Hacker News Reader

My standard definition of introversion is you are primarily an introvert if you find certain social situations like parties draining. Extroverts get energized by social situations like parties.

When it comes to travel, I find that I am more extroverted primarily because traveling alone sucks.

As the old koan goes, "whereever you go, there you are". You may not outrun your shadow, however, travel can help figure out who you are.

View on HN

I don't know what the truth is, but doing something you aren't good at, and aren't improving at, is also draining.

True, but not necessarily the case here. I'm an introvert who is getting significantly better at acting outgoing when necessary, but being sociable seems to keep a similar level of effort.

Heh. It isn't the case here, but you have to "act outgoing"? If you had practice, you don't have to act.

Yes, I'm an introvert, too, and I understand exactly what you're talking about. The diff is that how much I'm "drained" depends on the group of people. I have quite a few friends with whom I'm close enough to just be myself, to not "act". They don't drain me at all. I just eventually run out of things to talk about, unlike the extroverts who find more to talk about.

A group of co-workers? That is tiring, because it takes a lot of effort to act that nice.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com