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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It was hard to take a test like this when you had two other people in your head arguing about their answers and yours, but Sholeh persevered. "I'm an introvert," she reported when she was done. "But I'm pretty sure my sisters would be an extrovert and an...ambivert? If they were here and taking this test, I mean."

"And if your sisters were here and taking the test, I'd be asking them for their answers as well," Jono replied, smiling faintly. "As it stands, I'd prefer to stick to your concrete answer, as opposed to their hypotheticals."

Ahaha, hypotheticals.

"So, what do you do, as an introvert, that you finds helps you energize yourself, Sholeh?"

TOTALLY HYPOTHETICAL AND ALSO SHUT UP.

"I really like reading," Sholeh said quietly, taking Jono's comment as a gentle rebuke. "And writing. I like talking to people? But less about, you know, the weather, and more about stuff I enjoy or like to think about. I also like daydreaming a lot."

"I write music from time to time," Jono offered, trying to sound encouraging. "And I'm certain you've all noticed how much I can talk when it's about a topic that I find important. But about things that don't interest me... it's difficult, sometimes, to continue to contribute to a conversation like that. Do you find that as well, Sholeh?"

"Sometimes," Sholeh said, peeking up at him a little. "But I find a lot of things interesting. It's mostly when people talk a lot but don't say anything at all that I get frustrated. I'm not good at small talk. I don't have anything to say and I'd rather just read a book."

"Or write something, or daydream? It really is difficult to feel as though you're the only one actually contributing any substance in a conversation. Particularly when you can't get a word in edgewise."

It was kind of heartening to know that he wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"It's as though you know there are literally trillions of things to talk about in the world, and you have to be stuck with the one person who keeps talking in a circle about that one thing they did that they can't remember the specifics of."

"That's it exactly," Sholeh said with a happy smile. "Of all the new things to think and say and learn, why do I care what color some stranger's dress was at a function I didn't go to?"

"Simple answer is, you don't," Jono replied. "You have more important things to focus on, even if it's just those daydreams of yours. If you're going to think thoughts that are miles away from whatever it is you're going to encounter day by day, at the very least, you want to be thinking those thoughts on your own terms, am I right?"

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!

Re: Assignment - Introvert vs. Extrovert!