31
Jul

Introvert vs. Extrovert

   Posted by: Kate   in Life

I asked a friend today to breakdown my personality as to how they perceived me through interaction. It came back that I am inherently introverted.

At first I was shocked to hear this, but as I thought about it, I realized that this friend was right. While I’d like the world to think I am fun at parties, the truth is that I’d rather stay home and read a book or surf the Internet. Even when I bring my children to soccer games and school functions, I’m not the type to chit-chat with other parents.

I will dance like a fool once out, but getting me to leave is your biggest hurdle. It also has to be something that I really enjoy doing like going to a baseball game, an aquarium or zoo. I love watching the symphony and listening to live music as long as I’m not surrounded by pot smoking dead-heads.

I don’t know. It’s kinda sad if you ask me. Have I become so disenchanted with strangers that it limits my ability to have fun in a strange social situation? Am I afraid that I will be judged? That I will be found wanting as a person or a parent?

Ah, the joys of paranoid optimistic trying to have some semblance of a social life.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 8:38 pm and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

3 comments so far

 1 

Don’t worry, Kate. We like you, warts and all.

July 31st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
 2 

I’m extremely introverted. EXTREMELY. Some people are shocked to learn that, because I’m quite willing to be a goofball onlilne. Also, in small groups (like, under 10), I can be very outgoing and fun.

Put me in a room full of people, however, and I become a nerdy middle schooler afraid to look at anyone much less engage in conversation.

Last week at OSCON, I was with a co-worker (Katherine Druckman, the webmistress at Linux Journal) who is VERY outgoing. I became a tag-a-long, which she thankfully tolerated, and after she started talks with people, I was fine being a part of the conversation.

There are also the people that have no social skills at all. You, Kate, are not one of those people. I’d even venture that you’re a bit more extroverted than some. Besides, most parents at soccer games are idiots anyway. :D

August 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am
 3 

Introversion/extroversion is widely misunderstood. The best way I’ve heard it described is in terms of batteries. If you are introverted, your personal battery gets drained by social interaction and gets recharged by alone time. If you are extroverted, your battery gets recharged by social interaction. Most people I know would say that I am quite extroverted, when in fact I’m one of the most introverted people I know. Must be a Kate thing! :)

August 6th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

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