Introverts usually get a bad rap from extroverts. They are often defined in a negative way: shy, lacking in confidence and social skills, withdrawn, etc. Extroverts often can't understand why someone would happily decline an invitation to a party so they can stay at home on their own.
Never has there been an article i read which comes across explaining what i've always wanted to express but couldn't word it down properly. Upon completion of reading this post , i hope you will understand my kind much better.
Extroverts gains energy from interacting with others, which is why they love going to parties. Put an extrovert in an empty house, and chances are that he will be itching to get out and make contact with others fairly quickly.
Introverts, on the other hand, would feel extremely comfortable spending time on their own, because they gain energy from being alone and reflecting, and expend energy when interacting.
Suffice to say that we are the exact polar opposites of each other. I respect the choices of extroverts (ETs) wanting to hang out more often, so i hope the same respect can be shown to introverts(ITs). Exerting yourselves to get an IT to participate is just being mean to the other party if he chooses not to be participative.
One activity that's designed to torture introverts, while providing a spotlight for the extroverts, is karaoke. ... I sat with my fellow introverts and hoped that I could get through the session simply by singing through along during some of the choruses.
Hell yea, what the heack is with Karaoke. Beg as you must for me to participate in one, i will never compromise to put myself in a situation which is awkward to both me and the ETs. I was once cheated to enter with a group of friends before. It was pure torture from the 18th level of hell. I never kept in contact those friends anymore.
Things were going well until one of the ETs felt that they needed to hear an IT solo.
Obviously, some ITs would reject the offer if they aren't feeling up to it, to which ETs will with sadistic glee use quotes like
"Don't be such spoil sports!"
"Come on! Just this once we'll like to hear you do it!"
i say to you, F*CK YOU! i don't usually endorse using foul language in my entries, but that is how pissed i am with incessant annoyances coming from ETs. LEAVE US BE WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.
After a suitable period of time, I excused myself and made to take my leave. Almost immediately, one of the other ITs stood up and announced that she had to go too.
We both exhaled loudly as soon as we were out of earshot.
I salute the author for even forebearing with the whole karaoke shit. I would just walk out despite losing friends in the process. Who needs them anyway. Coming out of the karaoke is just like being released from a torture prison except that it's not much a prison to me because i am not bounded by the shackles called friendship. Sure i do give face sometimes and if it goes beyond my annoyance threshold i'm off.
I wouldn't describe myself as being shy or socially inept; far from it. Still, i do feel decidedly uncomfortable in certain social settings. I don't do large parties very well. Over the years, i have become quite adept at faking small talk with strangers, but it's about as pleasurable as a root canal without anesthetics.
*nods head in agreement*
i wholeheartedly support what is said here. And yes, most often than not i am faking a face when mingling with strangers.
I once went to a party with an ET friend. As soon as we were through the host's front door, he was off. He spent the entire evening working the room, talking to different people and having a ball. I, on the other hand, found a free chair around a table and sat there for the entire evening, listening to the extroverts who came and went.
i wouldn't consider myself that much of an IT in this case, because i do mingle around a bit. To which after that i would love to adjourn somewhere to spend some time just sitting around and chilling.
I would rather stay at home with a good book.
Exactly. What's better than having to read a book peacefully or for my case just work on my drawings.
I respect who or what you are. So would you do the same for me?
All citations taken from Monday 12 April 2010 Star paper, "Party poopers" by Mary Schneider. Credit goes to her marvelous article.
