4 ms·

Fellow INTP here. The conflation of introvert and shy is a continual source of frustration. Even my immediate family was dismissive when I casually mentioned I’

Fellow INTP here. The conflation of introvert and shy is a continual source of frustration. Even my immediate family was dismissive when I casually mentioned I’m pretty deeply introverted.

analog31 9y ago
In my view, there are a lot of cases where people conflate the "clinical" and "popular" definitions of words. For instance if I say that I'm "depressed," it doesn't mean that I've been diagnosed with clinical depression. It just means that I'm bummed. Unfortunately, people will interpret your comments according to their own biases, and I've that a lot of people are biased to distrust or dislike introverts. For this reason, I would never admit to being an introvert, in a business setting. I would rather tell people that I'm mildly extroverted, and then let them believe what they want.
- mixmastamyk 9y ago
  Why would you be discussing your personal attributes in a business setting?
  - analog31 9y ago
    Interestingly, I once worked for an employer that required everybody to take a personality test. The results were never discussed with anybody, and the whole thing could have been a bunch of hocus pocus, but it nonetheless raised the issue.
    - INTPenis 9y ago
      It's actually pretty common to do personality testing in businesses. Some hire an MBTI consultant for whole workshop days. Some just order a pre-made test.
      - analog31 9y ago
        When taking the test, it should be possible to identify the questions that code for the "extrovert" and "introvert" scale.
        INTPenis 9y ago
        Oh yes it is. That's the sad part. When you find yourself manipulating your own personality test. :) I actually meant to reply to the person above you who was surprised that you'd reveal that information in a business setting.
        analog31 9y ago
        I've thought a bit about it, and am actually OK with it. For one thing, we manipulate our own personalities, so why not our personality tests. It's our job to make people comfortable working with us. The people whom we work with don't have to know what we're actually thinking at any given moment. In fact, I suspect if it were actually possible to create an algorithm that opens up a window into our minds, civility and collaboration would collapse.
netule 9y ago
Modern society hasn't evolved to include introverted people. I find that in a business setting, I'm always forced to be fake-extroverted just to fit in or I might be perceived as having a mood. This is pretty apparent from the amount of books and articles there are for converting introverts into extroverts.
- Retra 9y ago
  I overheard someone giving advice to their daughter the other day that was basically "if you don't go out and meet new people, then you will be unhappy in your life." Which is absolute bullshit, but c'est la vie.
mrfusion 9y ago
Totally agree. I'm actually a shy extrovert. I'm unhappy around people and not around people :-(

Fellow INTP here. The conflation of introvert and shy is a continual source of frustration. Even my immediate family was dismissive when I casually mentioned I’m pretty deeply introverted.

analog31 9y ago

In my view, there are a lot of cases where people conflate the "clinical" and "popular" definitions of words. For instance if I say that I'm "depressed," it doesn't mean that I've been diagnosed with clinical depression. It just means that I'm bummed. Unfortunately, people will interpret your comments according to their own biases, and I've that a lot of people are biased to distrust or dislike introverts. For this reason, I would never admit to being an introvert, in a business setting. I would rather tell people that I'm mildly extroverted, and then let them believe what they want.

mixmastamyk 9y ago
Why would you be discussing your personal attributes in a business setting?
- analog31 9y ago
  Interestingly, I once worked for an employer that required everybody to take a personality test. The results were never discussed with anybody, and the whole thing could have been a bunch of hocus pocus, but it nonetheless raised the issue.
  - INTPenis 9y ago
    It's actually pretty common to do personality testing in businesses. Some hire an MBTI consultant for whole workshop days. Some just order a pre-made test.
    - analog31 9y ago
      When taking the test, it should be possible to identify the questions that code for the "extrovert" and "introvert" scale.
      - INTPenis 9y ago
        Oh yes it is. That's the sad part. When you find yourself manipulating your own personality test. :) I actually meant to reply to the person above you who was surprised that you'd reveal that information in a business setting.
        analog31 9y ago
        I've thought a bit about it, and am actually OK with it. For one thing, we manipulate our own personalities, so why not our personality tests. It's our job to make people comfortable working with us. The people whom we work with don't have to know what we're actually thinking at any given moment. In fact, I suspect if it were actually possible to create an algorithm that opens up a window into our minds, civility and collaboration would collapse.

netule 9y ago

Modern society hasn't evolved to include introverted people. I find that in a business setting, I'm always forced to be fake-extroverted just to fit in or I might be perceived as having a mood. This is pretty apparent from the amount of books and articles there are for converting introverts into extroverts.

Retra 9y ago
I overheard someone giving advice to their daughter the other day that was basically "if you don't go out and meet new people, then you will be unhappy in your life." Which is absolute bullshit, but c'est la vie.

mrfusion 9y ago

Totally agree. I'm actually a shy extrovert. I'm unhappy around people and not around people :-(