Maybe your idea of fun isn’t mine
As introverts, we may not have the same values or interests in “fun” activities as those who are more extroverted. That may be another reason highly sensitive people and introverts are less acknowledged, supported and even valued in our outgoing, sociable-oriented culture.
Not that introversion and high sensitivity are the same trait, but they often go together.
n her post “It’ll Be Fun!” and Other Extrovert Lies (on her blog The Introvert’s Corner), Sophia Dembling notes, “Some things extroverts insist we’ll enjoy. We don’t.
“As introverts in an extroverted world, we frequently must justify our reluctance to participate in activities that make extroverts giddy with delight. They can’t believe that things that make them tingle either leave us cold or fill us with horror. They assure us that really, if we just get over ourselves and try, we’ll have a grand time.
“One of my most extroverted Facebook friends (his busy, busy status lines exhaust me) once posted a gripey status line about audience members at a show who did not get up and dance at the end, as instructed: “…if you are dead inside and incapable of having fun, stay home. you’re ruining the impromptu dance party!” he wrote.
“Wow. I kept my mouth shut because I generally like this guy but … wow. Ruining it? How so? Did someone try to stop him from dancing? Dead inside? Isn’t that a little harsh? Can’t we just say different strokes for different folks?
“Introverts and extroverts have different ideas of fun, but some extroverts refuse to allow us our preference. “It’ll be fun!” they insist, as they try to drag us bodily from our very comfortable seat in the corner to join them in some horrific activity such as:
“Karaoke: I don’t mind watching other people do it, but step up there myself? Uh-uh. That’s for extroverted exhibitionists.” [See her post for more.]
So, if you are among those sort of extroverts, you should realize that we who are more introverted may not want or need to “get over ourselves” – our selves are just fine, thank you very much. And we don’t need club dancing or other group play like karaoke to have fun.
For more on the trait, see my Highly Sensitive site.
