Another interesting article

[Alex]

I stumbled across this article

http://allendowney.com/essays/tyranny.html

And I think it is almost as good as the famous 'The Atlantic' one

I liked this quote in particular

Instead of changing the more introverted engineers to make them fit into the world of extroverts, maybe we should be looking for ways to take advantage of the particular styles and abilities of introverts. And instead of trying to fix them, maybe we should be making sure that smart, interesting people who happen to be introverts get the same respect and recognition as their extroverted counterparts

[shelby]

Another good one...reinforcing the "introvert as genius" notion:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20060321-000007.html

[shanerm09]

That essay is a very interesting article. It is an essay about The Tyranny of the Extroverts. I like the quote "As for teamwork, well, I'm sure there are some problems that are best solved with collaborative, active learning, but I am equally sure that there are problems you can't solve with your mouth open".

[Margee]

I love this quote from Alex's article:

'but I'm grateful they lived and died before the psychopharmaceutical industry had the chance to fix them.' (I remember the doctor trying to fix me)

Half of the woman in my clientele are 'brilliant' and on anti depressants and they are still depressed. They don't understand that they are 'introverted' and they are trying to keep up with everybody and everything. They are tottally overwhelmed by the stimulation of the world.They are 'bullied' by others  - like Shelby's article states -  made to feel guilty almost! (Like I was!) They compare themselves with the extroverted people.

I am trying to help them understand themselves and most of them say: " Margee - I never thought of this before!"  People don't even know that they are a little different and it's O.K.! I didn't!!
Now that I understand myself a little better, my spirits have 'lifted'!  
We need to help people understand that they could be a 'little introverted'. God love them!   Sincerely, Margee

[FallenofTrack]

Margee, your comment kind of reminds me of a bus driver that I started talking too a couple of years ago, when I used to take her bus home from work.  The bus driver was nice, and we started talking about our personalities and how we related to other people.  Her description of herself screamed introversion, so I decided to give her my copy of the Introvert Advantage, so that she could learn more about introversion and how it applied to her. Well, the very next time I saw her, she told me that she had read it, and that she could definitely relate to it, and that she was happy that I had given her the book.  I also told her about this website and the forum.

[yesIsaid]

Ooh, I love this quote:

"Not everyone wants to be a leader, just as not everyone wants to be an engineer."


YES.


I've been struggling, trying to figure out another career path that will pay better, and I was looking into the possibility of radiology.  I found a page from the local college with the program, honoring a couple of recent graduates.  The instructor said about one person - ?[name] will be a definite asset to a radiography environment, not only for her clinical skills, but also for her natural leadership ability.?


It's stuff like that that just makes my heart sink. 


I wrote a blog post the other day, complaining a bit about the whole job situation, and in explanation to a friend, I wrote this:

Many years ago, I'd had the idea that I'd like to go into Library Science. Well, years (and years) ago, that might have worked. But now, the schooling is incredibly expensive for a job that doesn't really pay all that well. Plus, I prefer working with the physical materials - the actual books on the shelf, and 1) librarianship is now 'information management' - dealing with digital and online information, and 2) the more education you get in this field, the further you go towards administrative duties - and I have no interest in running a department and spending my life in meetings. :-P I'm not a good manager - perhaps because, who *learns* how to be a manager? Where in college do you get managerial training? Yet every job you get expects you to have ambition, to 'be a leader', and to apparently come by those skills naturally. Listen - *someone* has to be the cog in the wheel, right? It's just that some cogs get paid better than others, and I'd like to be one of those, thanks.


I really like the author's attitude - that we need to professionally reward the introverts for their own skillset, not attempt to 'retrain' them to fit the extrovert's skillset.

[Nannycat]

Good article Alex!  2 things that were said in the article that I really like.
 1. People have different styles; if my style isn't the same as yours, does that mean I lack skills?

When will the world  realize that we are not 'clones' of each other and we can all be 'smart' in our own way !

 AND 2. 'A friend of mine was at my house the other day when one of my cats jumped in his lap. "I love cats," he said, "I just wish they would come when you call them." I said, "They have those. They're called dogs."

That's why I called myself 'Nannycat' and not 'Nannydog!!' I like doin' my own thing and I will jump up in somebody's lap when I feel like it!! LOL  

Shelby, thanks for your article! Interesting read!

[Tripod]

Good article, thanks.

[radames]

This article makes me feel secure in choosing to behave the way I do in the public world.  I'm not concerned as much about how people think of me but am living life with fill grasp and acceptance of my responsibilities.   

Furthermore my wife told me that before we'd met she was always wondering what she could do next, which party to go to, what show to see, but now she really enjoys staying at home with me because it's very enriching.  She's accepting her introverted side which is awesome!