I got into a debate today (okay, I confronted an innocent woman in the checkout line) regarding the differences- pros, cons, what have you- between introverts and extraverts.
Let's begin with some background, shall we?
The extravert will seek out social situations taking pleasure and energy from group interactions. They are commonly described as chatty, enthusiastic, assertive, and dominant.
The introvert will spend more time alone, reflecting on his own mental state. They are often seen as passive, quiet, solitary, and socially inept.
I am a self-proclaimed closet introvert. I suffer extreme social anxiety at times, but I will be God damned if anybody is gonna know about it (except you guys...and my therapist...and my prescribing physician...) so I am not often perceived as socially awkward. I enjoy the company of others and am at times the life of the party, but I find social interactions to be daunting and superfluous (not to mention exhausting). I use an elevated vocabulary to maintain a sense of superiority over those around me as part of my constant struggle for control. I'm socially dominant and I read others well.
Introverts love talking about themselves.
Anyway, THIS WOMAN (clearly far too extraverted for her own good) told me she felt sorry for introverts. She felt sorry for me...because I'm superior? This was far too backward a concept for me to understand. I stood aghast for a moment until realizing that she was probably too busy putting herself "out there" to realize she'd misspoken. I wanted to pat her on her lil extravert head, "There, there. We will try talking-out-loud again tomorrow, my little demonstrative one."
As I was having these delightfully patronizing thoughts, the woman was yammering on about how sad and lonely it must be being an introvert. Did I mention she was talking to her friend in line at the grocery store, not to me? Anyway, I finally had to pipe in.
"Well, you're wrong," I asserted with great disapproval. She looked over her shoulder, probably to see who I was talking to or if I had picked up my phone, but no I was staring directly at her.
"Excuse me?" she spluttered. Do I have to mention she was blonde?
I said, "You're incorrect. About introverts."
*Blank stare*
"The two of you were just talking about introverts, rather you were rambling and your friend there was looking bored..?"
*Cue my charming smile at her friend, who acknowledged my observation*
"The problem with extraverts is," I plowed ahead, "once they realize what they are, they don't bother looking inward. Or outward for that matter, for any type of deeper meaning. Everything becomes shallow, and based in interaction over observation. So, I disagree with you, I think it must be sad and lonely to be so extraverted that you cannot entertain yourself without boring your friends."
I'd like to think it took a minute for it to register with this woman what I had said, but in all honesty she might still be puzzling over it, because she laughed at me, turned around and continued yammering at her captive audience friend.
I only felt validated.
Introverts love talking about themselves.
Anyway, THIS WOMAN (clearly far too extraverted for her own good) told me she felt sorry for introverts. She felt sorry for me...because I'm superior? This was far too backward a concept for me to understand. I stood aghast for a moment until realizing that she was probably too busy putting herself "out there" to realize she'd misspoken. I wanted to pat her on her lil extravert head, "There, there. We will try talking-out-loud again tomorrow, my little demonstrative one."
As I was having these delightfully patronizing thoughts, the woman was yammering on about how sad and lonely it must be being an introvert. Did I mention she was talking to her friend in line at the grocery store, not to me? Anyway, I finally had to pipe in.
"Well, you're wrong," I asserted with great disapproval. She looked over her shoulder, probably to see who I was talking to or if I had picked up my phone, but no I was staring directly at her.
"Excuse me?" she spluttered. Do I have to mention she was blonde?
I said, "You're incorrect. About introverts."
*Blank stare*
"The two of you were just talking about introverts, rather you were rambling and your friend there was looking bored..?"
*Cue my charming smile at her friend, who acknowledged my observation*
"The problem with extraverts is," I plowed ahead, "once they realize what they are, they don't bother looking inward. Or outward for that matter, for any type of deeper meaning. Everything becomes shallow, and based in interaction over observation. So, I disagree with you, I think it must be sad and lonely to be so extraverted that you cannot entertain yourself without boring your friends."
I'd like to think it took a minute for it to register with this woman what I had said, but in all honesty she might still be puzzling over it, because she laughed at me, turned around and continued yammering at her captive audience friend.
I only felt validated.
