I think I'm pretty good at reading people and can't think off hand of someone I've read completely wrong. However being somewhat of an introvert I also have to admit that I do exactly what you are describing, trying to be useful or find something to do to avoid social interactions, although I can give a good impression of being social.
Don't mean to give the impression that I am "energized" by being around most people Domenic. Perhaps the advantage to which you refer is my talent for "reading" people. Most people really tire and deplete me whether I show it or not, which is why I pass on many social situations, since in a large group the majority of people are draining. Most people won't notice this though, and it is simply because of a lot of practice which I don't bother to do much these days. Practice may not "make perfect" but it is the key to improvement in almost anything. There are a few rare people that do actually get me energized to the point of having a very pleasant buzz, but they are very few in number.
> Perhaps the advantage to which you refer is my talent for "reading" people.
Yes!
> since in a large group the majority of people are draining.
That's the introvert reaction, which I also find true about myself. It's how I know I'm not an extrovert, even though I've been able to be a public performer without falling flat on my face (though opinions may vary as to this last point 😅).
Seems we've each found ways to practice things that aren't easy/comfortable for us 🙏
I had to go and read your post on learning languages before I commented. Difficulty in learning another language is a weakness of mine, too; whether Spanish, ASL, or Python. My mother used to quote a teacher of hers, to the effect that learning should be like water to get and a rock to hold, but too often it is a rock to get and water to hold. I recommit to learning Spanish periodically
Same, heh. I've gotten to the point where I've memorized some things, like the Nicene Creed, in Spanish. But being able to recite those phrases and sentences in their formatting, doesn't mean I know how to take the words out of the phrases and sentences and make new phrases and sentences.
Python! Have you done some coding/scripting, either professionally or on your own as a hobby? I enjoyed Python more than the other web-development coding languages, probably in part because all we were doing with Python was logic/math puzzles. I can do the math and logic, and the Python had enough semantic English for me to hack my way through it/
Well said! And kudos on revealing your own insecurities.
I'll do similarly: My major weakness is that I'm so awesome and likeable and perfect, it can make everybody else in the universe feel diminished. I'm working on it, though!
Introverts unite in doing something helpful to avoid the discomfort of conversing
How sure are you that the introverts will *unite*? 🤔 😅
Well aren't we doing that here Domenic? Conversing by text has always been much easier and less stressful for me than conversing in person.
Resolved: We'll unite, but only if we can stay separate! 🤝
Best of both worlds, right?! Isn't that the point of what we want here, united in common interests but without giving up individuality?
I think I'm pretty good at reading people and can't think off hand of someone I've read completely wrong. However being somewhat of an introvert I also have to admit that I do exactly what you are describing, trying to be useful or find something to do to avoid social interactions, although I can give a good impression of being social.
You have an advantage on me, Hat!
And I think I give a good impression of being social, too. I'm simply not energized by having people around the way extroverts are.
Is there a key you found to developing your social skills as an introvert?
Don't mean to give the impression that I am "energized" by being around most people Domenic. Perhaps the advantage to which you refer is my talent for "reading" people. Most people really tire and deplete me whether I show it or not, which is why I pass on many social situations, since in a large group the majority of people are draining. Most people won't notice this though, and it is simply because of a lot of practice which I don't bother to do much these days. Practice may not "make perfect" but it is the key to improvement in almost anything. There are a few rare people that do actually get me energized to the point of having a very pleasant buzz, but they are very few in number.
> Perhaps the advantage to which you refer is my talent for "reading" people.
Yes!
> since in a large group the majority of people are draining.
That's the introvert reaction, which I also find true about myself. It's how I know I'm not an extrovert, even though I've been able to be a public performer without falling flat on my face (though opinions may vary as to this last point 😅).
Seems we've each found ways to practice things that aren't easy/comfortable for us 🙏
I had to go and read your post on learning languages before I commented. Difficulty in learning another language is a weakness of mine, too; whether Spanish, ASL, or Python. My mother used to quote a teacher of hers, to the effect that learning should be like water to get and a rock to hold, but too often it is a rock to get and water to hold. I recommit to learning Spanish periodically
> I recommit to learning Spanish periodically
Same, heh. I've gotten to the point where I've memorized some things, like the Nicene Creed, in Spanish. But being able to recite those phrases and sentences in their formatting, doesn't mean I know how to take the words out of the phrases and sentences and make new phrases and sentences.
Python! Have you done some coding/scripting, either professionally or on your own as a hobby? I enjoyed Python more than the other web-development coding languages, probably in part because all we were doing with Python was logic/math puzzles. I can do the math and logic, and the Python had enough semantic English for me to hack my way through it/
Well said! And kudos on revealing your own insecurities.
I'll do similarly: My major weakness is that I'm so awesome and likeable and perfect, it can make everybody else in the universe feel diminished. I'm working on it, though!
Thank you for your service 🤣
"I work too hard."
Oh, that's a good one!
Wait, one can «read» people?
Yes, and rats, too! 😉
For some people the reading is more like a bumper sticker than a novel 🤣