Poll of the Day > Are you a sociable person?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I can be (I like to dance with people, for example), even though people describe me as awkward when socializing (I'm not a good conversationalist). I guess, as a described introvert, I recharge away from social situations.

Not really.

people (mainly girls) never wanted me to talk to them or interact with them when I was growing up, so I took the hint and went my own way.

but it does make me wonder: Do I hate social interactions because Im an introvert? Or did my bad social experiences throughout my life turn me into an introvert?

FrozenBananas posted...

Not really.

people (mainly girls) never wanted me to talk to them or interact with them when I was growing up, so I took the hint and went my own way.

but it does make me wonder: Do I hate social interactions because Im an introvert? Or did my bad social experiences throughout my life turn me into an introvert?

Maybe they were bad at social situations too but actually wanted to talk to you

JOExHIGASHI posted...

Maybe they were bad at social situations too but actually wanted to talk to you

im pretty perceptive. I was on the chubby side growing up and I got a lot of repulsed / disgusted looks from women, even if it was merely making eye contact with them. It would be like an instant reaction, and then theyd turn away really quick and hope I didnt notice

if I was ever trying to talk to a girl, she would have a giant disappointed look on their face, as if she wanted to talk to my better looking friends instead, but she was stuck with me. Those are the kind of looks I got for my entire childhood

You're looking in the wrong place for sociable people. :)

I can be friendly and talk if I have to or if one of the few topics that interest both me and other people come up, but it's not what I'm looking for. Fortunately I am generally interested in my work. We did a Myers Briggs thing there and the group I was in was very surprised to find out that I rated as an introvert. Nobody else I know would be at all surprised.

Yes, but I still have a social battery. Under normal social circumstances with daily casual human interaction, it can last for months. But with more intensity, I can handle about a week of high intensity human interaction, before I'll need some alone time. I'm also fairly shy, despite being an extrovert. Unless I immediately click with someone, it'll take me a while to warm up to them.

I am very socialable online but a timid mess in person unless I know the person well.

Depends on the context.
I like talking to people but I don't care for intimate relationships.

in a way

Actually, I want to take some of that bad. It's not that I don't care for intimate relationships, the opportunities I've had to have them have all ended up kinda meh so I don't really seek them out anymore.

Not so much. Most things people talk about bores me.

I enjoy socializing, but I'm quite shy and uncomfortable initiating social interactions. I used to think I was introverted, but since meeting some actual introverts and learning about their experiences in introversion, I've realize that's really not how I feel and I'm actually squarely in ambivert territory. I can be more or less just as happy with or without people.

I'm good with people but I'm on auto-pilot when 'socializing' with strangers, and don't really enjoy it. I really only truly enjoy the company of certain close friends and the occasional oddball.

I prefer talking to animals honestly. I dont feel like theyre judging me. When I go out to run errands, I just get in and out of the stores as fast as I can, usually looking at my feet. I do talk to people occasionally in the stores though. When the tire on my pickup blew, I didnt hesitate to approach a truck driver for help when he pulled over to inspect his rig. I guess it depends on the situation.

If I'm in a situation I'm comfortable then yes absolutely. I make a lot of friends at the gym and I'm always friendly with everyone who shows up to hockey pick up. Or even if my girlfriend brings me to a friend's random party with strangers I can usually make friends.

But when I am brought to hang out at like my girlfriend's friend's place for their kids birthday or some crap and I gotta socialize with a bunch of random family members with questionable politics and confidently ignorant sports opinions I struggle big time. I just struggle with boring conversations with people whose viewpoints are incompatible with mine. I'm bad at small talk and I struggle to hide the fact that I just want it to end.

BADoglick posted...

I just struggle with boring conversations with people whose viewpoints are incompatible with mine.

Oddly I'm the opposite. If I'm just talking to an echo chamber of people who are going to agree with everything I say and vice versa I see little reason to talk and would much rather, say, play a board game. I only find conversation truly interesting if there's something new to talk about or if we outright disagree about something (civilly)...and intelligently. The intelligent is often a problem with some groups.

No, that doesn't make me a big hit at friend/family gatherings.

I try to be and then people shut that shit down quick lol.

story of my life

Yeah. I was pretty shy when I was younger. But Ive changed quite a bit. I became less shy when I started getting older, but there were things I was still kind of shy about. With how outgoing Ive been lately, I wonder how things would have turned out if I had this same energy when I was younger. Especially if I told certain people I may have liked them But thats in the past now

No. I think I went the opposite route. I grew up as an extrovert, but the older I get the more introverted I become.

LinkPizza posted...

Especially if I told certain people I may have liked them But thats in the past now

I find myself thinking "what if?" now and then about this even though I know it's pointless as I'll never know the answer.

wwinterj25 posted...

I find myself thinking "what if?" now and then about this even though I know it's pointless as I'll never know the answer.

Even if you had then you would "what if" your life from some other angle: there's always something to wonder/regret/etc!

wpot posted...

Even if you had then you would "what if" your life from some other angle: there's always something to wonder/regret/etc!

That's also true. With my anxiety issues I'm almost always wondering "what if?".

wwinterj25 posted...

I find myself thinking "what if?" now and then about this even though I know it's pointless as I'll never know the answer.

Even though I know Ill never know, its sometimes fun to think about