Like kicking a puppy
10 o'clock, February 24, 2003
For those of you who haven't already seen it over at Electrolite: an introvert's manifesto, from those clever folks at the Atlantic.
Extroverts have little or no grasp of introversion. They assume that company, especially their own, is always welcome. They cannot imagine why someone would need to be alone; indeed, they often take umbrage at the suggestion. As often as I have tried to explain the matter to extroverts, I have never sensed that any of them really understood. They listen for a moment and then go back to barking and yipping.
One is, sometimes, sorely tempted to kick them. One refrains. One hopes they'll read this article.
When I was first introduced to Meyers-Briggs typologies back in high school, I was able to identify the essence of the Introvert/Extrovert dichotomy (since so many people have periods of either): when under stress, Extroverts need to be around people to recharge, and Introverts need to be alone.
Me, I am a flaming Extrovert, and that capital "E" really says it all. I sometimes go nuts here atop our mountain, hours away from most of our friends.
:P