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Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

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Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#171
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem overly attached to the label of being an introvert. The whole post is slightly confusing to me in fact. If you've concluded that other things than increasing social skills are more worthwhile pursuits for you in your life, then that's great. You do you. However, you can't then also complain in the next breath about what your lack of social skills, that you won't spend an effort acquiring, exclude you from. "…

>You seem overly attached to the label of being an introvert. I didn't downvote your comments but as counterpoint, I think you and tboyd47 are too influenced by the idea that "introvert" is merely a label. Yes, I understand the good intentions for stressing the "label isn't destiny!" -- because we always want people to improve. That said, I'm an introvert because that's currently the best description of my stable tra…

Right, I agree with what you say. And in a number of ways, my introverted trait is for similar reasons to yours (I too have no difficulty lecturing to a large hall full of people, etc.), but what's actually relevant in this context is the reason I've mentioned in a somewhat earlier post, specifically:

" Of course, what's relevant to this story and these comments are the reasons behind the motivation for why some people are introverted and or why they act this way—as critically it determines whether a person considers said trait to be either distressing and unwanted or desirable and necessary—or perhaps even essential:"

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#172
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think personality changes that much. People can get more social skills as they age, regardless of their personality, and it may appear as extraversion, but I don't think of it as a core change. You don't have to enjoy socializing to do it, just like you don't need to love your job to be good at it. Introverts with good social skills simply do the necessary amount of socialization to fulfill their needs the go…

I disagree, or at least would point to it being anecdotal. All the online game addicts I know that are still introverted, are less social then they've ever been regardless of whether they still play games. If anything they've become more so, either in games or with some other thing. These people don't have any problem with how much they spend gaming. However my online gaming addict friends, including myself, do have…

There are different kind of online game players.

There is an old write-up[1] about MUDs, the ancestors of modern MMORPGs. Players are categorized into 4 archetypes: hearts, clubs, diamonds, and spades, also called socializers, killers, achievers and explorers respectively.

Socializers and killers are the extroverts. They play the game for the multiplayer aspect, socializers see the game as a communication platform while killers see it as a way to get attention. Achievers and explorers are the introverts, and for them, the multiplayer aspect is not really important.

I have a few friends in the first category. They are very far from being socially isolated, even if they spend thousands of hours gaming.

[1] https://mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the California lockdown, we weren’t allowed to visit with neighbors (we’re in a 34 floor apartment, and we weren’t even supposed to ride the elevator with other households). It sounds like your region may have had a softer lockdown since they allowed people to visit.

For an elevator and considering the magnitude of the CA outbreak, I kind of understand the elevator restrictions. But for neighbors etc that were in the same social bubble observing the same careful restrictions it seems too much. I think the government has been well within its rights in certain mandates that ensure careless people don't inflict their negligence on other people, but in some cases I think it went too…

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Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#174
post #40

Can be summarized by the quote they give > Social connections are a basic human need… Being an introvert doesn't mean you don't want to socialise at all - Danièle Gubler and Katja Schlegel

Strong disagree on it being a basic human need. I've had months without socializing and didn't think much of it. In fact, I was really happy during those times.

I think it’s a need in the sense that it’s a safety net.

Being isolated and happy for months at a time definitely seems plausible. But if life gets hard, and you succumb to dark thought patterns, addiction, or a depression, very very difficult to pull yourself out of it by yourself.

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#175
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a case of “the grass is always greener”. There are things that only start to affect you after extended time in a lifestyle. Maybe it would actually be great for you, but it could also be that the downsides only become apparent after a year or two, at which point it can be hard to find a way to get to a good place. EDIT: Current situation doesn’t sound healthy, though. The sweet spot is probably somewhere…

Exactly. I read so many posts on HN about living alone in the middle of nowhere being better than driving 2 hours each way in terrible traffic to sit shoulder to shoulder in an open plan office. There are lots of downsides to living in the middle of nowhere, healthcare, access to other resources, etc. Don't get me wrong, I've fallen into that trap of thinking. My wife and I bought a small RV trailer that we tow to th…

> Exactly. I read so many posts on HN about living alone in the middle of nowhere being better than driving 2 hours each way in terrible traffic to sit shoulder to shoulder in an open plan office. There are lots of downsides to living in the middle of nowhere, healthcare, access to other resources, etc.

If those are the baseline options, then it's really easy to have the best of both: Have a nice comfy property 100 miles from a city, then make visits to the city outside of rush hour so it takes less than 2 hours.

(Though honestly 20 miles can usually get you quite rural.)

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For an elevator and considering the magnitude of the CA outbreak, I kind of understand the elevator restrictions. But for neighbors etc that were in the same social bubble observing the same careful restrictions it seems too much. I think the government has been well within its rights in certain mandates that ensure careless people don't inflict their negligence on other people, but in some cases I think it went too…

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For someone so technical you sound quite dumb. Lets hope natural selection is true and works out.

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

well it's not really a binary choice. it's a continuum between introversion and extraversion

I think you missed the point of the comment you replied to. It's possible to be extremely introverted, preferring no explicit social interactions, while still getting a noticable peace and energy uplift from being able to just watch and be surrounded by other people doing their things. Think of someone quiet in a coffee shop or library who never talks to anyone, but likes being there, not for the coffee or the books,…

Exactly this. I moved to New York in my early 20s, which would seem a bad choice for an introvert, but I loved just sitting and watching it all go by. It was like being in a human circus but you are in the audience rather than in the circus ring.

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#178
I like WFH. I didn't have to go to the office. In fact, it's great that nobody went to the office to gain the advantage of being in person.

When some shows up at the office and gets to advance their career faster, everyone will want to go the office.

I'll help cough (and whisper why can't I taste anything? oh no) in order to get people to be scared of being a COVID asymptomatic carrier; their kids can't be vaccinated yet. Their grandparents/parents are old and vaccinated, but vaccines aren't 100%.

If anyone is scared, just accuse them of not trusting the vaccine and imply they are anti-vaxx.

These people need to be taught a lesson that your kids can't be vaccinated. Why the heck would you want to come back to the office?

If they are okay with their grandparents/parents/kids increasing 1% of dying of COVID, then be my guest.

I will say it. People who want to commute to office when they can WFH are murderers. They increase the risk of road accidents, and they are killing the planet with pollution unnecessarily.

People who can WFH should be forced to WFH (or go to nearby co-working space if you can't set up home office).

Spread the words. Cough at work. Teach them a lesson.

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#179

The past year has proven how introverted I am. The best days of my life are the ones where I don't see or speak to another human being. Blessed days.

Do you count typing posts on social media as "speaking to another human being"?

I'm far more comfortable typing this than I was when a collegue from another department who I've never met before just popped into my van to say hello and ask if I'd seen a certain person. It's funny - I normally work from home, but I'm on an Outside Broadcast today which I don't normally do. Turned up nice and early, one or two people I'd never met asked me some technical questions, that was fine, but as it's got busier (and it will be very busy come 12) I can feel my stress levels rising and decided to destress by posting some random stuff online.

Re: Introverts didn't 'win' lockdown

#180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Well, you could paste a picture here :). That does sound like a pretty nice thing to say! That said, i can't exactly recall seeing many "Show HN" posts about making furniture, though awesome stuff like that does occasionally appear in the comments. I do feel like reaching out to some of the online communities for those particular interest groups could be pretty beneficial, though! For example: https://www.reddit.co…

I find there is something enormously satisfying and intrinsically rewarding about working with one's hands, doing woodworking and the like. It's especially so when one has everything to hand and one can work on without distracting interruptions (such as having just remembered that you lent your No 5 jack plane to a friend and you now need it to continue). :-) I've found that working this way and being able to see the…

Ohh, i largely agree with what you're saying! The results of woodworking, metalworking, any sorts of crafts or even farming are just way more fungible than a piece of software. Both can be useful to yourself and possibly society at large, both can be satisfying, but the types of satisfaction definitely differ!

Plus, it's a way to get some fresh air or have a reason to spend a bit more time outside, in addition to leisurely activities such as boating or hiking. I don't actually have any stats on this, but it seems like quite a few people who work in software also have such pursuits outside of work, some joke about retiring to a farm or a secluded place amidst nature. :)

When i have the time, i rather enjoy jogging, helping my parents with their greenhouse or vegetable garden, mowing the fieds with a tractor or even just doing some woodworking. That said, most of it is rather utilitarian and not all that pretty to look at.

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