I have noticed a trend lately as identified in today’s cartoon with people who describe themselves as introverted. Many of us have taken a Meyers-Briggs type assessment for work or fun that tries to identify our personality. Companies use tools like this to try to help teams understand the different dynamics of its members. In my days of using these tools I preferred DiSC as it measured behavior versus MB’s personality. What is the difference, you ask? If you ask people at work if I was Introverted or Extroverted they would all say Extroverted because my behavior at work is very outgoing in nature. However my true personality is introverted.
In situations where I am at work or a work function, among a group of friends or the center of attention, I behave in a manner that is very extroverted. Most other situations, (bar mingling when I was single, networking for non work related functions, etc) I am extremely shy and introverted. So behavior is situational while personality is hard fast.
So while some people are introverts in real life, I see more and more people behaving like extroverts online and proudly beating their chests about being introverted.
How about you? Are there situations where you would describe yourself as one versus the other?
I took a test in college and I’m labeled extroverted. I tend to talk a lot, have fun and so-forth. BUT, there are times I am quiet as a mouse and I get my energy being by myself. Maybe I’m a mixed breed?
As I said…personality is different than behavior…
Ambivert perhaps.
I generally stay introverted until it is time to crank it up a few notches. Then the douche-line becomes blurred….
Does that coincide with the alcohol line?
wow this post is sorta deep for a cartoon.
I behave differently depending on the situation, crowd and amount of alcohol consumed. I think most people do. Well Ok, except for that a-hole neighbor across the street. What a jack-wagon.
So that is 2 comments in a row that is alcohol dependent.
I am here to entertain as well as teach haha
When I’m asleep I’m an introvert. I think. The rest of the time I’m and extrovert. Heck I even talk to myself at times.
Have a terrific day. 🙂
haha…maybe you are extroverted in your sleep. Ask your husband if you talk in your sleep.
I’m a notorious introvert, but I’m cool when I’m online. In what other scenario can I have a casual conversation with 20 other people where I can rehearse my responses, all the while wearing yesterday’s underwear and eating a donut in one bite? The internet does not require my couthness. 😀
Pretty much the same reason I could never do a live caricature…that and I need about twenty tries.
I’m so introverted, I hate being a photographer, because it unnerves me to have a bunch of folks staring at me while smiling frozen. Brrrr…..
Noone who calls himself Hole D. Snutz in public is introverted.
I kept forgetting to change the auto-fill for the last few times I’ve visited your site. I must get it from my father: Eaton D. Snutz.
Better than your sister “Suca D” or your brother “Lik”
I do not like to label myself although “mouthy broad” is possibly accurate 😉
Shy would not be a word I would use to describe you…but “mouthy broad” might be how I start.
I think I’m like you, at work I am a extrovert, and generally I guess I am…but some settings put me in a very introverted mood. That’s a tough call actually, depends the situation.
Yep….my wife finds it amazing that I was ever shy in the dating scene. I told her I finally saw what I really wanted.
Well…I know is it take 3 martinis to get me to dance.
It takes me 3 minutes….dancing means I don’t have to try to strike up a conversation.
Oh…that is introverted. Ha Ha….I am certain not extroverted, just a good actor.
Me too
Introverted, but online definitely more extroverted than normal. I think the screen is enough of a shield to allow us to act out more than we would otherwise.
I do not think of you as introverted, but I only see you here where I can’t see you!
Introvert , unless I know you. I can put on the extrovert act but it tires me out.
Ditto for me!
we did Myers Briggs at work recently. Whenever we do these types of activities I always think it’s a conspiracy by management to work out the best way to manipulate people.
If that is what you think then you are probably introverted 😉
Typically. Though I did learn how to talk to an old boss in a way that I got what I wanted by utilizing what I learned about his communication style from one of these tests.
I’ve been hearing “I’m an extroverted introvert!” Which sort of means nothing.
You are just there. Always at the party…but no one notices. hahah
Hmm… I am a huge introvert but most people probably don’t see me like that. same as you. Beaman, miss you and the gang but I am keeping very busy!
Definitely don’t see that. Hope all is well on your part of the island.
Psst.. I’m in the jungles of northern Thailand, remember? 🙂
I’m pretty much always introverted… except, maybe, when I’m online (in which case your comic could easily apply to me… except my shirt says ‘papyrus’). I took the Meyers-Briggs in a psychology class in high school… I was an IFSJ (if I’m remembering correctly). I’m not sure if I’ve heard of the ‘DiSC ‘ before.
🙂
Similar but they really have you focus on how you behave at work versus general as sometimes you behave differently in different situations so you don’t know how to best answer the personality tests.
First, I’m introverted. No doubt about it.
Second, Every other day I am tempted to close down all my blogs and Facebook and go join a monastery… except my wife and son won’t let me 😐
A few years ago it seemed to me that everybody and there dog was trying to sell themselves. I was one of those people.
There would be one popular guy who we all emulated.
Except…
He wrote a book. That was the reason who was popular in the first place.
No matter how much we tweeted, blogged or Facebooked, we were never going to be popular also unless we wrote a book.
Now I know that when I blog that I am doing it for fun. I don’t want to whore myself out to try and be popular. It goes against my grain as an introvert.
Of course, if I was making 4 figures a month then I might try to be a little more obnoxious.
No. I blog for fun. It is fun too. At one time I made a comment to get a comment. Now I try to leave a comment for the community aspect. Talking in a community online is something introverts are good at.
Unless…
Bearman all of a sudden wants to have a conference call with his blogging community.
Oh, I’m also a perfectionist. A perfectionist in need of an edit button.
I too have gotten back to blogging for fun. When I was pushing out 2-3 cartoons a week plus work it became too much like a job. Now I post when I want and what I want and if no one but my loyal friends see it…so be it.
Yeah, if I was actually creating the content on my site then I would post less often also.
You’re stealing your content??
No he is sharing…he gives proper credit.
@Binky, I do try to give credit. I only steal kisses from my baby son.
@Bearman, thanks 🙂
Introvert. I do well in small groups. (4-6) But I can’t maintain an outgoing persona with large groups.
But can you do well in a small group you don’t know?
Only if they have similar interests to mine. At the age of 40, not many people are into Star Wars, Video Games, Cartoons, Comics…
Around just a couple of people I feel comfortable, large gatherings really freak me out. Love the Extroverts suck T-Shirt
I was just making it Extroverts suck and looking for a font and comic sans came up…
Yeah, I’m pretty much like that cartoon up above. Extroverted to point of being arrogant (sometimes) on the ‘net, while exceptionally introverted in real life.
I have read your stories…you aren’t so introverted haha
Really interesting, Bearman.
I think I’m an extrovert all the time. I love to meet new people. It’s not a problem for me if I don’t know anyone at a party for example.
But at the same time I like to have time for myself and prefer to spend an evening alone rather than with people I don’t like at all. But I guess I’m still an extrovert anyway.
That just makes you a smart extrovert…who wants to spend time with people they hate? haha
What’s wrong with Comic Sans? One of my favorite fonts? I am always shy & introverted unless I have to teach someone something, then I come across as cool, calm & collected as well as confident (because I want them to have confidence in themselves learning from me).
I love comic sans but somehow in the art community it is a sin. I guess because the common man has access to it.
Oh yeah? Well say that to my interface!
What about your innerface…or your innerscope.
You described me exactly, Bearman! At work (I’m an elementary art teacher) I am very outgoing and extroverted. Interacting with the kids, cracking jokes and of course some teaching too, I guess! But when we are in teacher meetings and other type of grown-up interactions, I clam up.
Maybe you should visualize all the teachers as 8 year olds.
I am an extrovert. I love large or small groups. I also try to make my presence known on the internet. I have to try hard not to be too obnoxious about it.
Everyone knows Bo
true.. (Hi Blumkin *smile*
I tease… 🙂
He’s a country Blumpkin