Quote Originally Posted by Black Adder View Post
Okay, let's look at some statistics about our "introverted" thread starter...

Join date on this forum: 2007
Total posts: about 3,400
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Senior member, "Mentor" status, 12 friends, proud member of the Wapi Tribe... visitor messages galore...

I've met this man; he's congenial, looks you in the eye as he shakes your hand. He presents a studious self-assurance and is very willing to share his knowledge with others. He is able to speak in front of a group with no problems. Some of the most interesting initial conversation posts to this forum have come from this man.

Introvert? You decide.

I'm teasing you, Chris. You may very well be an introvert, but my point is that true introverts are in the minority in any population. Most people, when asked, will call themselves introverts, and that's where, I think, your sister got her statistics from; a poll where someone asked people to define themselves.

Most studies show that introverts comprise about 20% of any population, based on Myers-Briggs personality inventory tests. Your poll results may show this bias...

Or, perhaps, loners and straight razors go together!

By the way, I am a strong INFP. We comprise about 4-5% of the population. Having an "I" in your personality inventory doesn't mean you are an introvert. You need to look at all the factors and classifications.

A good book to read is "Party of One: The Loner's Manifesto" by Anneli Rufus. If you are an introvert, you'll see yourself in there.

Don
Ha! Thanks, Don. I put on a pretty good show in person, don't I?

I've had a bit of practice through the years. Toastmasters Club forcing myself to speak while my knees were knocking and I was literally just shy of passing out most times. I'm also, as crazy as it sounds, in sales. Truly a square peg in a round hole.

I have a limit. I prepare mentally before for any interaction with anyone other than my close family and also estimate the amount of time I'll be interacting with others; then I run through a list of topics I can pick from if need be, psyche myself up for it and dive off the deep end. The limit, should time extend much past that mentally gauged allotment, is very evident to me and becomes increasingly uncomfortable though virtually no one would know it. I know I have a limitation in this regard, but have learned to work around it rather than avoid venturing out in public.

It certainly is more pleasurable for me spending time with SRP guys in person since we share the same interest in that regard.

Chris L