Being an introvert is....

reply to post by siliconpsychosis

To those of you who are like me, but are constantly told we are abnormal - don't believe a word of it. Don't forget, we can sit quietly in the corner and watch people doing the stange things they do and wonder - that to us, everyone else is weird.

Sounds like the good life to me!

My problem is that when people are around, I sometimes have sudden fits of extroversion. That doesn't always go down well.
Sometimes
and sometimes,
and sometimes
hardly ever

So I have to stay away just to avoid the

Weird, I was thinking about introversion and extroversion yesterday haha!

I was thinking about it because despite being an introvert, I actually like hanging out with people; albeit with a small group of friends. I'm pretty reserved when it comes to strangers though. So I've always wondered, is it a stereotypical thing to say that introverts are socially awkward?

So I actually went on to research about it and apparently, we've been using the word introvert and extrovert wrongly.
Of course some might have realized this but introversion and extroversion is basically how we use our energy for everything we do. Introverts might like socializing from time to time, but they lose energy and need their space afterwards(eg: me). Whereas extroverts actually gain energy from talking. Introverts would rather sit quietly and think in most situations while extroverts think by talking about the situation.

Also on the point in talking, introverts think to talk while extroverts talk to think. Pretty much why extroverts are good in public speeches, but introverts can be better than them if they prepared for it.

I wonder how many introverts make up the whole of the ATS community o.o

reply to post by Zack241

Also on the point in talking, introverts think to talk while extroverts talk to think.

I do both of these things. That's where social awkwardness comes in. You have to know the audience.

Patient listeners can sit there while I work through wild theories and random thoughts. No big deal for them, and helpful for me.

Others may take great umbrage at my vocalized thoughts. And that's no good for anyone.

Awkwardness is not knowing the difference.

Originally posted by siliconpsychosis
GREAT!

I have no friends to speak of - there is no one I ever really speak to for moral support or basic friendship. All my "friends" are my work colleagues and I don't socialise with them.

I don't speak to or visit my family, for various reasons but mostly because I have nothing in common with them.

I don't go to bars, clubbing and I don't drink and I hate social gatherings. I never celebrate my birthdays (even the big ones) and I despise being the centre of attention. I once walked out of my own surprise party - which was thrown even after I told everyone, several times, that I didn't want one.

I don't listen to (or like) music - its just annoying noise to me, so I avoid all music venues and events. People find this strange considering my job. But im paid to do my job and enjoying the end product of it is not my purpose.

I have a great job which I truly love.
I have a great girlfriend / partner whom I love with all my heart.
I have a wonderful doggie who is my bestest pal


What more do I need?

I am happy, content and enjoy my life.

To those of you who are like me, but are constantly told we are abnormal - don't believe a word of it. Don't forget, we can sit quietly in the corner and watch people doing the stange things they do and wonder - that to us, everyone else is weird.

Don't fret on other peoples opinions of you. Everyone is a unique individual and we are all our own "normal"

Chin up, be happy and content with what you have and don't give a crap about what other people think of you!

that is all

edit on 1-6-2013 by siliconpsychosis because: (no reason given)

Don't listen to music--- check
dropped friends-- check
don't like to speak to family---check
hate bars and social gatherings---double check

I never liked social gathering, hated bars and clubs but went at friends request, I have never been into music even as a child I remember being that way. I dropped friends because I had grown to dislike them " not trying to be judgmental" I just had enough. I can be alone and fine which wasn't always the case when i was younger but it is now, aside from the sex aspect even though I only need sex maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

I'm an introvert. I'm getting sick of having no fun, no romance, but I am attracted (physically,)
to megalomaniacal dominant narcissist guys, and their aggressive FaceBook girlfriends get the claws into them first, and take them away from their wives. Before they even get to know me. Which is actually a good thing,
Plus, I'm not interested in hurting anyone's family, like some beyotches (selfishly blindingly) are.
But it's f***ed, very much so, otherwise, I am a mysanthrope.

I am a mysanthrope.

Originally posted by misschareesee
I'm an introvert. I'm getting sick of having no fun, no romance, but I am attracted (physically,)
to megalomaniacal dominant narcissist guys, and their aggressive FaceBook girlfriends get the claws into them first, and take them away from their wives. Before they even get to know me. Which is actually a good thing,
Plus, I'm not interested in hurting anyone's family, like some beyotches (selfishly blindingly) are.
But it's f***ed, very much so, otherwise, I am a mysanthrope.

edit on 2-6-2013 by misschareesee because: z

reply to post by SarnholeOntarable


I discovered that I misspelled that word, it's misanthrope. I blame that I am still up at past 3am. I have sad concerns on my mind.

reply to post by misschareesee


Just remember that we love you on any occasion

Originally posted by pthena
I do both of these things.

Everyone to a certain extend does both. Introverts, however obviously "think to talk" more than extroverts. And the vise verse of the opposite is true, as well.

I am an INFP...

Portrait of an INFP - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving (Introverted Feeling with Extraverted Intuition)

--The Idealist--

As an INFP, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system. Your secondary mode is external, where you take things in primarily via your intuition.

INFP.html

I am a very empathetic person that likes helping people. I am looking into finding a career in which to do this very thing... Aligned with my personality type.

reply to post by schmirror


I have tried...running into sociopaths was not my breakfast ,lunch or dinner.These people are great for being stand out citizenze...Don't get me wrong,,some times they mean well.

This has so far been a wonderful thread to read :-) so many like minded people.

Seems there are more of us than I thought. Thanks for all the support :-)

reply to post by schmirror


INFJ here!

I've honestly tried hard to find a job that suits my personality the best. I always refer to the websites regarding the MBTI on what exactly I should choose as my career. I realized though, while it is a good guide, it should not be followed very closely. In fact, for everyone with any personality type, the best job you can choose is a job you will find comfort and fun with! The only factors that matter is whether you're lucky or you have made the right choices throughout your life. For me at least, I'm an engineer. That is one of the jobs some or even most INFJ's would not prefer. Heck, I have no idea why I chose to be an engineer in the first place. But, like you, I like helping people with their problems. My title is Engineer but, most of my colleagues refer to me is the counselor of the group! Haha!

So good luck to you! Hope my experience can help you and that you'll find your dream job soon

reply to post by siliconpsychosis


I thought I was introverted before, turns out I was misjudging myself according to the environment I was around. I actually despised my own people, and when I was abroad in a multinational environment I began to see so many parts in me which basically were left out or not stimulated to ever appear on the surface.

I don't believe there's such thing as introverted/extroverted, I think it very much depends on the context of the environment of which we are on. Don't forget this is ATS and we are aware of many things the majority of the people aren't, so to add more to it - we're living in a dream world where everyone is hypnotized according to norms of society, preached by television, so as long as you behave as you think is "normal" than you'd be ok (extroverted), but when you start questioning the ways of society and not agreeing with it (Parties? Bars? Alcohol? Doing stupid things to make people laugh or to like you? WTF?!), and starts to waking up than you are considered an introverted. So you finally realized how empty society is, and how far we've reached from who we really are.

To give an example of what I mean, if you ever hang around with people with a very different mentality than the one you're usually around and trying to get away from, as time goes you will witness how your whole approach has changed. This is not a trail to make you extroverted, but to understand that being introverted/extroverted is all depends on the environment, and what it stimulates in your being. You cannot be either introverted or extroverted, but you can be introverted in one environment and extroverted in the other, so don't let modern psychology defines you cause they literally know NOTHING about human beings.

reply to post by siliconpsychosis


I've always said that I LOVE people - for ten minutes a day. Then it's leave me the hell alone! I read a lot of books, chat on here when I want to (select the topics I want and disregard the rest), and my job allows me to daydream so deeply that sometimes I can totally disconnect from the work my body is doing. I check news sites three or four times a day, and no matter what I'm doing while alone I can suddenly stop and take a nap when I want to.

Though it would be nice to have just a few people around that DON'T babble all day about sports and weather (zero interest in anything else), that ten minute limit would still be the max for me.

At least you have work colleagues I literally only have my mom and thats it. NO friends at all!

I have social anxiety which prevents me from talking to others

"the older i grow the more i listen to people who dont speak much - Glien Germain

i cant think of anything better to say when it comes to introverts.

listen too those that dont speak 600 words a minute.
we all might learn a thing or two.

I'm an introvert and I'm nothing like the OP. What you're describing sounds more like a serious social retardation than simply being introverted.

What kind of person walks out on a birthday party somebody put together for them? Or doesn't like music?

It's no wonder you don't have any friends!

reply to post by jiggerj

and no matter what I'm doing while alone I can suddenly stop and take a nap when I want to.

Yep!
second line

Originally posted by GrandStrategy
I'm an introvert and I'm nothing like the OP. What you're describing sounds more like a serious social retardation than simply being introverted.

What kind of person walks out on a birthday party somebody put together for them? Or doesn't like music?

It's no wonder you don't have any friends!

What part of being human requires the enjoyment of music? I don't like ginger and tomatoes too, does that make me abnormal?

The party thing was explained on page 1.

I don't have any friends because I haven't met anyone I actually wish to spend my off-time with other than my partner.

Im quite happy with my life thankyou very much, as I clearly stated in my OP. I couldn't care less if you judge me by your own standards as I only have my own wishes to fulfill

Originally posted by Shuye
You cannot be either introverted or extroverted, but you can be introverted in one environment and extroverted in the other, so don't let modern psychology defines you cause they literally know NOTHING about human beings.

Originally posted by Zack241
we've been using the word introvert and extrovert wrongly....
Of course some might have realized this but introversion and extroversion is basically how we use our energy for everything we do. Introverts might like socializing from time to time, but they lose energy and need their space afterwards(eg: me). Whereas extroverts actually gain energy from talking.

I agree with both of these... I ... Does that even make sense?? No. It must mean, we're on to something...
* stares *