A man in sheep's clothing..

**IsaacN** · 01-26-2012, 10:06 AM

If I was a cartoon, learning that this site exists would be akin to a light bulb going off over my head. There are more people out there like me? Yes, yes, we're all individuals, I know that. But seeing this active community was a pretty exciting discovery for me.

Who am I? I'm a middle-aged scientist working for the big government. Also a husband, father, reader, eternal-student, male underwear model, baseball fan. And I'm sort of two different people. Sometimes I have to speak in front of big crowds, take charge, lead teams, go to social functions and generally turn on an extroverted side of me that isn't completely natural. Other times I get to be more myself- by thinking critically, planning, analyzing, studying, reading, etc.

I've often told friends that I'm an introvert, but don't confuse that with being shy. What drove me here today was a news story I heard this morning about politicians and how they're mostly extroverts. The writer said that some politicians are really introverts who actually overcome it and learn how to be extroverted when they have to. I took slight offense to this as I've never seen introversion as something that anyone would ever need to overcome. I guess it just bugs me when people assume that introverts are shy. And many in our society equate shyness with negative characteristics such as being meek and timid and unable to be a good leader. I contest that many of us aren't shy. As I sometimes tell my wife, I'm not shy, I just usually prefer the company of myself to most other people.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading all the topics on this site and contributing where I can. Also, I've never been a male underwear model. The rest of the above is all true..

**KeithP** · 01-26-2012, 10:17 AM

Welcome, Sir.

**deconspire** · 01-26-2012, 10:21 AM

Welcome!

**RedOrange823** · 01-26-2012, 12:10 PM

Hello, and welcome

Cooper · 01-26-2012, 12:21 PM

Welcome to the Alley...

**Tengu** · 01-26-2012, 12:37 PM

Always interesting to see how the outer world perceive introverts; Something that needs to be overcome. Jaw dropping isn't it?

Welcome Mr. ~~Underpants~~ IsaacN.

**Deliberator** · 01-26-2012, 01:02 PM

What kind of science?

**MONADANOM** · 01-26-2012, 03:19 PM

Must be thrilling to live/work in Fantasyland North.
And exactly right: introversion doesn't have to be 'overcome', simply understood, appreciated, and the appropriate degree of fear and groveling instilled in the great unwashed XT masses. [Define XT as you will.]
BTW: {welcome}

**DelphianEtude** · 01-26-2012, 03:24 PM

Greetings IsaacN. I share a similar distaste for people who see introversion as something to be overcome.

**Aboni** · 01-27-2012, 06:58 AM

Welcome

**IsaacN** · 01-30-2012, 06:43 PM

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone.

@Deliberator: physics. Missile defense for the Navy.

**intjistp** · 01-31-2012, 01:14 AM

Hello. Missiles are fun

**Zethariel** · 01-31-2012, 04:09 AM

Awww, I was winding up to ask you 'bout the fanciest undies this spring

Nontheless, welcome!

**voyvoy** · 01-31-2012, 04:59 AM

Welcome!

Are you dressed as a sheep because you covet the intimacy of a shepherd?

Anyway, I've found that introversion basically means deriving ideas from the subject instead of the object. Nothing to do with shyness.

**turbo6bar** · 01-31-2012, 06:22 AM

	Originally Posted by IsaacN
	If I was a cartoon, learning that this site exists would be akin to a light bulb going off over my head. There are more people out there like me? Yes, yes, we're all individuals, I know that. But seeing this active community was a pretty exciting discovery for me.

Same here. I'm dumbfounded with excitement.

An extrovert vs introvert comparison that appealed to me was extroverts are about what's outside themselves, while introverts are focused on what's inside their mind. It's not that I don't like people. Rather, I prefer the ideas and thoughts inside my mind.

Welcome.

**Chazzaroo** · 01-31-2012, 06:29 AM

Welcome, IsaacN. About introversion not being something to 'overcome,' I could not agree with you more.

**theiceman** · 01-31-2012, 09:24 AM

Hi, welcome to the forum.

**Integer** · 01-31-2012, 02:27 PM

Welcome fellow middle ager.

**elTee13** · 01-31-2012, 02:47 PM

I love this quote from a 2003 The Atlantic article:


	How can I let the introvert in my life know that I support him and respect his choice? First, recognize that it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation. Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don't say "What's the matter?" or "Are you all right?" Third, don't say anything else, either.

Welcome aboard!

01-26-2012, 10:06 AM	#1
IsaacN New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	If I was a cartoon, learning that this site exists would be akin to a light bulb going off over my head. There are more people out there like me? Yes, yes, we're all individuals, I know that. But seeing this active community was a pretty exciting discovery for me. Who am I? I'm a middle-aged scientist working for the big government. Also a husband, father, reader, eternal-student, male underwear model, baseball fan. And I'm sort of two different people. Sometimes I have to speak in front of big crowds, take charge, lead teams, go to social functions and generally turn on an extroverted side of me that isn't completely natural. Other times I get to be more myself- by thinking critically, planning, analyzing, studying, reading, etc. I've often told friends that I'm an introvert, but don't confuse that with being shy. What drove me here today was a news story I heard this morning about politicians and how they're mostly extroverts. The writer said that some politicians are really introverts who actually overcome it and learn how to be extroverted when they have to. I took slight offense to this as I've never seen introversion as something that anyone would ever need to overcome. I guess it just bugs me when people assume that introverts are shy. And many in our society equate shyness with negative characteristics such as being meek and timid and unable to be a good leader. I contest that many of us aren't shy. As I sometimes tell my wife, I'm not shy, I just usually prefer the company of myself to most other people. Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading all the topics on this site and contributing where I can. Also, I've never been a male underwear model. The rest of the above is all true..
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01-26-2012, 10:17 AM	#2
KeithP Member [26%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,046	Welcome, Sir.
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01-26-2012, 10:21 AM	#3
deconspire Core Member [187%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,489	Welcome!
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01-26-2012, 12:10 PM	#4
RedOrange823 Core Member [557%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22,310	Hello, and welcome
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01-26-2012, 12:21 PM	#5
Cooper Core Member [1339%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 53,565	Welcome to the Alley...
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01-26-2012, 12:37 PM	#6
Tengu Veteran Member [56%] MBTI: INTj Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2,280	Always interesting to see how the outer world perceive introverts; Something that needs to be overcome. Jaw dropping isn't it? Welcome Mr. ~~Underpants~~ IsaacN.
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01-26-2012, 01:02 PM	#7
Deliberator Core Member [122%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,884	What kind of science?
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01-26-2012, 03:19 PM	#8
MONADANOM Member [06%] MBTI: intj Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 279	Must be thrilling to live/work in Fantasyland North. And exactly right: introversion doesn't have to be 'overcome', simply understood, appreciated, and the appropriate degree of fear and groveling instilled in the great unwashed XT masses. [Define XT as you will.] BTW: {welcome}
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01-26-2012, 03:24 PM	#9
DelphianEtude Member [09%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 367	Greetings IsaacN. I share a similar distaste for people who see introversion as something to be overcome.
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01-27-2012, 06:58 AM	#10
Aboni Banned MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 644	Welcome
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01-30-2012, 06:43 PM	#11
IsaacN New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 4	Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone. @Deliberator: physics. Missile defense for the Navy.
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01-31-2012, 01:14 AM	#12
intjistp Member [24%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 993	Hello. Missiles are fun
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01-31-2012, 04:09 AM	#13
Zethariel Member [21%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 865	Awww, I was winding up to ask you 'bout the fanciest undies this spring Nontheless, welcome!
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01-31-2012, 04:59 AM	#14
voyvoy New Member [01%] MBTI: ESFP Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 72	Welcome! Are you dressed as a sheep because you covet the intimacy of a shepherd? Anyway, I've found that introversion basically means deriving ideas from the subject instead of the object. Nothing to do with shyness.
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01-31-2012, 06:29 AM	#16
Chazzaroo Member [06%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 252	Welcome, IsaacN. About introversion not being something to 'overcome,' I could not agree with you more.
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01-31-2012, 09:24 AM	#17
theiceman Member [42%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,705	Hi, welcome to the forum.
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01-31-2012, 02:27 PM	#18
Integer Member [15%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 609	Welcome fellow middle ager.
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