An EXTREME introvert

[Rick]

I went to a Mensa meeting last night.

This was the first time I had went out in at least 18 years.

Nothing against people - I just don't fit in.

The Mensa meeting was...interesting. There were a few eccentric people, but, hey, who am I to call anyone eccentric. Lots of brainpower there, and very laid back. Very accepting. In some ways, it felt like family. In other ways, it felt like the Addams family. Cool.

[Hdier]

I can relate in being an extreme introvert; however my dad keeps on making me leave the house, so I have to interact with people on the outside world :shudder:.

I don't fit in either, except for the fact that I'm a human. I'm a weirdo in every group, even the group of weirdo's.

[JTG]

Yeah i go out maybe 2-3 times a month, when my friends drag me out to go drinking or watch a movie or something. Even at a party, i usually sit quietly sipping my beer somewhere toward the side of the room haha.

[Uytuun]

Hmmm...I guess I'm a pretty mild I compared to you guys.

[szaxazs]

I used to hang out say every saturday/sunday with friends.

Now however, since I am an Introvert, after some thinking, I find it more creative and interesting to spend the same time say reading some 100's of wikipedia articles (example).

Its just that I find the same time to be better spent by doing something else rather than hanging out.

Anyone with the same outlook?

[Bossy Mom]

I'm mild, too. I would rather stay home and quilt and read. My daughter, 17, is an ESFP (extra special fun person), and goes into ecstasy at the word, "shopping." She just can't miss anything. She stayed on me until I bought us tickets to the "Belly Dancing Extravaganza." Now we also have to go shopping for the appropriate clothes to wear to this thing. I'd never go out (except to work, the bank and the grocery store) except for her.

[szaxazs]

Wow you are a special case super-mom!

Leos are supposed to be more like an ESFP and you are INTJ:stunned:
(I don't take zodiacs for granted, {MBTI > Zodiacs} but it's just interesting to see the characterestics and combine them:rolleyes:)

So you are an INTJ, your zodiac is more to ESFP, and your daughter (who's at my age btw) is ESFP :stunned:

Do you love her the same as you would do if she was more introspective? {Opposites attract by the way}
[well, usually]

Me= male Aquarius and INTJ with a female Leo and ESFP had some wonderful conversations.

Notice that both Zodiacs and MBTI's are polar opposites.

Still we appreciated each characterestic of another, instead of finding gaps.

Interesting, huh?:p

[Zilal]

The Mensa meeting was...interesting. There were a few eccentric people, but, hey, who am I to call anyone eccentric. Lots of brainpower there, and very laid back. Very accepting. In some ways, it felt like family. In other ways, it felt like the Addams family. Cool.

That reminds me of my gaming friends. We used to have New England gatherings for the game we all played online, and just about everyone there would be smart, eccentric and accepting. Which was great, I could totally be myself, but it's funny. I suppose I must be used to "normal" people exclaiming over my intellect, because when I suddenly wasn't hearing it, that was an adjustment.

[ssfanatic]

Wow, you are very introverted. How did you get through high school?
But i didnt even know they had Mensa meetings, thats really cool. I took their workout on the website but i dont know how to take the test or anything.

[Imagine]

I am this way.....I seem to find solitary actvities like reading, writing or artwork much more interesting than hanging out with people. I like people...it's not that I dislike them but I feel like every ounce of my energy is drained by interacting with them with the exception of the handful which are very close to me.

[Jgib5328]

You need to force yourself to get out more. You are supposed to put yourself out there in order to increase your self development. If you don't put yourself in new situations you will remain unbalanced.

[Vaden Koch]

I can relate in being an extreme introvert; however my dad keeps on making me leave the house, so I have to interact with people on the outside world :shudder:.

I don't fit in either, except for the fact that I'm a human. I'm a weirdo in every group, even the group of weirdo's.

I think it’s important to LEARN social skills, and that does involve a certain amount of social time. But I don’t think it’s fair to be forced into social situations. I remember when my parents tried to involve in activities that forced me into social settings, it only made me feel more like an outcast. Why broadcast it to the world? And I know what you mean about feeling like a weirdo even to the weirdoes :) Your dad is naturally concerned with your development, but I’m sure you know all that. I think I just finally got to a point where I explained to my family I was okay, and there wasn’t some kind of strange unresolved conflict within me, I just liked my alone time.

[Raven Queen]

You need to force yourself to get out more. You are supposed to put yourself out there in order to increase your self development. If you don't put yourself in new situations you will remain unbalanced.

Agreed. I can be extremely introverted, staying in my room for days with virtually no human contact (both online and off) and still be fine, though I think it freaks everyone else.

Before I took the MBTI and found out that it was ok to be introverted, I thought I was just weird and I forced myself into a lot of social situations just to learn to be comfortable in them. Didn't really work too well, but at least now I'm much less awkward around other people.

[JTG]

Agreed. I can be extremely introverted, staying in my room for days with virtually no human contact (both online and off) and still be fine, though I think it freaks everyone else.

Before I took the MBTI and found out that it was ok to be introverted, I thought I was just weird

Yeah i used to be hard on myself for feeling so uncomfortable inserting myself in various social situations. Even after MBTI test, i didn't really realize the full extent of the introversion that people commonly (using the word loosely) felt. Since coming here i've figured out that it's a more or less normal thing for me, given my personality type.

To quote my parents, when i still lived with them: "YOU CAN'T SPEND THAT MUCH TIME ALONE IN YOUR ROOM! IT'S NOT NATURAL! GO OUT AND SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!!!"

[youngblooded]

I am this way.....I seem to find solitary actvities like reading, writing or artwork much more interesting than hanging out with people. I like people...it's not that I dislike them but I feel like every ounce of my energy is drained by interacting with them with the exception of the handful which are very close to me.

I feel the same way too. I don't really enjoy going out with people. Once or twice in a week is fine. I'm constantly having to consider other people's feelings when making decisions during our outings and I dislike doing so.

[AgentofGaming]

The only time I ever go out is if my family members haul me out.

My parents used to have a policy of paying me to go out, but that didn't work too well.

So to describe my introversion discounting family, I'd be on the magnitude of years not going out besides school.

[the natural]

You just have to force yourself to go out and interact with all the boring S people and melodramatic F people, and that's the sad truth. I've seen too many NT's let their extraordinary gifts go to waste because they never develop their ability to communicate them. A brilliant idea is worthless if you're the only person who can understand it.

The most successful INTJ's work hard to develop their inter-personal skills. It's not something that's going to happen easily for you, it's akin to a physically frail person training to become an athlete. But if nothing else remember IT IS WORTH DOING, the more people you talk to the more you will understand the world, and you will apply those skills to do better financially and emotionally.

Of course as I type this I realize I'm a hypocrite because I haven't been to a party in quite a while.... :thinking:

[Imagine]

You just have to force yourself to go out and interact with all the boring S people and melodramatic F people, and that's the sad truth. I've seen too many NT's let their extraordinary gifts go to waste because they never develop their ability to communicate them. A brilliant idea is worthless if you're the only person who can understand it.

The most successful INTJ's work hard to develop their inter-personal skills. It's not something that's going to happen easily for you, it's akin to a physically frail person training to become an athlete. But if nothing else remember IT IS WORTH DOING, the more people you talk to the more you will understand the world, and you will apply those skills to do better financially and emotionally.

Of course as I type this I realize I'm a hypocrite because I haven't been to a party in quite a while.... :thinking:

It is all about some kind of balance isn't it? I find that I do get lonely for human company, perhaps less frequently than many, and that I have a tight small number of people in my life who do not seem to take a huge amount of energy to be around and I love to be with them - but not all the time.

My job has me behaving as an extrovert all day. I lead groups and people and spend most of my days surrounded by them. As an INTJ, there is a price for that. But I manage it and the one thing that arms me the most is the self-knowledge of who I am and what I need to do to feel energized. Before I understood the INTJ thing, I felt as if there was something wrong with me and that I was incapable of dealing with people. This is not the case at all.

[Antares]

This used to be me. In elementary school, a rumor so nasty was spread that no one wanted anything to do with me. I turned into an extreme Introvert. Although I'm still at the same school, things have gotten better and I can fit in quite easily, but I guess the old times never go away. I still avoid people in general and dislike most of my friends.

[INTJoe]

This was the first time I had went out in at least 18 years.



Whoa....really? Dude, I need to see a pic of you. Post your pic in the Member Pictures thread. Do you have like an 8 foot beard? lol.

Where do you live? What do you do for work? How old are you?

[AgentofGaming]

This used to be me. In elementary school, a rumor so nasty was spread that no one wanted anything to do with me. I turned into an extreme Introvert. Although I'm still at the same school, things have gotten better and I can fit in quite easily, but I guess the old times never go away. I still avoid people in general and dislike most of my friends.
I disliked my high school friends. However bad friends are better than no friends as long as they aren't too bad.
By the time post-secondary came along for me, most if not all annoying friends me went separate ways.
Well I'm sort of more introverted than ever because that, in a socially bad way.

Whoa....really? Dude, I need to see a pic of you. Post your pic in the Member Pictures thread. Do you have like an 8 foot beard? lol.
He already has. No 8 foot beard, more of a classic gentleman look.

[INTJoe]

Ahh, my bad. I remember those pics. He took them outdoors! They must be circa 1990.

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