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"Introverts tend to think about what they want to say before they say it. If it’s already been said by someone else, we don’t feel the need to say it again." D
by rw 17y ago
"Introverts tend to think about what they want to say before they say it. If it’s already been said by someone else, we don’t feel the need to say it again."
Does this imply that extroverts don't? Did I sleep through this lecture in False Dichotomies 101?
- SlyShy 17y agoYeah, and then in the comment section the author starts to talk about his love of Myers-Briggs, which illustrates exactly my beef with Myers-Briggs. It creates four false dichotomies between personality "types".
- segdeha 17y agoMe saying I used to present about the MBTI is very different from me saying I want to marry it and have its baby. ;-) It's easy to get caught up in the apparent dualism of each of the 4 types. A deeper read of the thinking behind MBTI (and other personality inventories) shows that it is meant to express a continuum of tendencies. Not every introvert perfectly fits the definition, just as not every extrovert does. If you tend to affiliate with more of the feelings and behaviors associated with introverts, then you more likely fall under that category. There's no judgment involved. It's just a tool for understanding. If you know your tendencies and the natural tendencies of those around you, it can make you a more effective team member, life partner, etc.
- rglullis 17y agoBeing a Extrovert/Introvert is not an absolute value, but rather a scale. Notice that he says tend to think. So, yes, somebody that happens to be a "total extrovert" speaks before thinking. Not that they are dumb, or don't think. It's just that their do their reasoning externally, "out loud".
- fnid 17y agoI don't think it is true that extroverts don't think before speaking. The difference between I/E is that introverts think about what they are saying and extroverts think about how what they are going to say will affect those they are saying it to. Introverts care less about the feelings and emotions of their co-conversationalists and extroverts are more socially motivated to say nice things that make the group feel good or work better. I think both introverts and extroverts think about what they are going to say. The question is, what do they tend to say once they've thought about it?
- astine 17y agoThe difference between I/E is that introverts think about what they are saying and extroverts think about how what they are going to say will affect those they are saying it to. Wow, this would make me an extremely reticent extrovert. That isn't the dichotomy. The chief difference between introverts and extroverts is not whether they think about the feelings of others but how outgoing they are. Extroverts may or may not think about what they say but enjoy the attention saying it will bring. Introverts are less interested in the attention.
- rw 17y agoNo, the difference is this: extroverts regain energy by being around others, whereas introverts need to be alone.
- potatolicious 17y agoAs a Myers-Brigg-identified extrovert I object to being labeled in this way. I find these sweeping generalizations to be invalid and divisive. I think before I speak - and I certainly do not use out-loud speech as my reasoning playground. Broad brushes like these really should be avoided.
- spuz 17y agoAnd yet you paint yourself with the broad brush of a 'Myers-Brigg-identified extrovert'? It's hard to tell but I'm guessing you're being ironic?
- potatolicious 17y agoI don't see the irony - the Myers-Brigg test pegged me as an extrovert, I did not insinuate that this has any relevance to anything whatsoever - quite the opposite. The point is that most of HN identifies themselves - on the Myers-Briggs scale anyway - as introverts. The test labels me an extrovert, yet I do not see these artificial, and frankly invented, differences between all of us. I also mentioned that this sort of broad labeling is divisive - and I certainly feel this way. I've been labeled as a Myers-Brigg extrovert, and now I have the rest of HN to thank for assuming that I'm a brash, shoot-first-ask-questions-later sort of guy.
- murrayh 17y agoThe differences aren't invented. I see them every day within my own family. My Dad literally argues with himself out loud. I used to think he was arguing with me, but he's not, because now I just remain silent and the argument still happens. He's not being brash, and he's not shooting first. He's just figuring out the problem with his own method. And when he's done, he's usually right (warning: son idolising father bias). I don't see the problem labeling my Dad an extrovert... there's nothing negative about it, and it describes one general aspect of his personality pretty well. Even more so, recognising this aspect of his personality has helped me interact with him in a much more productive manner.
- pbhjpbhj 17y agoSo, yes, somebody that happens to be a "total extrovert" speaks before thinking. Not that they are dumb, or don't think. It's just that their do their reasoning externally, "out loud". That is not at all the definition of "extrovert" that I use. An extrovert to me is someone who is happy to speak up in social situations, jovial and engaging, socially adept. I've never thought of extroversion as "outloud logical progression" or "self-argument posing as argument". Indeed that last one sounds rather like an introversion to me as it is ignoring the external stimulus to focus on the internal, a sort of outloud internalisation.