I am going to read thru this whole thing later, but I have been an introvert since day one.

I am able to function in normal society, but I have to keep reminding myself to do so, does that make sense?

Yeah, I am not good at small talk. But I can do it because that is what people do.

And yes I would rather live in the woods or on a farm and go to town once or twice a month and interact with people then but otherwise just be by myself and think or daydream. But I can't.

I suggest reading the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime"

I hope I got the title correct.

This is a good list and it makes sense, but it makes me question myself.

The people I work with think I'm and extrovert, my family think I'm introverted.

I've always kinda been two different people tho.

hmmm..

I believe most introverts (including myself) would agree with what the OP posted. The big question is though, how do we get the world to see us in a different way? You could say the media pushes the 'extrovert' agenda haha! I can't remember the last time an introvert was shown in a good light in any recent media.

And by the way, great post. Starred!

Being an introvert, I can see myself described in the list. I do come across as "not making an effort..." to get to know new people. The most difficult thing for me is small talk, god I just hate it.

Originally posted by starwarsisreal
That's quite true of me really. I'm just forced to act like an extravert due to constant pressure and social expectations.

My situation exactly.

I'm a proud introvert. I'm actually INTP on MB.

The most irritating and incorrect attribute that isn't listed on your list OP is introverts are sneaky and sly. People actually think I have something horrible to hide when the reality is, I just want to hide from them.

It's odd but people who tend to accept me for me are the people I have the most interest in interacting. Exreme extroverts make me very tired.

I'm am no doubt an introvert. Offline and online. I have a facebook but mainly to keep in touch with my kids. I like ATS but tend to make comments here and there and usually avoid the back and forth debates which IMO usually regurgitates the same things.

My family consider me a hermit and have been called party pooper on many occasions. It isn't that I don't like to go out, it's just that I like to keep a low profile. I will not go out of my way to make people like me.

You either like me or you don't.

I scored INTP on the briggs-myers test for years.

In the last year or so I've been showing up as an ENTP.

It seems I may have the ability to flip back and forth between an introvert and an extrovert.

I'm pretty much slightly bi-polar and have cycles within cycles of either recharging alone, else expending tons of energies with other people.

Sometimes I can't stand but small interactions in a social setting, and other times I crave the attention and fun of a large gathering for days or even weeks on end.

It really does depend on my short and long cycling swings in temperament.

Originally posted by rexusdiablos
Good grief.

Yet another "If this describes you then you're a rare flower" thread. Come on folks. Introversion is circumstantial and it's likely that everyone can describe themselves as such given the right social conditions and scenarios.

I dislike the desperation of members so quick to cling to any set of definitions that makes them feel unique or part of an cognitive/emotional/spiritual elite.

I can hear the desperation and thought process: "Oh, I always knew I was different and/or that I might be the one".

Please. You're equipped with everything you need to achieve your unique potential. Stop looking for subgroups and notions to define who you are.

Aside from all this, some introverts are so due to underlying neurosis and trauma. The OP is far too absolute.

edit on 12/8/2011 by rexusdiablos because: (no reason given)

For someone only here a little under 2 years, I'm not saying i've been here any longer, you sure do speak as if you've witnessed every thread throughout the ages.

No one here is claiming to be a rare or unique flower, I didn't see anyone claiming to not be equipped with potential to be unique. Besides, what defines who you are is mostly what you and others think about you. So "subgroups" and "categories" are pretty much what makes you, you. You are the addition of every 'class' you fit into, since you fit into those classes! Does that make sense?

I've know for a long time that I'm an introvert, despite usually being the focus of a group (usually smaller than 3 people, more than that and I stop talking), and actually raising my hand in class alot (I noticed someone mentioned that). I think alot of people think, as with OPs post and with what I saw a few posters describing themselves as, that introvert means you are constantly in an emotional shell and usually a physical one too, a house. You never talk, or do anything, or like anyone. Which is not the case. I love speaking in class, I love talking about subjects I like. When it comes to leisure chat, I hate it. Unless I have a specific point, or subject, or topic, to get across and it's something I enjoy I don't see a reason to communicate. Why would I waste my breath, just to usually end up bickering, over pointless mumbles that have nothing to do with anything at all? When I'm only with 1 or 2 people, as I usually am, we tend to hold quite long conversations. As we tend to discuss important topics, at least important to us, and my interest is held.

I do go outside, I go to the park, I go walk through trails. But I do not go to parties, or loud occasions with many people. Not because I am afraid of them, it's just simply too much going on at once.

There, enjoy my pointless paragraphs lol

Originally posted by xxsomexpersonxx
You're fighting stereotypes with stereotypes. It's taking bad stereotypes and replacing them with good ones.

Majority of introverts have a few of those "myths", along with a good chunk of non-introverts. And not all of those "non-myths" apply to every introvert too.

Of course, everyone has an introverted side and an extroverted side. Just because someone has one side bigger, doesn't make them have any other traits too.

~
If I were writing the article, I'd make it about how to understand these people, whose minds work different. Not just taking the negative assumptions, and making good assumptions instead, but instead making no assumptions and knowing how to see from a different persons mental perspective

AMEN!!!!! Being around loud, dumb, people exhausts the hell out of me. For the love of God, stop talking!!! The vast majority of people drive me nuts. It's not that I hate them, I just don't get them. Listen once in a while instead of flapping your gums and use some commonsense. Done!

I'm a total extrovert, but I love my introvert friends. My wife is an introvert, and I value what she brings to our life together. I don't think I could be married to someone that's like me. It'd be too intense.

Wow, that list applies to both me and my husband. However our daughter is an extravert and we have some problems coping with the personality differences! We sit at home and debate our views and beliefs and we don't have many friends and when they have been here, we are glad that they have left, as we like our daily routines and our own companies!

I am an introvert

I don't know how many times I have been accused of being a creep, stalker, rapist, pedophile or a serial killer, only because I don't say much.

Why does my being quiet instantly mean I am any of those. To me all it means is that I had nothing important to say, and didn't see the point of getting involved in an conversation about something meaningless. Or the topic was about something I really don't have any knowledge of, cars, a certain video game, a certain band or what ever, and I didn't feel like admitting my ignorance on such a topic, or don't really care it to begin with.

So what if I can be sitting next to you for hours and not say anything. I am lost in thought. What I am thinking about is bound to more interesting than any conversation.

Thats not say I am adverse to social interaction at all, it just has to be something that I have knowledge about and interests me.
I often enjoy a good discussion about theology, politics, and science. Unfortunately its rare to find someone with an interest in these topics. And even I find someone that shares such interest, it is often frowned about by social norms to talk about them.

Reading a book, surfing the web, playing video games, or just sitting and thinking is a thousand times more fun,to me than going out and socializing.

I also am unable to make any emotional interaction to another human being.
Love and friendship to me are foreign idea's.
I feel I have either schizoid personality disorder or suffer from negative symptoms of schizophrenia. (Negative meaning symptoms that take away from the personality, cognative functioning, and ability to perceive reality.)