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Comment by rasper | Hacker News Reader

What is this 'energy' is that people are extracting from their social environment? And why are we holding off judging extroversion against introversion?

I'm going to state for the record that introversion is best. Anybody who isn't introverted has no kind of mental life.

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Every extrovert is an introvert in some way. I have seen introverts become extroverts in their comfort zones and have seen extroverts become introverts in a new and unfamiliar environment or situation.

That sums it up in my experience. The entire 'idea' of 'personality' is likely much more dynamic than static, despite the concerted efforts of 'social 'scientists'' attempting to justify their existence (as meaningful) - despite nearly a century of data (facts) to the contrary.

Your identity is a work in progress....

I always thought I was an introvert, but I never had this energy problem people are talking about after being social for a long period of time.

My problem was that I just couldn't get outside my comfort zone. After years of forcing myself outside my comfort zone (which many people don't or can't do), I don't really have a problem anymore.

One of the problems with being introverted is that you will probably get passed up for promotions at most companies. you need to be social to move up the ladder, even if you are a developer.

I remember reading a study done a few years back to figure out why many Asian Americans were being passed up for promotions in their work place, despite that they went to better schools and had many honors when they graduated compared to their white co-workers. Initially people thought discrimination was the biggest and only factor but the study showed that they tend to be more introverted and would not ask for a salary raise or a promotion as much as their white counterparts would. Success will not be handed to you in a silver platter in the corporate world, sometimes you just have to go out there and stake your claim.

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