Because I am about as introverted as one can get this post at Kottke.org got me thinking and inspired a bit of mental dialogue such that I decided to put it here for anyone and everyone to read.Most people ( read extroverts ) understand introversion, and introverts, as in-depth as they do quantum physics. I expect that this is largely because people are fucking lazy pricks who really don't care about much outside of their own little sphere of existence. And that's ok - I don't hold it against them . . . ok I do, but I'll explain that another time.
The vast majority of people will use the words introverted and anti-social as if they are synonyms. Ergo, the vast majority of people are idiots. See, those two things aren't even the same - they're like apples and roast beef. Introversion is an element of personality and anti-social is actually a personality disorder that is generally believed to afflict a large percentage of the people in criminal populations.
Allow me to further explain . . . generally speaking introverts find social interaction a draw on them physically. It is physically exhausting to interact socially - especially when it is small talk, meaningless drivel or simply gratuitous conversation for the sake of eliminating uncomfortable silence. Those afflicted with anti-social personality disorder are people who view the victims of crime as people who deserved what they got because they were weak. Another word you could use to describe those suffering from this disorder is "sociopath."
Admittedly the entire reason I'm writing this post is due to the fact that the misunderstanding about introverts and the classification of introverted behavior has impacted me personally and recently. As much as an extrovert would view my behavior as reclusive or boring, I view their behavior as obnoxious and self-indulgent. It's clearly a difference on the same scale as Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.
Clearly, however, there is something inherently wrong with extroverts.
Why is it that extroverts cannot be comfortable in silence? I understand it's energizing to them when they find themselves engaged in conversation regardless how mundane or trivial, but just once they should try to experience a moment in the sanctuary of silent reflection. Just because they see someone who is not talking doesn't mean they're waiting for an extrovert to engage them in conversation. In case they haven't heard, it's not all about them. I know that flies in the face of what they've convinced themselves of over the years, but trust me, speaking solely for myself, I'm just not that into them. Now that might really kind of piss them off, but really, seriously, how many times has an extrovert started some kind of stupid conversation - maybe it was at work, about your kids or something else they pretended to really care about? Now, when was the last time they started that same conversation and asked you the same questions they had asked before? See it isn't as if they care, it's because they have something to gain from the conversation. It energizes them, re-charges them - they are the Dracula to your inner life force and they are going to suck you dry - and not in the way that you might appreciate. Worse yet, the only reason they started the conversation was so they could discuss their favorite subject . . . them. If you're not careful you'll be in the path of climax directly resulting from their conversational masturbation. It really is as if they just can't shut the fuck up.
I really didn't want this post to turn into a rant, but I guess it ended up that way didn't it? It isn't as if introverts aren't friendly people though. I'm just as likely to smile and nod, hold the door to the elevator or wave at my neighbor. Hell, every now and then I don't mind chiming in when the conversation is nothing more than, "Whew, sure am glad it's humpday, ha ha ha. . ." I'm under no delusions believing I'm in the minority - hell, I'm quite positive I'd be the first one voted off the island . . . to a nice quiet place.
I know. What in the world could he possibly be talking about?
So I'm reading through some of the posts that arrive in my feed reader . . . and I come across 