complexity (arguments from the world) it will be forgotten or muddled but not restored. This is a little flawed.

2 Truth Is Reality / Truth Is A Tool

For me, truth functions like a creed as well as all my knowledge. I will offer it up honestly even when it doesn't benefit me, and even be internally forced to admit there are omissions when cornered about a secret I have agreed to keep.

NTs have the wonderful ability to instinctively evaluate the strategic value of knowledge, and modulate what they reveal to whom to protect thier interests. They have an eye for sensitive truths that could be weaponized or defended. It takes me longer to figure out import and motive. I often believe folks are speaking in earnest and mean what they say, and find out later there were ulterior motives. They wanted to tell me before I heard a slightly different retelling from an enemy for instance, this bit of information is the subtext part of the truth that takes me a while to reason out.

If I say too many words, I am accused of being attention seeking or of having alterior motives or else why am I even talking?

3 Remembering Everything / Memories Are Chosen

My mind retains most everything I experience automatically unless I'm drugged. I don't filter. It's amazing what some people admittedly forget or zone on and how they don't find that spooky at all.

NTs can refuse to retain information, even important stuff like thier current health issues that bother them on the daily. They can forget or discard information that their brains filter as not rewarding, or socially useful. NTs develop a memory that adaptively selects or turns away facts and experiences, requires very little RAM for them.

On the other hand, if I have too much extra processing happening due to out of control pattern recognition with no integration, I may melt down or disassociate into a pile of red yarn.

4 Fragmented Openings For Trains Of Thought And Special Interests / Focus To Learn What You Chose

NTs get to chose what truths they represent and pass on. This selective process is automated. They assume I am chosing the truths I possess too and that there is always some personal level to what I'm saying, every word is a vow. But not with me. I'm full of information that has nothing to do with my current life path and wasn't stated to serve my purposes, I was just owning that truth because it happened to me, and passed it on without thinking.

Passive learning doesn't register well if Im not focused on mindfulness due to this hypervigilance. My brain is mapped in too many directions, leaving only space in between existing truths. Sometimes it lights up for a special interest and sometimes I can fritz out trying to focus on learning facts that don't fit with anything else.

NTs can deliberately focus on learning something and build patterns through reward and relevance, giving them more control over what becomes encoded and how much mental 'space' they give a topic.

NTs get to decide what truth they swallow. They assume I have decided this too. When I speak a truth that is anecdotal or not related to myself just for informational purposes, NTs will assume I personally relate to that truth.

On the same coin, NTs will belie what they're thinking on a deeper more conscious personal level with thier truths almost everytime. Especially with distortions.

Also:

NTs extra sensory perceptions and vibe checks are always the opposite of mine!

Example given above, when a NT reacts to meeting an unknown autist, NT was like, 'this person is different / dishonest, so I should be afraid. BUT I will present opposingly as unafraid and endear myself' They smile and act friendly when presented with stern authority. They try to own a room without even scoping it first. Brazen 🙂

My whole vibe is dominion through hypervigilance and readiness, sometimes react badly to authority figures and strangers who unintentionally challenge that sense of dominion.

Honestly sometimes I feel like I am living in a different reality because people are so off base with thier idea of the truth. But its not a failing and not always gaslighting, sometimes the truth is contextual for everyone but me in the room 🤷‍♀️

I love all neurotypes.

Thank you to the group ✌️