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.
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 laughed tooo hard....and now i think i might have to encourage them......just a shame it is little kids who will suffer the most...... i don't like people, but hate seeing little kids being tortured.
Load More Replies...Close to 8 billion, but it will start shrinking in the next few decades.
If only introverts existed after the plague, I'd be ok with that.
Love that caption on the picture! I feel the same way and that's why "The Stand" is my favorite Stephen King book.
Especially when the crowd is loud, rowdy, drunk, and/or overall extremely ill-mannered and unpleasant to be around.
Whenever I receive an invitation to a business function or a party with people I barely know, I immediately send my "regrets" with no excuse or explanation provided. I'd rather take a nap or binge-watch TV shows I've seen numerous times than attend a gathering with strangers.
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.
Gosh, ok but, are people like going up to random people and saying, Im an introvert, then proceeding to talk? I would think they would only know if you are an introvert, if you tell them.
I'm this way every time the new semester starts at college. I love online classes for this very reason....
Because people are a******s, or toxic, or boring, or gossips!...except for Pandas of course!;)
I had to take a public speaking class and it did absolutely nothing for me except how to procrastinate even more
I only feel awkward because people stare at me because I'm alone and it's annoying
I once went to a concert with my friends and while they were all screaming at the top of their lungs i just enjoyed the music and for some reason got shamed for it.
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.