Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

I am sharing this because I read it recently via a friend and know I fall into this category which I think is highly misunderstood..... I feel a lot of Photographers also fall into this category....
_____________________________________________________________

Introverts are people whose energy tends to expand through reflection and dwindle during interaction. They often take pleasure in solitary activities. The archetypal artist, writer, sculptor, engineer, composer, and inventor are all highly introverted. An introvert is likely to enjoy time spent alone and find less reward in time spent with large groups of people. They prefer to concentrate on a single activity at a time and like to observe situations before they participate. Introverts are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement. They are more analytical before speaking.

Introversion is not the same as being shy or being a social outcast. Introverts prefer solitary activities over social ones, whereas shy people (who may be extraverts at heart) avoid social encounters out of fear, and the social outcast has little choice in the matter of his or her solitude.

Great list of myths about introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

magicray Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Randy....that's me to a tee. I just love your photos. I'm just getting into shooting 'raw' and 'HDR'. Wish me luck! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:I just bought a T5i. w/ 18-135mm lens. Any tips or links on HDR?
I also love the guitar, music, the arts. Retired graphic designer and art director. I have bookmarked you and will stay in touch.
Peace, Ray

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Thank you Magicray..Will do and look forward to seeing them..... :)

heyrob Loc: Western Washington

Yup, same here, describes me about 99%.

Thanks for the post!

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Feels good when you know you are amongst your own kind.. We have more understanding and tolerance for each other... :) Most Extroverts would never understand what is going on inside our heads :)

heyrob Loc: Western Washington

Amen to that! :thumbup:

handgunner Loc: Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Alas... Someone has finally figured out my personality and put a name to it. I wasn't always this way but by getting older I came to the realization that I did not want to be surrounded by things that annoy me. I find I do my best work if I can be by myself and not get distracted. Small children are my greatest distraaction and make me counterproductive in any task at hand. Patience is not one of my virtues.
It's kind of ironic... When I was much younger I couldn't wait to go out after work, now I can't wait to go home. Make sense? Probably not...anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Makes perfect sense to me... We may not all share the same distractions but all have our own kryptonite that hinders our thought process and creativity... I think age amplifies it a bit more...

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Worst part is, we are portrayed in the media as stalkers, voyeurs, antisocial Unabombers, and so on. Best part is that people generally leave you alone after high school.

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

:) I don't look like an approachable guy , so people leave me alone anyway... :) The people that do approach usually become long time friends..Probably because they are less judgmental... I am an easy going down to earth guy unless you push the wrong button 3 times... :) Ok, maybe 4

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Remember, even if only 1% of the world's population likes what you do, you would still have 71,000,000 fans....

handgunner Loc: Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Wow!!! Thats a lot of fans. I hope they all don't stop by for a beer all at once.

Travesty Loc: Chicago Burbs, USA

Buy the cheap stuff....

handgunner Loc: Windsor Locks, Connecticut

I do.... I give them the canned stuff. I just tell them it's keg beer in individual sized containers. lol

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I don't know. When I used to work at a photography lab, I interacted with a lot of professional photographers, and many were anything but introvert. Especially those that specialized in family portraits. You can't be all too introverted if you have to commandeer a family of strangers all afternoon and keep them in good spirits throughout the shoot. You really need to be the out-going fun type to pull it off successfully.