Sunday, July 20, 2014

Why isn't it socially acceptable to be an Introvert?

I ride a fine line between being an introvert and an extrovert. Some days I am riddled with anxiety for being at home and other times I am seemingly incapable of going to that event I needed to attend. What pisses me off though is when you don't end up making it to an event due to various introversion reasons such as: You fear the awkwardness you may cause speaking to people, the sheer terror of being around any group over 10 people large or having to wade through the bullshit small talk just to have a decent conversation with someone and yet you can't simply be honest about it. Society accepts extroverts perhaps even prefers them. No one gets upset when someone is social at a party. No one gets mad when someone replies with a 'yes' to an invite for an event. Extroverts are widely accepted because society deems extroversion as the acceptable norm. The instant you would rather sit at home alone, or disengage from a meaningless conversation people become offended or take it personally. I actually believe most people fall under the introvert umbrella and yet we have to come up with the excuses such as: "I'm not feeling well and can't make it tonight", "I had a family thing come up", or "My car broke down". Why do we have to lie about feelings that are completely normal and common among a mass group of society? Introverts are largely responsible for inventions, artistry, and the great thinkers of our world. Their lack of desire to socially engage in large groups allows them more time in solitude to focus on learning or developing, understanding or decoding things which is just as essential to life as the extroverts. Not to insinuate that extroverts are not important or that they are incapable of doing these things but why can't we just be accepted as is? Along with introversion are other social restrictors such as: depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and many more. Being a genuinely honest person, I wish it was socially acceptable to send out 'Cards from an Introvert" where I could explain why I couldn't attend without making an excuse. I do realize these cards may not be well received as many people would think that attending their birthday party warrants you; the depressed, you the introvert or you the OCD person to 'get off your ass and be a good friend' but clearly they don't understand what it is like on the other side of the fence. Thus I bring you this blog, full of 'Cards from the.... in me.' A safe place where humour helps to highlight the obvious acceptance of Extroverts and less acceptance of the Introverts of the world. Hopefully humour can help expose this imbalance and create awareness about the difficult issues introverts have to endure. Cheers