*** The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread *** June 15th - 17th 2007

6/15/2007 | WFTR

[WFTR]

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

In our ongoing series of "get acquainted" threads, this weekend's topic is whether folks are introverts or extroverts and how the difference might affect us.

In any discussion of this topic, an important point is to define what each of these personality traits means. An inaccurate and abbreviated definition, likely spoken by an extrovert, would be, "Extroverts like other people and introverts do not." A more accurate and interesting definition that I've read in many recent articles is that extroverts are people who are "recharged" by their interactions with other people and drained by having to be alone or do things alone. Introverts are the opposite. Introverts are often drained by social interaction and recharged by time spent alone. Another description that I read once but haven't been able to find again is that introverts don't dislike people but that they have a strong preference for close friendships that are already formed. Extroverts also have a need for close friendships, but they are equally as excited by the possibilities of meeting new people.

An important point is that introverts and extroverts really are "wired" differently. I've read in a couple of places that each personality type's brain will work differently when confronted with certain situations. Neither type can just "change" because being the other type seems better or because others exert pressure to make a person change.

Just over a year ago, Alamo-Girl and Nita Nupress started a thread where they asked people to take a personality survey that would identify several aspects of personality. One of these was a person's tendency to being an introvert or extrovert. That thread is at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1600787/posts . Some of you may have participated in that thread. The first initial of the personality types is an "I" or an "E" for introvert or extrovert, and Alamo-Girl and Nita Nupress listed everyone who fit each type. I haven't looked at the results in great detail, but one obvious point is that introvert Freepers outnumber extrovert Freepers by a pretty good margin among those willing to look at a thread on this topic and take the test.

The question of whether one is an introvert or extrovert has implications for us socially and politically.

Socially, extroverts will always have an advantage meeting people. I'm often a 100% introvert on these tests, and I fit the definition of someone who becomes absolutely exhausted and drained by trying to meet new people. Extrovert friends are constantly telling me to "put myself out there" and can't understand why I don't do as they suggest. The problem is that they aren't capable of understanding how difficult that step is for someone whose mind doesn't work as theirs does. The fact that "putting myself out there" is so difficult for me doesn't change the fact that I must find some way to meet people if I'm ever going to have a relationship. However, the notion that us lonely introverts are failing to take "easy steps" to improve our situation is just nonsense.

Politically, being an extrovert is an advantage for many kinds of activism. Knocking on doors or making phone calls for a candidate is much easier for an extrovert than an introvert. I've done a great deal of each in my efforts to promote Republican candidates, and both activities leave me physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I've been around other people who think that these activities are okay, and I've found that those people are typically more effective than I am.

In a short period of searching, I've found a couple of things on the web about this personality trait and how it relates to political views. They are at http://neuropolitics.org/defaultmar06.asp and http://www.personalitypage.com/political_affil.html .

This kind of thread wouldn't be complete without a self-test, and I've been looking at several on the web. Many seem pretty silly to me, but here's one that seems pretty good.

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouanextrovertorintrovertquiz/

If I were translating some of these questions into political terms, here are a few that I would use.

Would you prefer,
1. to give a speech to 100 people at a gathering to talk about an important issue in your community, or
2. to knock on 100 doors to ask people to vote for your side on that issue?

Would you prefer,
1. to write letters to your Congressional representative and senators about an issue, or
2. to go to a public rally to hold signs stating your views on the issue?

Would you rather,
1. have an impromptu discussion about an issue at a social gathering, or
2. write a commentary about that issue to be posted on a bulletin board.

[WFTR]

My hat's off to you if you can really enjoy door-to-door campaigning. If you will do door-to-door and phone bank campaigning, you will be popular with your local GOP party. Finding people to do those activities is always very hard. While the presidential race always draws a great deal of attention, you should look closely at the House of Representatives race in your district. Often, those candidates have a harder time finding volunteers, but they can be some of the most enjoyable campaigns. Because there are fewer volunteers, you will get to know the other people more and not just be a name on a list. You will likely also get to know the candidate, and if he wins, you'll have an actual friend in Congress.

Bill

[Pinkbell]

Thanks for the link to this thread. You have four dogs and two cats? We do too! :)