Introverts are an important but often overlooked segment of our population.
In a world seemingly dominated by charisma, charm and sheer chutzpah, individuals inclined toward introspection, caution and time spent alone are often dismissed as shy or awkward.
Growing up, I knew this all too well.
While I immersed myself in books and daydreams, other kids played organized sports and placed themselves into their own social circles.
I would have been quite alright with this, if not for the constant, nagging feeling of being misunderstood.
Adult figures commented that I seemed sad and removed, even when I wasn’t. Once, a mom from my school asked me why I didn’t chat and socialize much with the other kids on my track team, like her daughter — one of the “popular” girls — did. The words she said to me are forever imprinted in my mind: “You should really try to be more like them.”
Attitudes like these only made me feel even more like a square peg trying to fit into a round world.
And then there was the Internet.
Around the age of 10, I was given a computer for my birthday. The computer itself was a wonderful new outlet for wasting time and removing myself from the world.
Through the power of astoundingly slow dial-up Internet, I played games, visited websites for my favorite Nickelodeon shows and fed my Neopets. What more could a socially averse kid ask for?
Still, even introverted children need some sort of human interaction. As I grew older, I made use of instant messenger and multiple micro-blogging sites as my own form of reaching out to the world.
Having always found it difficult to speak and interact face-to-face, yet easy to express my thoughts and feelings through writing, the ability to communicate through words on a screen was a godsend.
However, the newfound liberation had its downsides.
My mother lamented how little I reached out to the many friends and classmates of mine that lived within walking or biking distance. She wasn’t fond of how much I sat around and refused to see the light of day.
In retrospect, I now know she was right, but I refused to listen to what I perceived as unnecessary nagging, sinking deeper into a virtual world of my own creation.
I think in a world that continues to shift more and more toward technology-oriented methods of business and socialization, the issue of Internet overuse is a problem for introverts and extroverts alike.
For introverts, however, I think the pull toward a screen-dominated world where human interaction is sparse is especially strong.
Luckily, I’ve evolved a bit since my younger years and learned that the Internet isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
I’ve learned to embrace my introversion in more constructive ways, whether it be through a calming run, a good book or hot tea.
I’ve learned that while alone time is important, it’s also good to reach out to real, in-the-flesh friends for sharing real meals, real conversations and real laughs.
While I’m still an Internet junkie of sorts, it’s no longer what can be classified as a crutch.
To all my fellow introverts of the world, know that there’s a wider world out there that wants you in it. Don’t be afraid to step away from the screen for a bit and explore it. Chances are you’ll like what you find.
— kabeasle@indiana.edu
