If you are introverted...

cantdecide

...does it mean you lack confidence?

I'm an introverted person and people have often told me I need more "confidence". The only thing is I feel perfectly confident.

Maybe they mean I need more extroversion? But would that a fair statement to make to someone? Is that more like more like telling someone short that they should be taller?

Blowfish

People quite often confuse the two. Some people are quieter because of lack of confidence, others because they are introverted.

krudler

Usually the loudest one in the room is the one with the least amount worth saying.

seamus

No, introversion doesn't mean a lack of confidence. It can, but there's not necessarily a link between the two. Many people despite being extroverted can be massively lacking in confidence.

Introversion means that you generally don't feel the need to communicate with other people unless there's a reason for it.

El_Duderino 09

Introversion and Extroversion are measure of how much internal and external stimulation a person needs to entertain themselves.

My housemate is strongly extrovert and hates being alone for any length of time. he needs constant stimulation and can get quite depressed if left home alone for even 3-4 hours.

You might be perfectly happy alone with your own thoughts (internal stimulation) and dont need external stimulation.



PS for some reason society can favour extroverted traits for example, outgoing and talkative but they are not necessarily any more valuable.

cantdecide

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

PS for some reason society can favour extroverted traits for example, outgoing and talkative but they are not necessarily any more valuable.

So is the real question whether society assumes that introversion=lack of confidence?

Gi joe!

Blowfish wrote: »

People quite often confuse the two. Some people are quieter because of lack of confidence, others because they are introverted.

This pretty much.

In social situations introverts would prefer to observe more than they participate, and at first glance it might seem that they're shy or lack confidence. Introverts can indeed be shy, and may even be more likely to be more socially awkward/anxious, simply due to the fact that they wouldn't socialise as much as extroverts.

Many introverted people simply find social situations draining, and need time alone to 'recharge.' They can still perfectly socially aware(maybe more so than extroverts) and clued in. People may see you as shy and lacking confidence simply because your quiet. I wouldn't worry about it, simply tell them you think before you talk.

I personally don't like throwing people into two broad categories of 'introversion' and 'extroversion'. Its more of a continuum, with very few people at one extreme. For example, while technically being an introvert, being emotionally exhausted after spending a long time with other people, I crave spending more time with people when being alone for any significant period of time.

El_Duderino 09

cantdecide wrote: »

So is the real question whether society assumes that introversion=lack of confidence?

No i wouldn't say so. That is just a common mistake made by society/people who don't know much about introversion and extroversion. I mentioned my housemate is extroverted. On a night out he is the loudest, best banter and he will talk to anyone. I happen to know he is crippled with shyness in some normal day to day situations like meeting new people.

My housemate and I are good friends and work together too and do 12 hour shifts in close quarters. In factwhen we hang out or work together my housemate is mostly calm and we meet somewhere in the middle. By that I mean I am a little more outgoing and he is a little calmer than he might otherwise be.

It is a continuum like Gi joe! says. We have a fairly standard model where we measure 5 main traits and create an aggregate score for people. I would be most likely to be 65% introverted and 35% introverted overall but very extroverted in certain situations and introverted in other situations.

Pop culture makes introversion out to be negative sometimes. It is not necessarily so. for example I have often thought extroversion can be a burden. I might be happy enough to sit and have a read in quiet. My housemate on the other hand needs music up loud and singing along while doing something like tidying his room. we might both he experiencing the same amount of excitement but he needs to engage 3 senses to achieve that.

Chill Winston

cantdecide

So is the opposite the case? Does society overly reward people who are highly confident and/ or highly extroverted? If I had a quid for every time I heard someone tell someone that they need to be more outgoing/ extroverted/ whatever, I'd be a reasonably rich person by now...

I just think that it seems roundly accepted that if you're not outgoing, people are very quick to dismiss you even to the point of being rude. I don't think that this is right. Kinda like 'outta our way- we're trying to have fun here', whereas the converse would probably never happen, IMO.

Celly Smunt

I'm happy and introverted.I don't lack confidence at all,im just not loud mouthed and prefer to listen than talk.If I need to be extrovert (work etc) I can be,and can get my point across.On the other hand I could sit somewhere for an hour just thinking without getting bored.

seamus

I would say society does "reward" extroverts more, but not necessarily because society favour extroverts above introverts, but for the simple fact that extroverts spread themselves around more. An introvert might have ground-breaking ideas and inventions, but without the desire to network and self-promote, they are less likely to be picked up. People very rarely get "discovered", instead they shamelessly self-promote until they get noticed.

That's not me saying that all successful people only get where they are by whoring - plenty of people who are shameless self-promoters are also highly intelligent and talented. But lots of people are highly intelligent and talented, so being extroverted helps to get yourself noticed, and unless other people know who you are, you cannot be recognised for your achievements. That's simply the nature of introversion.

Someone who recognises their introversion, but wants to succeed is best to partner themselves up with a clever extrovert and both can succeed. Steve Job and Steve Wozniak would be a good example of such a partnership.

cantdecide

My last housemate/ one of my now best mates was a very good example. Highly outgoing yet highly empathetic and thoughtful. He was a director at a private college and fell into the role of conflict resolution because of his ability to empathise with both parties. Put him in a party situation and he's the life and soul, put him one to one and he'd talk the hind legs off a donkey. It showed me that I'd been steam-rolled by a lot of people in my life because I wasn't outgoing enough. It's almost like an acceptable form of discrimination.

The_Gatsby

We're all introverted here. That's why we do our talking online, not in real life.

1ZRed

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

My housemate is strongly extrovert and hates being alone for any length of time. he needs constant stimulation and can get quite depressed if left home alone for even 3-4 hours.

He sounds like a dog

ScumLord

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

My housemate is strongly extrovert and hates being alone for any length of time. he needs constant stimulation and can get quite depressed if left home alone for even 3-4 hours.

You should leave a chew toy with him or something.

nice1franko

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Introversion and Extroversion are measure of how much internal and external stimulation a person needs to entertain themselves.

My housemate is strongly extrovert and hates being alone for any length of time. he needs constant stimulation and can get quite depressed if left home alone for even 3-4 hours.

You might be perfectly happy alone with your own thoughts (internal stimulation) and dont need external stimulation.



PS for some reason society can favour extroverted traits for example, outgoing and talkative but they are not necessarily any more valuable.

That's a bit like me. I quite enjoy my own company. Then again, I am the soundest bloke I know.

take everything

cantdecide wrote: »

...does it mean you lack confidence?

I'm an introverted person and people have often told me I need more "confidence". The only thing is I feel perfectly confident.

Maybe they mean I need more extroversion? But would that a fair statement to make to someone? Is that more like more like telling someone short that they should be taller?

No.
I get this a bit as well.
I'd say i'm introverted. I'm certainly not extrovert.
But i know when i'm confident and know when i'm not confident.

Like you, i don't like being told that i lack confidence when i don't.
Or being told i'm confident if i'm not.

gustavo

Interesting TED talk on the subject

leggo

krudler wrote: »

Usually the loudest one in the room is the one with the least amount worth saying.

I hate that phrase: it reeks of waffle just to make people feel better, but not having any real basis in reality. Like guys who are bad with women saying that girls never go for 'nice guys'.

I don't think that introversion equals lack of confidence, the same way that extroversion doesn't necessarily equal confidence. There are people who can scream the house down in a social situation that do so to over-compensate for feeling inadequate in other areas.

Shyness generally equals lack of confidence. But there's a distinction between being quiet because you don't feel worthy of saying anything and being quiet because you don't feel it's always essential that your voice be heard. The latter is actually a sign of confidence: you don't feel the need to speak for the sake of speaking. You're happy just...being.

Dicky Pride

Funny how all the mass murderers were introverted. Beware the quiet one in the corner, that's what I say.

seamus

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Funny how all the mass murderers were introverted. Beware the quiet one in the corner, that's what I say.

Charles Manson was an introvert?

Recluse

Being around people exhausts me after a few hours so I need to be alone for awhile afterwards to recharge. I think being extroverted is something people learn by adapting to spending most of their time around others from a young age and most people forget the practice that it took. The only downside of being introverted is that the majority of people are extroverted and seem to view quiet people as strange or unfriendly.

Scanlas The 2nd

Gi joe! wrote: »

This pretty much.

In social situations introverts would prefer to observe more than they participate, and at first glance it might seem that they're shy or lack confidence. Introverts can indeed be shy, and may even be more likely to be more socially awkward/anxious, simply due to the fact that they wouldn't socialise as much as extroverts.

Many introverted people simply find social situations draining, and need time alone to 'recharge.' They can still perfectly socially aware(maybe more so than extroverts) and clued in. People may see you as shy and lacking confidence simply because your quiet. I wouldn't worry about it, simply tell them you think before you talk.

I personally don't like throwing people into two broad categories of 'introversion' and 'extroversion'. Its more of a continuum, with very few people at one extreme. For example, while technically being an introvert, being emotionally exhausted after spending a long time with other people, I crave spending more time with people when being alone for any significant period of time.

If you find social events draining ( moreso than non introverts) you lack confidence. You are managing people's perception of you which is causing you to be drained.

Gummy Panda

All panda are introvert unless there is slides around

El_Duderino 09

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Funny how all the mass murderers were introverted. Beware the quiet one in the corner, that's what I say.

Ted Bundy introverted?

Wibbs

leggo wrote: »

I hate that phrase: it reeks of waffle just to make people feel better, but not having any real basis in reality. Like guys who are bad with women saying that girls never go for 'nice guys'.

+1. Plus while I have heard extraverts or "normal" people be suspicious of introverts, even berate them at times, I've heard way more introverts rip into extraverts as if there's something wrong with them. Online it's almost a given and yea similar to the "nice guy" stuff you read.

I don't think that introversion equals lack of confidence, the same way that extroversion doesn't necessarily equal confidence. There are people who can scream the house down in a social situation that do so to over-compensate for feeling inadequate in other areas.

+1

seamus wrote: »

Charles Manson was an introvert?

Or Ted Bundy, or Stalin, or Hitler etc etc. Seems to have been as many mass murderer types who extraverted. Indeed the extraverts seem better at getting others to help. :eek::)

I would say society does "reward" extroverts more, but not necessarily because society favour extroverts above introverts, but for the simple fact that extroverts spread themselves around more. An introvert might have ground-breaking ideas and inventions, but without the desire to network and self-promote, they are less likely to be picked up. People very rarely get "discovered", instead they shamelessly self-promote until they get noticed.

That's not me saying that all successful people only get where they are by whoring - plenty of people who are shameless self-promoters are also highly intelligent and talented. But lots of people are highly intelligent and talented, so being extroverted helps to get yourself noticed, and unless other people know who you are, you cannot be recognised for your achievements. That's simply the nature of introversion.

Someone who recognises their introversion, but wants to succeed is best to partner themselves up with a clever extrovert and both can succeed. Steve Job and Steve Wozniak would be a good example of such a partnership.

Very much so. Good post.

Wibbs

Recluse wrote: »

Being around people exhausts me after a few hours so I need to be alone for awhile afterwards to recharge. I think being extroverted is something people learn by adapting to spending most of their time around others from a young age and most people forget the practice that it took.

Maybe, though I would be extraverted and I also need alone time to recharge and I wasn't most of my time around people growing up. Ony child and all that. I dunno, while some people certainly miss out on practicing social interaction(ditto for those who miss out romantic interaction early on), I would say individuals are either/or/average from birth or early on anyway. In their nature as it were.

Scanlas The 2nd

Recluse wrote: »

Being around people exhausts me after a few hours so I need to be alone for awhile afterwards to recharge. I think being extroverted is something people learn by adapting to spending most of their time around others from a young age and most people forget the practice that it took. The only downside of being introverted is that the majority of people are extroverted and seem to view quiet people as strange or unfriendly.

I wouldn't say the majority are extroverted, maybe you just notice them more as they are louder.

Recluse

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

I wouldn't say the majority are extroverted, maybe you just notice them more as they are louder.

Compared to me most people are definitely more extroverted. Girls are generally more chatty anyway so this makes my quietness noticeable in comparison.

cantdecide

Recluse wrote: »

Being around people exhausts me after a few hours so I need to be alone for awhile afterwards to recharge. I think being extroverted is something people learn by adapting to spending most of their time around others from a young age and most people forget the practice that it took. The only downside of being introverted is that the majority of people are extroverted and seem to view quiet people as strange or unfriendly.

I'm different in that although I'm definitely an introvert, I love nothing more than gatherings, parties, social events. I can happily live in my own head and because of my circumstances I spend a lot of time on my own these days. I once lived on my own for 6 months and gradually learned to hate it. I was in an office on my own for a long time and eventually requested to be moved.

I suppose the difference is that I will find myself in social settings where I feel like others are in a different mode or mindset and they have no interest in finding a common ground. Hence the 'outta my way' sentiment I often feel. Not from everyone of course. I have some really great friends but I feel it's almost impossible to make headway with people that I might actually have a lot in common with if they weren't so suspicious about being in the company of someone who isn't in full-broadcast mode all the time.

seven_eleven

I'm fairly introverted, but I certainly dont lack confidence. I am very confident when I work and am eager to learn new things, get stuck in, and generally improve myself.

I enjoy being by myself though, and spending time on my computer. I didnt see anybody but my family over the xmas.

Wattle

Dicky Pride wrote: »

Funny how all the mass murderers were introverted. Beware the quiet one in the corner, that's what I say.

Fred West? Very friendly upbeat bloke by all accounts.

Gi joe!

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

If you find social events draining ( moreso than non introverts) you lack confidence. You are managing people's perception of you which is causing you to be drained.

Hmm not sure about that. I simply find social situations like parties, group dinners etc very stimulating both emotionally and physically, and don't have too many issues with confidence in meeting new people or public speaking etc.

However I would agree in the notion of trying to put forward the best version of myself, not being too quick to show my faults or shortcomings. Other things like social cues and signals that I need to make myself aware of. That can be tiring/difficult in itself. But I mean, doesn't everyone do that?

CruelCoin

cantdecide wrote: »

...does it mean you lack confidence?

I'm an introverted person and people have often told me I need more "confidence". The only thing is I feel perfectly confident.

Maybe they mean I need more extroversion? But would that a fair statement to make to someone? Is that more like more like telling someone short that they should be taller?

I am introverted and confident also.

Introvert just refers to your generally socialbility.

Scanlas The 2nd

Gi joe! wrote: »

Hmm not sure about that. I simply find social situations like parties, group dinners etc very stimulating both emotionally and physically, and don't have too many issues with confidence in meeting new people or public speaking etc.

However I would agree in the notion of trying to put forward the best version of myself, not being too quick to show my faults or shortcomings. Other things like social cues and signals that I need to make myself aware of. That can be tiring/difficult in itself. But I mean, doesn't everyone do that?

I'd imagine their is a big range. Some simply don't care at all if people see their "best selves", others get very anxious about and then you have most people somewhere in the middle. I'd imagine the more anxious social eevents make you the more draining they are.

TheDoc

pmcmahon wrote: »

I'm happy and introverted.I don't lack confidence at all,im just not loud mouthed and prefer to listen than talk.If I need to be extrovert (work etc) I can be,and can get my point across.On the other hand I could sit somewhere for an hour just thinking without getting bored.

Wow, thats a pretty good description, and that is somewhere along the lines of me aswell.

When needs to be can easily join in the banter or a conversation, but would think nothing of not saying a word at my desk for the day and think nothing of it.

I dont know if its the same thing, but I also prefer doing something I find productive, like gaming or some sort of learning, rather then a night out. That might be just ****ing weird though

Akrasia

I read 'Quiet' by Susan Cain(The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking ) last year, and it's a decent enough book on the subject that explores why there is so much pressure on people to act more and more introverted and what are the benefits of a more introverted personality type

It's an ineresting book
[rant]
My own take on this is that Introverted people are generally happy enough to take others at face value, a reflective personality will appreciate that other people do not always see the world in the same way that they do, but extroverted people have a much higher need for social interaction but are less likely to reflect on that need and appreciate that others may not share that experience.

Therefore, if an extrovert approaches an introvert in a social setting and the introvert acts naturally, that is, doesn't 'mirror' the extrovert's social behaviour, then the extrovert automatically feels threatened (inner monologue: why isn't this guy responding to my social advances, he must be up to something, or he must not like me, therefore, I don't like him)

In the opposite scenario, if an introvert approaches an extrovert and the extrovert doesn't mirror the introverts behaviour, the introvert will just accept that the other person is who he/she is.

In business, if someone sends me an email with a question, I might not reply straight away because I want to make sure I have the correct information first and make sure that the language is precise and of the appropriate tone before sending it. I think this is fine, but an extrovert would expect an immediate response to the email, even if it's just an acknowledgement that the email was received and a further response will follow.

It's a need for social interaction that I don't have. I find it stressful making small talk in a canteen and I hate gossip. I just can't stand it, and I don't want to participate so usually I don't say anything, but I would happily engage with someone for hours in a discussion about a deeply personal matter or a discussion about politics or science or any other topic.

Unfortunately, the ratio of intelligent conversation to banal gossip is so low as to be almost negligable, and whenever I try to start a conversation like that, I get the impression that everyone thinks that I'm just trying to show off.. [/rant]

Butterfly25

pmcmahon wrote: »

I'm happy and introverted.I don't lack confidence at all,im just not loud mouthed and prefer to listen than talk.If I need to be extrovert (work etc) I can be,and can get my point across.On the other hand I could sit somewhere for an hour just thinking without getting bored.

Jesus, I couldnt have written it better myself! This is me!

TheDoc wrote: »

I dont know if its the same thing, but I also prefer doing something I find productive, like gaming or some sort of learning, rather then a night out. That might be just ****ing weird though

Not weird at all I feel the same, I will go on a night out but its just not my favourite thing to do.


The only problem for me is, I'm in my late 20's, single and not keen on pubs and clubs, people keep asking me when am I going to 'find a fella' as they like to put it. :rolleyes:

Aglomerado

seven_eleven wrote: »

I'm fairly introverted, but I certainly dont lack confidence. I am very confident when I work and am eager to learn new things, get stuck in, and generally improve myself.

I'm the same with regard to confidence, especially in work and study related matters. In relation to introversion, I'm fine around people I know, I'll go to the pub and have a laugh but I'm not very good at making small talk with strangers and I find large social gatherings draining. I need a couple of days to myself doing things like walking, shooting zombies on the xbox or reading to recharge afterwards.

Hippies!

I'm naturally and prefer to be introverted but I adapt when in company sometimes. I find true extroverts to be very rude and ignorant people. For example if I possessed this rudeness trait as an introvert I would spend my days telling extroverts they're loud obnoxious ignorant lumps of sh*t but I don't. However, the rude extrovert would have no problem telling me "you're quiet, you're sad" or "need to be more outgoing ya weirdo" etc.

I'm never bored, deprive me of the internet, books or any other form of external stimulus and I could quite contently spend a few hours lost in my own thoughts.

Scanlas The 2nd

There is a serious amount of hatred towards extroverts around here.

Just because you're extroverted doesn't mean you're annoying, arrogant or rude.

Hippies!

No it doesn't, I was aiming my view at the far end of the extrovert spectrum and throwing in a good dash of hatred and generalisation because it's AH :pac:

Duggy747

I'm an introvert but I have no confidence or shyness issues, I just like spending time with my thoughts and being on my own or just with the GF more often than not.

I flick into extrovert mode when needs be like work or socialising but that shìt tires me so I have to have time to myself at some point during the day.

Quin_Dub

Extrovert does not equal Loud/Shouty centre of attention type of person

Introverted does not mean shy/quiet or lacking in confidence..

To get a bit w@nky about it - According to Jungian theory, an extrovert is focused on external gratification and values external validation of themselves above anything else, whereas an Introvert is focused on Internal gratification and does not value external validation.

An extrovert craves company and also derives their energy from external sources (getting a buzz from the crowd etc.)

An Introvert is the opposite - Energy is derived internally and being "in company" tends to drain energy from them.

I'm Introverted , and as others have described , I need "alone time" to recharge after time spent in large groups and I prefer my own company to that of strangers...

I'm not shy or lacking in confidence in any way shape or form , Professionally I regularly have to stand in front of large groups and deliver presentations etc and I really enjoy it ;but at a party or in the pub I will consciously avoid small-talk and "mixing" - Not because I'm shy or think that people won't be interested in what I have to say, but because it doesn't interest me and i find it tiring to do.

My wife is the complete opposite - She loves the chat , loves to get to know new people and gets energized by it - She genuinely gets a buzz from it and could strike up a conversation with anyone..However she definitely has less self-confidence than I do..

But it is a continuum - you move along the line from one end to the other (but not all the way to the other side) , there are definitely days where I'm more comfortable in groups then others..

Have a look at this - It's a personality test (Myers Briggs)that gives a different look at Introversion vs Extroversion.

HHobo

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

If you find social events draining ( moreso than non introverts) you lack confidence. You are managing people's perception of you which is causing you to be drained.

This is not the case. You can be drained for all kinds of reasons. Ever had to stand around and listen to someone talk complete s*** for several hours. Very, very draining.
Introverts, in my experience often just aren't entertained by the same things extroverts are. Being bored is often the problem. I know guy who is very introverted. He is quite confident and doesn't give a fig about what others think of him. Clueless extroverts are always trying to "bring him out of his shell". He is often irritated by extroverts who think they are doing him a favor by sparking up random conversations with him, that neither of them really have any interest in. Something I found funny was when he jokingly described extroverts foisting social interaction on introverts as "conversational rape".

Quin_Dub

HHobo wrote: »

This is not the case. You can be drained for all kinds of reasons. Ever had to stand around and listen to someone talk complete s*** for several hours. Very, very draining.
Introverts, in my experience often just aren't entertained by the same things extroverts are. Being bored is often the problem. I know guy who is very introverted. He is quite confident and doesn't give a fig about what others think of him. Clueless extroverts are always trying to "bring him out of his shell". He is often irritated by extroverts who think they are doing him a favor by sparking up random conversations with him, that neither of them really have any interest in. Something I found funny was when he jokingly described extroverts foisting social interaction on introverts as "conversational rape".

+1 on this - Couldn't agree more...

Scanlas The 2nd

HHobo wrote: »

This is not the case. You can be drained for all kinds of reasons. Ever had to stand around and listen to someone talk complete s*** for several hours. Very, very draining.
Introverts, in my experience often just aren't entertained by the same things extroverts are. Being bored is often the problem. I know guy who is very introverted. He is quite confident and doesn't give a fig about what others think of him. Clueless extroverts are always trying to "bring him out of his shell". He is often irritated by extroverts who think they are doing him a favor by sparking up random conversations with him, that neither of them really have any interest in. Something I found funny was when he jokingly described extroverts foisting social interaction on introverts as "conversational rape".

If you were more confident you wouldn't be afraid to walk away and you wouldn't feign as much interest when you aren't interested. You'd do and talk about whatever amuses you and lead the conversation, it wouldn't be any more draining.

Micro mangling people's perception of you is what's draining, a confident person is relaxed, it's not so easy getting drained when you are relaxed.

beks101

I don't really understand people who can't spend time in their own company. Who constantly need to be surrounded by other people. I guess by definition, extroversion.

To me, that seems like someone who lacks confidence. But maybe I would say that, as someone who'd be happy to spend days on end just pottering about on my own. Rarely get the chance though as I've a pretty extroverted group of friends.

I'm introverted, quiet and studious. I like gatherings, but not the loud, in your face, type. I most enjoy the company of people with similar interests who can talk about things I find interesting. I get bored very easily with chitchat, which isn't to say that I can't 'do' it.

Most people would consider me reasonably sociable, and I do well in large social gatherings. I typically enjoy smaller social gatherings more though.

I think loud obnoxiousness is often excused as extroversion, and quiet introversion mistaken for lack of confidence or social skills. This is to completely misunderstand the meaning of either term.

Quin_Dub

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

If you were more confident you wouldn't be afraid to walk away and you wouldn't feign as much interest when you aren't interested. You'd do and talk about whatever amuses you and lead the conversation, it wouldn't be any more draining.

Micro mangling people's perception of you is what's draining, a confident person is relaxed, it's not so easy getting drained when you are relaxed.

Not really - It's got absolutely nothing to do with confidence or a lack thereof ; I'm perfectly happy walking away from Strangers or just blanking them to be honest , but sometimes you can't do that - Family parties , work social events etc. It's simply not socially acceptable to do that in those circumstances so you have to put up with it...

It's mostly because it's BORING to me and being bored eventually wears you out.. I have not interest in what a stranger has to say , I don't want to "make a new friend" , I don't want to know anything about you...

Maybe it's not introversion (my wife says I'm anti-social and it's hard to disabuse her of that idea based on my track record) but whatever it is, other people need to understand that if someone has distanced themselves from the larger group at a social gathering they should not feel ANY obligation to get them reconnected.. they've done it for a reason...

carzony

beks101 wrote: »

I don't really understand people who can't spend time in their own company.

I could never understand that myself, I'd consider myself an introvert and love my own company, I really get very stressed out and moody when i'm around people for any length of time, I have to say it really does make life a little harder...

I was watching a program about it the other night. Apparently a lot of wrestlers suffer from it :eek: