Anonymous wrote:I'm having problems now that I'm single again following a decade-long marriage. One of the things I loved about being married and established was that I didn't have to go out and meet new people all the time. Now, the better the dating is going, the more I'm asked to come out and meet coworkers, friends, relatives, etc. The spotlight is immediately on me, because I'm the new person and so and so's "friend." If I'm not "on" the whole time, then the judges come out with their antisocial/weird/better-than-us score cards.

This is what I would fear if my marriage ended. My spouse is the person who keeps me from just sitting on the couch with a bottle of wine and Netflix every night of the week. Or, if I do that, they're there with me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I was an introvert for years but then I realized I was a shy extrovert. Hate talking on the phone or to people I don't know, but feel energized after being with friends.

Me, too. Though I am increasingly misanthropic or slighly sociopathic. I highly enjoy the company of a cherished few people, tolerate a majority, and show impressive self-restraint with the remainder.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I thought I was an introvert for years but then I realized I was a shy extrovert. Hate talking on the phone or to people I don't know, but feel energized after being with friends.

Me, too. Though I am increasingly misanthropic or slighly sociopathic. I highly enjoy the company of a cherished few people, tolerate a majority, and show impressive self-restraint with the remainder.

I thought I was an introvert for years but then I realized I was a shy extrovert. Hate talking on the phone or to people I don't know, but feel energized after being with friends.

Anonymous wrote:I avoid social gatherings; however, one on one I would be described as very friendly. Totally need to be left alone to recharge and I don't like talking on the phone. In person, I can talk for hours one on one to someone I like who I haven't seen in a while. I won't open the door if someone just shows up at my house, uninvited. I tend to avoid group activities, i.e. acting ensembles, etc. I don't like being rushed or pushed into making a decision or engaging in an activity. In general, I love spending time alone to read, reflect, etc.

This is me.

I'm having problems now that I'm single again following a decade-long marriage. One of the things I loved about being married and established was that I didn't have to go out and meet new people all the time. Now, the better the dating is going, the more I'm asked to come out and meet coworkers, friends, relatives, etc. The spotlight is immediately on me, because I'm the new person and so and so's "friend." If I'm not "on" the whole time, then the judges come out with their antisocial/weird/better-than-us score cards.

Anonymous wrote:The first rule of introversion is...

Dude, we're not even supposed to say that part!

On the Myers-Briggs test, I've always come out Extroverted (but close to the mid-point). However; I see myself as introverted.

Myers-Briggs has the classic (original?) Jungian interpretation of extrovert and introvert, with (ok going off memory here so someone feel free to correct me) if you need to talk to think, you are an extrovert, and if you need to think before talking, you are an introvert. So it's not as much about sociability.

Re sociability, I need to do the stuff PPs said above, the recharging, etc, and don't enjoy gatherings of people, and just like my one-on-one friends.

However; I've also noticed that it depends on how one's life is going. I think that each of us is somewhere different, comfort-wise, on a social continuum between boredom and stressed out. I've noticed that if the current environment a person is in demands too much sociability for their particular comfort level, and then they say they're introverts. But not enough, and then the person thinks they are an extrovert. Does that make sense? In today's day and age of loud noise and constant stimulation, I think many of us feel that there is too much going on and want to retreat.

I am definitely introverted, but people often think I am extroverted. I have a job that involves talking a lot in front of large groups of people. I like people a lot and am very social. I feel recharged, however, only after being alone. I need daily time alone to be at my best. Also, not a fan of small talk or gossip, prefer deeper, more meaningful conversations. I also take time to consider what I am going to say before I say it, especially in front of large groups.

The first rule of introversion is...

I avoid social gatherings; however, one on one I would be described as very friendly. Totally need to be left alone to recharge and I don't like talking on the phone. In person, I can talk for hours one on one to someone I like who I haven't seen in a while. I won't open the door if someone just shows up at my house, uninvited. I tend to avoid group activities, i.e. acting ensembles, etc. I don't like being rushed or pushed into making a decision or engaging in an activity. As a performing artist, my avoidance of social gatherings and "networking" has been problematic. In general, I love spending time alone to create, read, reflect, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I hate talking on the phone, my favorite thing to do is just browse online in my room. I often need breaks to recharge if I'm spending a lot of time with people. I hate most social events.

This is me.

I hate talking on the phone, my favorite thing to do is just browse online in my room. I often need breaks to recharge if I'm spending a lot of time with people. I hate most social events.

Anonymous wrote:Tell me what you think of them, what you know of them (me)....

I'm an introvert and, well, most times I don't feel like being bothered with people. I am not the center of attention and like to mellow out in the background if I'm at a function.

Tell me what you think of them, what you know of them (me)....