The World of the Extraverts

[Orpheus]

I can't remember who it was who first gave me this idea. It wasn't mine to begin with but is, unfortunately, true. This world was built for extraverts. With the large cities, nightclubs, loud music, parties, tourist attractions, the worship of celebrities, this world is just one big distraction. Have you ever noticed how it is frowned on to be an intravert or even to be someone who just doesn't follow the crowd. Is it so dangerous to be different. Why should we follow the rest of the herd just because it is said to be socially acceptable? Socially acceptable...who decides what is acceptable? I abhor normality if it should be normal to want to be normal.

[Orionsbelt]

I would be careful in assuming that you understand this correctly. I am let's say "not shy". When I approach some one who is quiet, it is very difficult for me to be patient while they decide that they are going to talk with me. I simply move on ... too much effort to engage this person..... who I now see as not being interested in me. If over time I see some compelling reason to make more effort, I may. My wife fits into this category. Otherwise.. so sorry. I'm not frowning or even looking back. Nothing personal.... how could it be?... I don't even know them. Nobody that I know would consider me to be normal.

[Orpheus]

I am afraid that you did not understand correctly. I was talking about the way that our world has been designed, how because of the amount of distractions, people have lost the need or ability to be introspective. Instead, importance is placed only on the here and now and those who choose another way are considered "atypical." Shyness is rather irrelevant. I'm not a shy person either. I also, unconsciously, lose patience with rather shy people. However, I have even less patience with people who buy into all of the bs that this world has to offer, rather than using their time and energy for something that actually has importance.

I find it rather unlikely that anyone on this forum would wear the badge of "normality."

[Derringer]

I can't remember who it was who first gave me this idea. It wasn't mine to begin with but is, unfortunately, true. This world was built for extraverts. With the large cities, nightclubs, loud music, parties, tourist attractions, the worship of celebrities, this world is just one big distraction. Have you ever noticed how it is frowned on to be an intravert or even to be someone who just doesn't follow the crowd. Is it so dangerous to be different. Why should we follow the rest of the herd just because it is said to be socially acceptable? Socially acceptable...who decides what is acceptable? I abhor normality if it should be normal to want to be normal.

To answer your questions:
1) You don't have to , you have free will. I wouldn't call everyone else "the herd" either. They think too.

2) Society and the forces that create society: politics, religion, people, capitalism, ect.

Don't understand your last line, but I agree.

My question to you is when there are so many people who have so much to offer in a world with millions of things to do, why would you want to be an introvert?

[Bakiryu]

To answer your questions:
1) You don't have to , you have free will. I wouldn't call everyone else "the herd" either. They think too.


Yes, but they usually thinks the things others (television, magazines, radio stations) WANT THEM to think.



My question to you is when there are so many people who have so much to offer in a world with millions of things to do, why would you want to be an introvert?

Because the things everybody else likes to do are usually very boring. Like reading, it is not considered NORMAL by most people but everyone on this website reads, right?

[Orpheus]

Thank you Bakiryu, clearly you understand this line of thinking.

As to your question, Derringer: "My question to you is when there are so many people who have so much to offer in a world with millions of things to do, why would you want to be an introvert?"

I believe I have already answered it in my first post. Perhaps not directly but obviously I do not find "nightclubs, loud music, parties, tourist attractions, the worship of celebrities etc." all that appealing. You may find all of these things interesting, which is fine. I however find them to be quite frivolous. I would rather place my focus on that which has a more lasting affect, on pursuits that force me to think in another way and challenge me; rather than just turning my brain off and keeping myself amused. We all have different values, and clearly mine are rather separate from the majority of people.

Oh, and I don't want to give you the impression that I am an introvert or an extravert. I really shouldn't pigeon-hole anyone into a category like that, especially myself. I suppose that my personality consists of a little of both, as I'm sure others are like as well.

[bookworm57]

I can't remember who it was who first gave me this idea. It wasn't mine to begin with but is, unfortunately, true. This world was built for extraverts. With the large cities, nightclubs, loud music, parties, tourist attractions, the worship of celebrities, this world is just one big distraction. Have you ever noticed how it is frowned on to be an intravert or even to be someone who just doesn't follow the crowd. Is it so dangerous to be different. Why should we follow the rest of the herd just because it is said to be socially acceptable? Socially acceptable...who decides what is acceptable? I abhor normality if it should be normal to want to be normal.

Orpheus,
I agree with you that to be "socially acceptable" can be difficult if you're somewhat introvert, and yes, it does seem that society is geared towards the
kind of people you speak of. I am quite an introvert myself and have never been thought of as "One of the lads" In fact, I have very little in common with those kind of people. I used to frown on anyone who I thought was "beneath"
me. However, over the years, I have learned that every person is a product of their experience in life and we are all at different stages. many are the times when I have judged someone because they act in a particular way or because of their outlook on life. I have learned that every person is an individual and if you look just a little behind the cloak, you can discover some amazing people. We are all the same in the grand scheme of things. As for "normality" What is that? I think that normality is what is seen to be acceptable by the majority of people at any given time. Things that were considered "Perfectly normal" a few years ago are unacceptable today.


Regards:

[caffeinecups]

My question to you is when there are so many people who have so much to offer in a world with millions of things to do, why would you want to be an introvert?

I believe, Derringer, that even if extraversion or introversion is a preference, the personality of the the introvert naturally tends to go the way of introversion. Although I am an introvert, I still go out there and try to have as many social interactions as I can. But because of my personality type, at the end of the day I would normally want some time to be in my own mind. That's what I mean by preference. It's not healthy for an introvert to stay in his room all the time, but it's even more unhealthy for him to be outside of it all the time either.




I suppose that my personality consists of a little of both, as I'm sure others are like as well.

Orpheus, I believe all personalities have a little bit of both. It's our frequency of being one more than the other that labels us either.


I think that we view society as geared towards extraversion because by the mere definition of the word, it's a voluntary association of individuals. Extraverts like to do it all the time, so naturally, a lot of society's activities favor their interests. This doesn't mean introverts are given less options to be themselves. There are libraries for those who like books, media for those who enjoy entertainment, scenic countryside for those who love a good escape - just to name a few. It just so happens that when the introvert wants to go out of his safe shell and enjoy a slice of life in the fun world, the places to see and things to do are just right around the corner.

[NikolaiI]

I think everyone has the desire and ability to grow, and the ability to make decisions conducive for growth if they have accurate information, and it has been received in an undistorted way :) (psychotherapy). In other words, people are basically good, and have similar values.

I applaud and respect you, Orpheus. I have similar values, I think. It isn't waiting for a time when I'll grow, and it isn't avoiding living in the moment, it's quite the opposite. It's trying to live in the here and now, and to experience things fully.

As far as introvert, extrovert goes, to me that is just mental health, and it is up to the individual to solve it on their own.

[earthboar]

I can't remember who it was who first gave me this idea. It wasn't mine to begin with but is, unfortunately, true. This world was built for extraverts. (etc.)You're talking about society, and not the world. Woodchucks, for instance, could care less about skyscrapers and Time Square. Woodchucks, by the way, are introverts. Can you try to imagine a society built by introverts? Aren't the two mutually exclusive ideas? The more complicated a civil project, like city planning, the more interpersonal communication needs to happen.