*** 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.

[snugs]

I am in no way organised maybe that is why I only got 1 for J

[snugs]

My files at work are very organised and you can always find something you need in them but my desk looks as if a bomb has hit it.

I tend to tidy up as I put things away but work in a mess and also at home tend to live in a bit of a mess hence why I often have problems finding things.

[snugs]

On the whole probably more introverts contribute to Internet forums than extroverts because it helps them express their viewpoint that they would have problems doing in a one to one or crowd situation. Also many have problems making friends so tend to use the Internet as a social tool as well.

This is of course again is a very over generalization but may account for some of the results.

Another category that also maybe involved in the web forum on a very regular basis is the one I would put myself in. Circumstances at home mean even if you would prefer to be out and about in the company of others you cannot because you have responsibilities at home.

[snugs]

I am a very time concious person and normally early or on time but work in a mess talk about being mixed up LOL

[snugs]

Maybe with older cats as with dogs they do because they cannot help it but with younger ones the same as dogs it is a territory thing that both cats and do mark in this way.

[snugs]

I would also add having now got involved in Internet forums I enjoy it and think even if circumstances at home were different I would still do it maybe not as many hours but there are so many people “I have met” that I want to continue to have contact with even if circumstances change at home.

Again maybe that is the extrovert part of my character coming through.

[LantzALot]

Please add.

LAL

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed, that is the problem with interpreting the results - it is not a scientific sample.

[WFTR]

Here’s your Saturday night ping. Again, if you want to be added or deleted from the ping list, please talk to DaveLoneRanger.

[LantzALot]

Got it. Thanks.

[Nowhere Man]

Blieve me, I know the feeling but I’m used to it. Sometimes Corky does leave me “little presents” on my bedroom floor ever since we got her on a laxative. I really don’t care, well, still I don’t like it, but I accept it because as long as she goes, I know she is OK. I know she is older, needs an IV twice a week and insulin everyday, so I treasure her all the time. She eats like a demon. She was born in 1989 and I had her since I was in college. She’s the last one I have that was both born in the 1980’s and when I was in college. Boo is my second oldest cat, he is black, half-Siamese, born in 1990 so he is 17.

[snugs]

Thanks for the ping

[Nowhere Man]

Well, here are some pics from the Airshow. I don't plan on going tomorrow but my house is about a mile away from the airport so I should still get a lot of pics tomorrow.



Corky (b. 1989) taken recently.



GEICO Skytypers, T-6 Texans, flying is so easy, "a caveman can do it." B-)



Fed EX Airbus A310. I work for Fed Ex Ground at the corporate HQ in accounts payable. I figure I'd take time out for the one who helps pay my bills. B-)



B-52H, built around 1960 or so, it's older than me. B-) For some reason, I had a compelling feeling I want to take it and deal with "President Tom" (I'm a Glenn Beck listener) of Iran. B-P



Thubderbirds diamond formation



All six Thunderbirds

[pigsmith]

You Are 10% Extrovert, 90% Introvert

You avoid people at all costs
You aren't one for social interaction
And you limit your interaction to a select few
Thank God for self checkout!

Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

I avoid people "at all costs"?

Well.. I wouldn't say that's quite true; even us INTP introverts get lonesome for some company.

[slugbug]

Cool pictures. I love airshows. BTW,I was in Pittsburgh last weekend for the first time ever. It is a beautiful city but there are so many bridges and tunnels! I got so lost trying to find my hotel...:^)

[NRA2BFree]

I’m both. It just depends on what I’m doing at the time. I guess that makes me an introverted extrovert. LOL!

[snugs]

Well they say an pessimist is an optimist with experience maybe that is the same with introverts :o).

[Kate of Spice Island]

A quick hello...

[ahayes]

Sorry to hear your cat's having some problems. There are a variety of reasons cats urinate in inappropriate places (such as on their owners). It's worth a vet checkup if she hasn't been in recently. If it's senility there's probably not much to be done, but if aging is causing her stress because she can't see and hear as well and is afraid, you might be able to make her more comfortable by using Feliway. It's a synthetic version of the pheromone cats leave behind when they cheek-mark objects, and makes cats feel more calm. I used it recently when my cat got idiopathic cystitis (triggered by stress) and had to be hospitalized.

An enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle can clean up the spots where she's gone outside the box so the odor doesn't attract her to that place again.