Oh no no... I wouldn't even be up there without significant help from Senor Cuervo. If I drank much more, I'm not sure I could have physically made it onto the stage.
Oh, INTP note... we're theorists/thinkers... people always looking to model, predict and improve things. My gf was in the karaoke contest and came in second, inexplicably. She was clearly the best and even the winner said so. So I'm thinking about how that happened and decided it came down to song selection. I decided the scores should have been weighted according to song difficulty or devalued according to how upbeat the song is. Those that choose upbeat, popular songs that the crowd can get into always win out versus better performances of more difficult or less catchy songs.
I'm drunk and in a party atmosphere, and this is the crap I'm thinking.
Devil, I know what you mean bro. karaoke and dance the two scariest activities ever thought up by mankind.
I'm even a good singer (used to be anyway), loved being in a choir in high school days, even a small chamber choir. I played in a band and would do 5 minute solos on my trombone - even didn't get too bothered if I made a slight mistake here or there (since I knew few in the audience could pull it off better, haha). I have no problem leading a presentation, even being able to wing it a little.
However intentionally doing anything to make myself look ridiculous is physically impossible.
I'm naturally introverted and generally consider it a weakness. I'll often force myself to be more extroverted. I'm very self-conscious, even though I'm confident in my appearance and intelligence. I absolutely hate dancing and yet envy those who can dance more than anything else. Probably my only fear in life is to look ridiculous. I race motorcycles, skydive... love risk and getting the adrenaline pumping... but if I have to make a fool of myself I'll fold like cheap suit.
Recently went to Karaoke a couple times. Pretty sure I was about to have a heart attack. The first time was okay, wasn't totally displeased with my performance... the second time, couldn't get into the song, messed it up, sounded awful and I'm pretty sure my soul hid itself under a blanket. I seized up, blocked the crowd and situation out of my mind and just finished the song. Put me in a horrible frame of mind for the rest of the night. Good male singers came over a couple times to compliment my gf's voice and I just boiled inside.
I'm insanely jealous of those people who can mess up, look ridiculous and just laugh at themselves.
I'm an INTP on Briggs-Meyer; everything gets analyzed, categorized and predicted. Sometimes you feel like a computer; turning everything into a logical model for behavioral prediction. Even in the most relaxed atmosphere my head is constantly spinning its wheels.
In a group, I never immediately try to lead. I wait and observe what leadership starts to form, determine who the dominant personality is, and only step up if I'm dissatisfied with that leadership.
I hate cell phones. My phone's only desireable purposes are to let me surf the web, access facebook, and take pics.
Most of this sounds incredibly similar to me, including the risk and adrenaline-seeking. I like those kinds of activities, too. In other areas of life, I think through every action ahead of time and think of what will happen, and then what could happen after that, and so on and on and on. So you'd think I'd be an overly cautious person in every situation, but nope...
I haven't read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating someone else's thoughts.
I am 100% introvert. No question about it. I've learned over the years to deal with feeling socially ackward, but it's still hard. I enjoy my own company. I enjoy my family. I get enough socializing at work.
The time I find it difficult is when I'm somewhere new as I am now. It's hard to make friends. I had lived in my previous area for about 20 years and had a few good friends. It took a while.
I read somewhere that an introvert can understand an extrovert but never the other way around. They get energy from socializing while an introvert feels an energy drain from socializing. Extroverts have a hard time grasping that. Posted via Mobile Device
Devil, I know what you mean bro. karaoke and dance the two scariest activities ever thought up by mankind.
I'm even a good singer (used to be anyway), loved being in a choir in high school days, even a small chamber choir. I played in a band and would do 5 minute solos on my trombone - even didn't get too bothered if I made a slight mistake here or there (since I knew few in the audience could pull it off better, haha). I have no problem leading a presentation, even being able to wing it a little.
However intentionally doing anything to make myself look ridiculous is physically impossible.
I'm not sure many people intentionally do something to make themselves look ridiculous.
As a youngster, I've played piano in front of large crowds and sung in front of most of the school as lead understudy during rehearsal. As an adult, I've danced in front of hundreds of co-workers at the annual party. Does this make me extroverted? I'm not sure. What I can tell you though is in each of these scenarios I have been absolutely ridiculously nervous. The piano - to the point of feeling nauseous and on the verge of backing out. But something in me pulls me to go ahead with it regardless and it's always been a good thing when I have. I'd like to get to the point where the thought of the thing doesn't affect me so much.
As for dealing with feeling ridiculous afterwards... I seem to be at peace with the fact that I have awkward human moments and what does it really matter anyway? If only I could have that approach beforehand with certain scenarios.
I've done karaoke many times. I never want to actually get up. I'll stay quiet and to myself until it's inevitable that I end up there. Sometimes it's been fine (that time I sang The Doors!), sometimes it's been awful lol (that time I tried to sing Le Freak), but what can ya do? I guess I take comfort in the fact that most of us are in the same boat in these types of things and laugh it off. What's the worse that can happen?
I don't think performing in public automatically makes you an extrovert. My daughter is definitely an introvert but will still perform in concerts and in plays. It's different. Posted via Mobile Device
I never gave this much thought, until now. Good distraction
I'm comfortable with speaking in public, meeting new people, not shy per say.
But I do detest loud public gatherings, in general. And crowded shopping malls.
I'm at peace at home, happy to sit back and enjoy the garden, animals, no tv, but most likely music going somewhere. I rarely get the urge to have a houseful of people.
I always thought it was because I work in a crowded downtown area. I mean really crowded. Traffic, people everywhere. Its noisy and I hate it.
I hate speaking in public. I enjoy meeting new new people if I'm in the mood for it. Sometimes I want to be social. Mostly I get enough at work. I usually avoid really crouded places. I live in the country and work in a tiny town. I've always been that way. I personally think it's genetic. Out of my five children, I have two introverts and three extroverts. They've all been raised in the same environment by me. Posted via Mobile Device
Let me correct that. I included my oldest in the extroverts, but I'm not certain. He's more social than I am but he likes being alone, too. Maybe I'll ask him what he thinks when he gets home. Posted via Mobile Device
Awesome. I love anything that puts me "outside the box."
As for the thread topic--ya I think I can be introverted. I am paradoxical. I can be sociable yet like to be alone. I hate being the center of attention. I enjoy shopping but rarely do it with anyone (friends, female relatives). I prefer it as a solo activity. Get in, get out. I enjoy being at home and relaxing but I don't mind getting out and hanging with friends too or doing fun activities. I guess I am a toss up. For instance, I am the event organizer at my workplace and when we have something, I will make an appearance but never stick around long. I watch everyone else and see how it is and dip out early/into the background. I'm kind of like the Great Gatsby. Lol. If I did not put my name on an event that I organize, most people who attend would never know I was heading the thing. I like this. It makes me happy. I have been described as "stealth," "undercover," an "enigma," and a "hermit" before. I take these all as compliments. I think private is better and I am really not into people who have to proclaim every single thing they do every 5 seconds of their lives. It's a turn off. I prefer an intimate setting but can talk to nearly anyone. I know that's confusing. Maybe I'm strange. Maybe it's because I'm an Aquarius. Lol.
This is me.
I've planned events at work. I can go to parties. I can be sociable but I don't want to be the center of attention.
At my last job (well over 10 years ago), a well-meaning work friend threw me a surprise party on the last day of work. OMG. That was a nightmare come true. I thought I was walking into a room to get something she had forgotten only to find more than 50 co-workers, managers and department heads waiting for me yelling "surprise!" Then I had to make a speech when I had nothing prepared. I did ok, but I really wanted to smack my friend a few times for springing a surprise like that on me. I thought she knew me better than that.
My husband knows better than to throw me any surprise parties.
I was in musicals growing up, always sang with my Dad while we played guitar and my job currently requires me to do a lot of public speaking.
-BUT- when I walked into this one speaking engagement prepared for a lot of people in suits (that's what I was told) and a podium but was greeted by about fifteen blue collar guys sitting at cafeteria tables staring at me...well, let's just say my nerves got the best of me and I was shaking in front of them holding my speech notes which were shaking too...so much so that I couldn't use them. It was E M B A R R A S S I N G!
Not quite as bad as the post office gig during the postal workers lunch break. The guy introduced me and turned off the television and the whole cafeteria boo'd at the television going off. HA HA HA
I'm clumsy and don't have a great editor in my head so say things I maybe should not. I've tripped going up stairs to stages and gone flat on notes I should have hit, I even spilled a bottle of water when on a panel when someone else was speaking to a silent room.
Most recently when walking with a co-worker to solicit donations for our organization, she was across the street of a city we were going door to door in. I fell flat on my face and all the materials scattered everywhere. She said one minute I was across from her and the next I disappeared. Cars stopped and asked if I was alright, strangers were helping me up. F'ing 4 inch boots and my clumsiness!
Oh boy.
None of this stops me though. It's about attitude. I'm not afraid to fail or fall or even shake because if I don't do it I won't be heard.
Does this make me an extrovert? Introvert or just plain stupid? Don't know but if I have something to say I'm going to do my best to make you hear it.
I think introverts can be performers - dancers, singers, actors, etc. Well, with acting, you're being someone else, anyway. There are plenty of actors who are introverted in their day-to-day lives. For other artists, maybe they're pulling inwardly into themselves during performances and it's less about the people watching or listening.
I hate public speaking, too. Unfortunately, I'm good at it, so I usually get volunteered for it. A public speaking course was required for my degree. I put that sucker off until the very end. I kept registering for it and then dropping it to put it off again. The instructor made us video tape our speeches. I really didn't want to watch the video of that first speech, but we had to critique ourselves. She told us our nervousness wasn't nearly as apparent to a crowd as we thought it was, and she was absolutely right. As I was giving the speech, my hands were shaking, my voice was trembling, and it felt like my face was the color of a radish. I thought for sure everyone could tell. But playing back the video, I looked poised, my voice was clear, and my blush was barely noticeable. I still dreaded every speech after that, but I felt calmer knowing that my stress was mostly invisible. That instructor was brilliant. I've gotten compliments on my public speaking since that class, and it never fails to amaze me how people don't see how much I struggle.
While reading another thread lately, I noticed there are a few introverts here, or those with spouses who are introverts. I thought it might be interesting to have a thread to say whatever we want to say about the topic. I never really gave my personality much thought until I read more in depth about introverts and discovered that is probably the label for what I am.
I guess one of my pet peeves about it is that extroverts are always trying to "cure" us as if we had a problem. They seem to think we would enjoy ourselves so much more if we would just get more involved in activities and throw ourselves into more social events.
I don't consider myself shy at all; I don't think the two are one and the same. I am also not bothered by crowds. For example, if I attend a concert, the crowd aspect does not bother me aside from the fact that there are always a few nuts in a crowd. I just don't need to be involved in social activities and around a lot of people to enjoy myself; I actually enjoy down time and being away from the hub of activity.
It is difficult to explain sometimes, however, without seeming rude. For example, at my job, which has over 30 people in the building, they are always trying to have some social activity going to prove we are "a family." I have a family, so I don't really need 30 other people to be a second one. We have a cafeteria, but they will often announce "potluck" day where everybody brings something and eats together in the lounge. I never participate because it's just not worth the trouble to me; it's not something I enjoy. It's difficult to explain that i have nothing against anybody, it's just not my idea of fun.
Also, they have Christmas parties, and the boss often has gatherings at her house. We often get free passes to this and that so we can all show up enjoy ourselves. I make an appearance sometimes just so i don't seem like a total scrooge, but I really have no desire to spend my free time with my co-workers and i get no joy from this at all.
Anyone else like this, or am i just a total nut-job.
Same here. The fire dept is the same way. Always having something like that and I never show up for the same reasons as you.
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Re: For us introverts 
