fandomhigh | Living on the Outskirts, Friday, Period 2

"Today," Jono said as the last of his students found their way into whatever configuration made them the most comfortable, "we're going to be touching on one of those age-old problems. That is, we're going to be stopping to take a look at the difference between an introvert and an extrovert, and some common misconceptions made by the latter about the former. First and foremost, whether you're one or the other has nothing to do with how rude or how polite you are, or if you can or can't grasp basic social nuances. Extroversion and Introversion are both simply words to indicate whether people gain or lose energy by being around people, or if they usually benefit more from time spent in solitude to piece their thoughts together.

"An introvert, therefore, is not somebody who is shy, or somebody who is rude or a snob or who flat-out hates speaking with others. Certainly there can be rude, antisocial snobs in the lot. Just as there can be rude extroverts who don't understand basic social cues being put off by the people around them. To put it simply, introverts and extroverts are wired differently. It's the difference between having more activity in the front lobes of the brain when focussed on introspection, on problem solving, on complex thought, or having more activity in the back of one's brain, which reacts more strongly to external stimuli as an extrovert's brain does.

"Which is to say, in those moments when an introvert is being thrust into a social situation and they're not particularly talkative, it isn't because they're being rude or they don't know how to speak. It's because it takes actual effort to slide from that front brain mindset, and to remain there. And after that social situation, if they're not then in the mood to go for drinks and see if they can hit up a party or three, there's a good chance it's because they'd much rather go home and crawl into a book or a hot bath or just pass out in exhaustion." Jono cracked a wry smile. "Odds are, that's what I'll be doing after class."

Social exertion was hard, okay?

"Today's assignment is going to be fairly simple. I want you to figure out if you, personally, are an introvert or an extrovert, and then I want you to share with the class a few of the activities that you find refreshing, that you find energizing. You don't need to speak for long if you don't want to," he added, wryly. "Or, I suppose if you happen to be an extrovert, you're welcome to talk as long as you wish, just so long as you don't run us over into the next period."

[Open!]

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"And I thought I had a big old heaping serving of suck," Miriam said. "Could be worse. Good to know."

"Trust me, Miriam," Jono replied, his tone lowering to something a little more mellow than before. "It could always be worse. But that doesn't mean your problems are any less legitimate than theirs, I don't think. Even I have a bit of experience with being reluctant to get close, physically, to the people around me for reasons beyond my control. If you ever need to vent about it, by all means, luv, I'll listen."

"Well, I don't put people in a coma," Miriam said. "But if you want the details on exactly when and how you die, in living color and surround sound, I'm your girl."

Ah. Ouch.

"And that's something you have no control over?" Jono looked sympathetic. It was one thing to live with the memory of people dying around you, and he had no small number of memories like that. Knowing that it was coming, on the other hand... "I can see why you'd really rather not, then."

"If I could turn it off I'd strip naked and roll merrily through a nude beach," Miriam said. "But as it is if my skin touches someone else's skin, I get the 411 on just when you shuffle off this mortal coil. I can tell you down to the minute just when a blood vessel is going to burst in your brain or cancer's going to eat up your insides or some drunk fuckhead broadsides your car while you're driving home. And nothing you can do will change it. Ain't that a bitch? But it's kind of nice to be able to say it here without everyone looking at me like I belong in the loony bin."

"You get used to people around here saying things like that," Jono replied with a shrug. "My high school years were spent on fire. I've got photos, somewhere, but they're hardly flattering."

Because, really, it was hard to have a flattering photo when you had no chest or lower jaw.

"This place is populated mostly by the impossible and unfortunate, it seems."

"Then I'm right at home," Miriam grinned. "Fandom Reform School for Wayward Freaks and Misfits."

Living on the Outskirts, Friday, Period 2

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!