Someone Asks Introverts To Share What Questions Annoy Them The Most, They Respond With 30 Tweets
For all the importance people assign to introversion and extroversion, they aren’t problems or conditions that you can be diagnosed with, just ways to describe your personality types. The only rule for what makes someone one or the other is that those with an introvert personality recharges from spending time alone and gets burned out by social interaction, while an extrovert gets down in the dumps from being alone for too long and considers getting together with people a pick-me-up.
Still, people who are strongly one or the other have a tendency to misunderstand each other, which is why people with an introvert personality type on Twitter are currently sharing their frustrations with the other side with the trending tag #StupidQuestionsForIntroverts. And although introverts aren’t, by definition, shy or anxious, you certainly can be both, and if you are, there’s some representation in here for you too.
Here are some of the most annoying things you’ve probably heard when you would rather be home in your pajamas with a book.
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A lot of memes and thinkpieces would have you believe that introverted personality individuals and extroverts are at war with each other, but despite the annoyingly silly questions we actually have a lot more in common than we think.
A study from the University of Illinois determined that people who considered themselves introverts and extroverts actually spent about the same amount of time socializing and got about as much enjoyment out of spending time with people, suggesting that the difference may be in the type of social stimulation that people who describe their personality one way or the other prefer, or how they bounced back afterward.
The phone is right next to me and I almost never answer it. If they start talking to the answering machine and it's spam then I pick up, terminate the call and delete the partial message they just left. If it's someone I know then I let them finish leaving a message and I might call them back in the next month or so.
I don't make promises about calling back. If it's important, send me a text ;)
Load More Replies...Why would anybody want to answer a call from an unknown number? It's probably just a scammer.
Because they are 89 and have want to feel important. When Dad moved in with us we ported his landline to a cell for him. He is constantly getting spam calls (and even though he says he cannot operate an iPhone, he still manages to turn off all the blocks I've put in place to prevent spammers). Several times an hour I will hear "HELLO? HELLO? I can't hear you. Somebody turned up this TV to loud and I can't turn it down" [yes, Dad is the one who turned it up but now cannot turn it down] "Can you speak up? HELLO? HELLO? Why are you whispering?!" [me at computer on deadline, Dad shoves cell phone in my face]. "You talk to them. I can't figure out a word they are saying." Of course the call is a pre-recorded message on loop from Shittie Scam Co with a special Medicare opportunity ... I tell dad it is just a scammer just trying to get his money. "Well we've got to do something!!" wut? "Well you just said someone stole my Medicare!" No Dad that's not ... "Wait a minute - I'm getting a call."
Load More Replies...The "BLOCK NUMBER" call on my cell phone... Priceless!! Call and get through to spam me once and ONLY once.
I don't answer random numbers and numbers I don't know, because I'm saving all my energy to have a real meaningful conversation with you. Just kidding. FU! I hate everyone that forces a conversation to earn their own personal merit badge.
My phone doesn't even ring if the number isn't in my phonebook. There's no way I'll answer an unknown number.
I disagree with this - a friend in need with a new phone could be on the other side. It has happened (especially with my younger sister who never remembers to charge hers). Or some other emergency. Once they called me from a blocked number because it was the military hospital where I'm registered as a potential bone marrow donor to ask me to come for more tests because I could donate soon.
But then you would listen to the message that they'd be bound to leave if it's that important and you've lost less than a couple of minutes.
Load More Replies...waiting and googling what number.. if it's spam, i didn't waste my time.. if it is something important.. they will call again :D
You can download apps that tell you who's calling as long as you are connected to the net. You can even block suspected spam numbers. It's great, now I don't have to answer the phone at all lol
Load More Replies...Bruh even extroverts don't pick up a random number they don't know when they aren't expecting a call
I'm a total extrovert but my girlfriend is a quintessential introvert and, though I kid her about it sometimes, I don't answer my phone if I don't recognize the # calling.
People just never seem to get this" My phone is for MY convenience, not yours. If I'm in the middle of doing something I enjoy (reading, writing, having a life) I'm not going to answer your call at that moment. And no - my call history is NOT an answering machine, you want a return call? Take the extra 10 seconds to ask me to do so. But again - unless it's an actual emergency (immediate threat to life or property) I will return the call when it is convenient for ME. No, I'm not a horrible person - I simply understand that not wanting to speak with someone THAT VERY SECOND is totally up to me.
It's a running gag with my family and friends that I never answer my phone. And if I call one of them, they answer by asking who died.
I get too many telemarketer calls, even with call monitoring. Plus, I spent too many years in jobs where I had to drop everything to answer the f*****g phone, and could never get anything done, so even now and even though I have a cellphone, I avoid phone calls when I can get away with it. Texting is fine, though. But only to a point.
This isn't a sign of introversion so much as a sign of the times anymore. Spoof callers are so rampant in my area that I can't even answer calls from my own area code because it's a very good chance it's a spam/scam call (like 70%+). Also, this is more likely a symptom of social anxiety--introversion does not mean a fear of interaction with others or poor social abilities
Mail in advance and book a phone meeting like a civilized person!
When I get a phone call from a number I don't recognise I put on a fake Chinese voice and make up my own dialect. I've been hung up on every time and my best time is 4 seconds
Ha! I've had the opposite issue. I've recently been getting calls from numbers I do not recognize but figure it must be important since they've left a message. Nope, just a prerecorded message in Chinese. I don't speak Chinese, I've never been to China and I've had my number for 20 years.
Load More Replies...Why don't you mind your own business or stop calling yourself my friend
I can’t miss phone calls especially unknown numbers coz It just plays on my mind. Who was it? What did they want? etc.
If I were independently wealthy I would almost never leave the house and wouldn't miss a soul. I take a month vacation every year and pretty much stay home. I don't call people, I don't visit people and I'm perfectly happy by myself and have plenty to do.
Others feel that we put way too much stock in whether we’re introverts or extroverts in the first place, treating them as fixed, mutually exclusive decrees, when many of us fall somewhere in the middle and would say that we behave more like an introvert or extrovert depending on the situation.
It's not an anomaly to have some friends who you don’t mind sitting next to in the same room reading separate books, and others who make you feel like you need a nap after meeting them for coffee. And even the biggest party animal has some hobbies that they have to go home and get back to at some point, right? It shouldn’t be so hard for them to understand and respect that some people have different social batteries, so next time you get one of these stupid questions, you can tell them that.
I'm mad that you invited someone and your making me leave the house. That means I got to put my pants back on.
If you’re not feeling that eloquent, though, if somebody asks you why you’re so quiet, you’re perfectly within your right to just pterodactyl screech in their face and see if that’s good enough for them.
One birthday, as a kid, I asked to be alone in the house. I wasn't up to anything, I just wanted peace and quiet
Yup, I'm one of those people who let the phone ring, and text later 'did you call me?'
Because at work I know what I'm talking about and my coworkers share a common knowledge about our jobs. Outside, I know nothing about you other than your physically present and wearing clothes.
Fun is watching cartoons with my wife and daughter and laughing while eating dinner and playing with the dog.
I have to be approached first, I can’t just go up to someone and start chatting randomly.
I'm not shy, I just don't want to talk and be the center of attention.
yep, sometimes it makes me too bored. but, i still prefer the silence than a crowd to fill my boredness
My SIL once said my husband was anti-social because he never came to holiday or birthday gatherings at her home. Usually these gatherings involved her whole family who we only interacted with at..you guessed it..holidays and birthday gatherings. And there were so many members to her side of the family, us going to the gatherings usually meant us sitting in a corner being ignored because we never had any non-controversial topics of conversation we could engage in. I finally told her.."why would he drive 116 miles to bored because he's ignored all day due to the huge crowd when he can stay at home and have fun watching movies and chatting online with friends he knows. It's too overwhelming." She finally started having smaller gatherings with just my brother's side of the family. After a while, we stopped going entirely because we realized that seeing them meant we had to travel all the time, they never came to see us. The effort to stay connected has to be equally shared.
And do what? Sit there while no one talks to me and spend money? I rather watch TV at home for free.
I'm great at customer service jobs. Because that's work me. Home me can have great small talk, then hide at the second or any other ensuing social occasion. Idk y
Odd thing, I'm actually a good public speaker. That's because I can plan what I'm going to say.
Note: this post originally had 62 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I retired 4 months ago, and haven't left the vicinity of the house since. Reading everything stacked up on my Kindle and feeling very chill. Introverts unite...or not.
Where do I start. Okay, here's an example. I was on a bus recently and somebody just started to enter me into a conversation. Dear God, please, no. But I'm not a rude person, so I come out with all the scripted lines that I've learnt over the years, 'Yes, it has turned quite cold recently'. 'Oh, that's good that you're feeling better', 'Yes, I'm just popping into town to do a few things'. All the while I'm counting down the time till my stop, knowing that it's only a few minutes away. Two minutes. One minute. Bus stop. Relief.
I was the most social person before i developed anxiety disorder. Now, i dread ringtones and sweat when my friends and family (whom i lovr a lot) announce that they r coming. But when they r here i am able to talk like an extrovert bcoz i put in a lot of energy into maintaining 'normalcy'.
I'm an introvert and a misanthrope. Number 27 is the question that pisses me off the most. "Don't you get lonely? Don't you get bored being by yourself?" How condescending! As if it's wrong to actually like and enjoy your own company and it's the job of whoever is asking you this stupid question to bring your self-esteem down a couple of notches to a more realistic level...THEIR perceptions of reality, anyway. Because how dare we like ourselves even a little bit?!
I read a great book called "Quiet: The power of introverts..." by S Cain. And it was basically like discovering, yes, I am human and okay the way I am. Also, I have PTSD. Atoip being a natural introvert. So, y'know. Humanity = danger/enemy/stress.
Ptsd is fun right? I feel like I’ve overcome it then something triggers. It’s also been almost 4 years since my very mild nut allergy turned anaphylactic, so I have added to it from almost dying, twice. I legitimately have a phobia of peanuts now. I feel pathetic. I feel too old to be this picky with family. I am not confrontational but now I have to be so I’m safe.
Load More Replies...I read somewhere someone said that (paraphrased) "introverts like to say they don't like to talk, but they sure like to talk about them being introverts", and I think about this a lot. (I am not much of an introvert but rather asocial. I can interact with ppl without anxiety, but I'd rather not.)
Meh, as an introvert, I say, I DO like to talk. I just don't have the chance to. Also, nobody seems to be interested in the same nerdy topics.... ㅠㅜ
Load More Replies...Not a question, but a statement that makes me mad AF... When I tell people that my dream is buy a house in the woods, with no people around, they always tell me "BS, you'll regret it within a week, no one can live alone in the woods!" At this point I'm ready to strangle the next person who says this. I've lives in this world for 43, years, I know a thing or two about myself, thank you very much. When I say I want to live alone in the woods I MEAN IT! No, I will not get bored, no I will not feel alone, yes, nature is my best friend.
We recently had a big 60th b-day party for my dad. I saw a lot of people who I love and hadn't seen in awhile. I genuinely enjoyed talking to them but the problem was, there were A LOT of people. If there are more that 6 people in one room, it does not matter who those people are and how much I love them, I will still be majorly stressed. On that particular day, I went out to my car to get something and had to really force myself to go back in the house.
The one I get the most is the incredulous “You’re really bringing a book to the dance/party/restaurant/sports game etc.??”
Never gave much thought to being either an introvert or an extravert. After reading this, I’m surprised to find I’m mostly an introvert?! I’ve always been the life of the party, love talking publicly, play practical jokes on others, introduce myself to anyone, and usually the lead dancer in the “Bunny Hop”. Yet, I was told I should see a shrink because, for the most part, I really don’t like people. My son is the same way. He’s always in the eye of the party. He’s the joker, always doing something dumb to make everyone laugh. And where is he right now? In Antarctica vacationing ‘alone’. Still, he will talk to a stranger to get his picture taken to send to back home. Now my daughter is a true introvert. The only difference with her is, as much as she’d rather read a book in quiet, she happily will tag along when asked to do something or go somewhere... most of the time. This article gave great thought and insight to two words that never really meant anything to me before.
Oh wow this was me over 10 years ago. The life of the party, the social butterfly. Until I realised it was all fake 😢 truly I've never recovered. I was extremely shy and afraid of everything and everyone until maybe 17, then put the act on thanks to employment etc which lasted till about 26. Then it all fell apart and I'm 41 now. And I've never even taken my 8 year old to the park. It's so hard. One extreme to another I guess but neither feel genuine
Load More Replies...I had a teacher write to my mum that I didn’t participate in class (I did when it was required or part of my grade, never more and never less). My mum asked what I wasn’t participating in. My teacher said I wouldn’t talk to the other kids during game time/days and would sit in the corner reading and the like by myself instead of playing board games. My mum said it wasn’t a problem- I was socializing enough, and there was no problem with me liking my alone time and reading. I still don’t know why that teacher was complaining- one less loud kid to worry about.
Omg I related to every single one of these. I never used to be such an introvert or atleast I was able to take my social butterfly skills amazingly till suddenly I couldn't fake it anymore. Unfortunately I've suffered with clinical depression and anxiety pretty much since I stopped pretending and so became more and more introverted. I think there maybe a difference between myself and others though because of my mental health. Lots of introverts I assume choose to spend time alone and not socialise, I feel I don't have a choice. I'm kind of trapped within the prison I built for myself😢
I would love to find a significant other who can be in the same room with me and not feel they need to talk. Just share the quite and peace.
I can't relate to this. One of my favorite things is to sit next to a complete stranger and start a conversation. I've met some seriously fascinating people by doing that.
Me too. You don't have to make them your best friend or invite them home. Maybe I'm just curious.
Load More Replies...Having to call someone is the worst. Coming up with that miserable small talk when all you want to do is ask a question, get an answer, then hang up...
I love these. I found my people. They are all home not having any interest in ever talking to me. :))))))
It seems to me that the terms of introvert and extrovert are often very simplified as introverts hate people and all social situations and extroverts love all social situations and all people. Being introvert dosent make you a complete anti-social. as far as i understand anti-social personality disorder is a much better term for what some a describing. And most people are a mix of both.
My parents had a get-together with friends this past weekend. Asked if I wanted to go along. I said no, I don't like being around people, you already know this, blah blah blah. To my mother, this meant I was willing to go, but I needed an incentive. She asked if I'd provide the music. I said yes, if I got to play some metal. She said no, so I said no, and stayed home like I wanted in the first place.
I am a extrovert, yet half of these apply to me. I still feel self conscious about many things, so i like never answer the phone, and if Im going somewhere, it cant be more that 1 person. I also have being photographed. Lol
I decided a few years ago if I don't want to go somewhere I won't go, I tell people straight out I'm not going and if they ask me why, I tell them I don't want to end of story, if they don't like it that's too bad I don't really care.
I'm sort of an introvert, I guess. I'm a teacher and have no trouble talking to groups of a hundred people, but I can also stay at home (mountains) quite happily for a week without seeing anybody or talking to anybody but my dogs.
I'm not really an introvert (I can get up and give a quick speech at the drop of a hat, no problem). I do enjoy meeting and speaking with new people, but that doesn't mean I want to CONTINUE or take you home with me. I prefer to keep my circle small (quality over quantity) and my absolute favorite place on earth to be is at home alone with my spouse. Anyplace with too many people is just asking for trouble, especially if they're drinking. I don't necessarily dislike one person, it's when that person becomes PEOPLE that I'm ready to go.
And some feel horribly guilty knowing their avoidance of ppl might hurt their feelings. It's often blended with anxiety etc, it's not just that we are entitled asshats. I can stress for days about responding to a simple message from a friend or family, and every time I think about it I get a jolt of adrenaline and go into fight or flight mode it's not easy, its not a choice and I resent the implication that all introverts are just lazy and entitled.
Load More Replies...I'm pretty sure most everyone is on a sliding spectrum that is constantly changing. No one is every just a introvert from the time they're born until they die. I think most people are ambiverts trying to jump on the introvert train since our society is encouraging people to stay in and binge watch Netflix specials.
I retired 4 months ago, and haven't left the vicinity of the house since. Reading everything stacked up on my Kindle and feeling very chill. Introverts unite...or not.
Where do I start. Okay, here's an example. I was on a bus recently and somebody just started to enter me into a conversation. Dear God, please, no. But I'm not a rude person, so I come out with all the scripted lines that I've learnt over the years, 'Yes, it has turned quite cold recently'. 'Oh, that's good that you're feeling better', 'Yes, I'm just popping into town to do a few things'. All the while I'm counting down the time till my stop, knowing that it's only a few minutes away. Two minutes. One minute. Bus stop. Relief.
I was the most social person before i developed anxiety disorder. Now, i dread ringtones and sweat when my friends and family (whom i lovr a lot) announce that they r coming. But when they r here i am able to talk like an extrovert bcoz i put in a lot of energy into maintaining 'normalcy'.
I'm an introvert and a misanthrope. Number 27 is the question that pisses me off the most. "Don't you get lonely? Don't you get bored being by yourself?" How condescending! As if it's wrong to actually like and enjoy your own company and it's the job of whoever is asking you this stupid question to bring your self-esteem down a couple of notches to a more realistic level...THEIR perceptions of reality, anyway. Because how dare we like ourselves even a little bit?!
I read a great book called "Quiet: The power of introverts..." by S Cain. And it was basically like discovering, yes, I am human and okay the way I am. Also, I have PTSD. Atoip being a natural introvert. So, y'know. Humanity = danger/enemy/stress.
Ptsd is fun right? I feel like I’ve overcome it then something triggers. It’s also been almost 4 years since my very mild nut allergy turned anaphylactic, so I have added to it from almost dying, twice. I legitimately have a phobia of peanuts now. I feel pathetic. I feel too old to be this picky with family. I am not confrontational but now I have to be so I’m safe.
Load More Replies...I read somewhere someone said that (paraphrased) "introverts like to say they don't like to talk, but they sure like to talk about them being introverts", and I think about this a lot. (I am not much of an introvert but rather asocial. I can interact with ppl without anxiety, but I'd rather not.)
Meh, as an introvert, I say, I DO like to talk. I just don't have the chance to. Also, nobody seems to be interested in the same nerdy topics.... ㅠㅜ
Load More Replies...Not a question, but a statement that makes me mad AF... When I tell people that my dream is buy a house in the woods, with no people around, they always tell me "BS, you'll regret it within a week, no one can live alone in the woods!" At this point I'm ready to strangle the next person who says this. I've lives in this world for 43, years, I know a thing or two about myself, thank you very much. When I say I want to live alone in the woods I MEAN IT! No, I will not get bored, no I will not feel alone, yes, nature is my best friend.
We recently had a big 60th b-day party for my dad. I saw a lot of people who I love and hadn't seen in awhile. I genuinely enjoyed talking to them but the problem was, there were A LOT of people. If there are more that 6 people in one room, it does not matter who those people are and how much I love them, I will still be majorly stressed. On that particular day, I went out to my car to get something and had to really force myself to go back in the house.
The one I get the most is the incredulous “You’re really bringing a book to the dance/party/restaurant/sports game etc.??”
Never gave much thought to being either an introvert or an extravert. After reading this, I’m surprised to find I’m mostly an introvert?! I’ve always been the life of the party, love talking publicly, play practical jokes on others, introduce myself to anyone, and usually the lead dancer in the “Bunny Hop”. Yet, I was told I should see a shrink because, for the most part, I really don’t like people. My son is the same way. He’s always in the eye of the party. He’s the joker, always doing something dumb to make everyone laugh. And where is he right now? In Antarctica vacationing ‘alone’. Still, he will talk to a stranger to get his picture taken to send to back home. Now my daughter is a true introvert. The only difference with her is, as much as she’d rather read a book in quiet, she happily will tag along when asked to do something or go somewhere... most of the time. This article gave great thought and insight to two words that never really meant anything to me before.
Oh wow this was me over 10 years ago. The life of the party, the social butterfly. Until I realised it was all fake 😢 truly I've never recovered. I was extremely shy and afraid of everything and everyone until maybe 17, then put the act on thanks to employment etc which lasted till about 26. Then it all fell apart and I'm 41 now. And I've never even taken my 8 year old to the park. It's so hard. One extreme to another I guess but neither feel genuine
Load More Replies...I had a teacher write to my mum that I didn’t participate in class (I did when it was required or part of my grade, never more and never less). My mum asked what I wasn’t participating in. My teacher said I wouldn’t talk to the other kids during game time/days and would sit in the corner reading and the like by myself instead of playing board games. My mum said it wasn’t a problem- I was socializing enough, and there was no problem with me liking my alone time and reading. I still don’t know why that teacher was complaining- one less loud kid to worry about.
Omg I related to every single one of these. I never used to be such an introvert or atleast I was able to take my social butterfly skills amazingly till suddenly I couldn't fake it anymore. Unfortunately I've suffered with clinical depression and anxiety pretty much since I stopped pretending and so became more and more introverted. I think there maybe a difference between myself and others though because of my mental health. Lots of introverts I assume choose to spend time alone and not socialise, I feel I don't have a choice. I'm kind of trapped within the prison I built for myself😢
I would love to find a significant other who can be in the same room with me and not feel they need to talk. Just share the quite and peace.
I can't relate to this. One of my favorite things is to sit next to a complete stranger and start a conversation. I've met some seriously fascinating people by doing that.
Me too. You don't have to make them your best friend or invite them home. Maybe I'm just curious.
Load More Replies...Having to call someone is the worst. Coming up with that miserable small talk when all you want to do is ask a question, get an answer, then hang up...
I love these. I found my people. They are all home not having any interest in ever talking to me. :))))))
It seems to me that the terms of introvert and extrovert are often very simplified as introverts hate people and all social situations and extroverts love all social situations and all people. Being introvert dosent make you a complete anti-social. as far as i understand anti-social personality disorder is a much better term for what some a describing. And most people are a mix of both.
My parents had a get-together with friends this past weekend. Asked if I wanted to go along. I said no, I don't like being around people, you already know this, blah blah blah. To my mother, this meant I was willing to go, but I needed an incentive. She asked if I'd provide the music. I said yes, if I got to play some metal. She said no, so I said no, and stayed home like I wanted in the first place.
I am a extrovert, yet half of these apply to me. I still feel self conscious about many things, so i like never answer the phone, and if Im going somewhere, it cant be more that 1 person. I also have being photographed. Lol
I decided a few years ago if I don't want to go somewhere I won't go, I tell people straight out I'm not going and if they ask me why, I tell them I don't want to end of story, if they don't like it that's too bad I don't really care.
I'm sort of an introvert, I guess. I'm a teacher and have no trouble talking to groups of a hundred people, but I can also stay at home (mountains) quite happily for a week without seeing anybody or talking to anybody but my dogs.
I'm not really an introvert (I can get up and give a quick speech at the drop of a hat, no problem). I do enjoy meeting and speaking with new people, but that doesn't mean I want to CONTINUE or take you home with me. I prefer to keep my circle small (quality over quantity) and my absolute favorite place on earth to be is at home alone with my spouse. Anyplace with too many people is just asking for trouble, especially if they're drinking. I don't necessarily dislike one person, it's when that person becomes PEOPLE that I'm ready to go.
And some feel horribly guilty knowing their avoidance of ppl might hurt their feelings. It's often blended with anxiety etc, it's not just that we are entitled asshats. I can stress for days about responding to a simple message from a friend or family, and every time I think about it I get a jolt of adrenaline and go into fight or flight mode it's not easy, its not a choice and I resent the implication that all introverts are just lazy and entitled.
Load More Replies...I'm pretty sure most everyone is on a sliding spectrum that is constantly changing. No one is every just a introvert from the time they're born until they die. I think most people are ambiverts trying to jump on the introvert train since our society is encouraging people to stay in and binge watch Netflix specials.