My mother is a true extrovert (unlike me), and I find her compulsive reaching out to talk to people unseemly, an expression of a need to be affirmed by the attention of others. That seems to me one of the differences between an introvert and an extrovert: the introvert does not need the attention of others, though they may sometimes enjoy it. Not that there’s any judging going on here 😀.
Was at a wedding last weekend and the guest I was chatting to complimented me on how friendly and chatty I was. I said I’ll need to lie down for a few hours later ;) But, I did make a deliberate decision to chat with her as she seems a bit shy and thought it would be nice to be welcoming.
I consider myself one of Carrere's biggest England language fans. I'd started and abandoned Yoga when it was published, but on your recommendation I've now gone back and finished it. I did enjoy the journey, and I agree he is his own biggest subject, but I think he's at his best when he's only gently intruding on his story, as in The Adversary, The Kingdom, Limonov, "I am alive and you are dead". All of which are semi-fictionalised biographies: that French fraud who when exposed killed is family and himself. St Paul. Eduard Limonov. Philip K. Dick. All of these I rate above Yoga, as good as that is. Perhaps they're not wholly accurate as biographies, but they're beautifully written and you really feel you've experienced the world as the subject experienced it.
Terrific post, Ian. I relate to the sometimes-extroverted introvert. I love going to social events, or at least think I'm going to, and sometimes regret saying yes. But I go and socialize. Being able to do it was important in my career. It sometimes takes two hours of quiet to recover after getting home. I'm married to a true extrovert who is energized by it all. And, yes, sometimes the social/emotional IQ is lacking.
Paul would love hearing the Abbey Road cover compared to a Hockney or Magritte, two of his favorite artists.
Dolly was divine. Why do we keep losing the good ones?
How did those guys on the Beatles podcast miss one of the funny bits on "Paperback Writer," that the background vocals are the boys singing "Frere Jacques"?
They say opposites attract but your excellent post raises the possibility that whomever you're partnering with is actually more of one than the other--and if you fail to appreciate this you may never fully align and get in sync with each other. When the dichotomy you describe in this post between two people is out of sync and one of them comes across as intrinsically more introvert than he/she actually is, above average miscommunication and contretemps are likely to ensue. I have also observed this play out on larger stages, e.g. famous people or top corporate execs, who are used to attracting gobs of attention. When I get to observe and know them even a bit better, I can often discern some are at heart introverts but come across as (or have retrained themselves) to find some measure of comfort as extroverts--and constantly send mixed signals to not just those immediately around them but huge audiences beyond.
Upskilled introvert here too. I am quite good it now, crediting years of my mum telling me shy people are annoying 😂 My dad is very deeply introverted but 86, he now knows how to charm the nurses at the hospital. It’s lovely.
Back in the USSR is one of my favourite Beatles songs. Beatles and puns is a whole PhD for someone ?
Well done, you've done it again! That AI story is truly disturbing. Do you reckon it points to consciousness (agency, moral decision-making, conception of oneself *as* a moral agent among others) or just a sophisticated simulation of it?
Thanks! Yeah…I think a simulation of it but in a sense that debate is secondary to what they actually do/how they behave, and therefore what we humans need to do to stay in control!
I'm aware that maybe I shouldn't laugh at the chatter between AI swarms, but I can't help but anthropomorphise the little rascals.
My mother is a true extrovert (unlike me), and I find her compulsive reaching out to talk to people unseemly, an expression of a need to be affirmed by the attention of others. That seems to me one of the differences between an introvert and an extrovert: the introvert does not need the attention of others, though they may sometimes enjoy it. Not that there’s any judging going on here 😀.
Another introvert who’s good at extroverting :)
Was at a wedding last weekend and the guest I was chatting to complimented me on how friendly and chatty I was. I said I’ll need to lie down for a few hours later ;) But, I did make a deliberate decision to chat with her as she seems a bit shy and thought it would be nice to be welcoming.
That’s exactly it!
I consider myself one of Carrere's biggest England language fans. I'd started and abandoned Yoga when it was published, but on your recommendation I've now gone back and finished it. I did enjoy the journey, and I agree he is his own biggest subject, but I think he's at his best when he's only gently intruding on his story, as in The Adversary, The Kingdom, Limonov, "I am alive and you are dead". All of which are semi-fictionalised biographies: that French fraud who when exposed killed is family and himself. St Paul. Eduard Limonov. Philip K. Dick. All of these I rate above Yoga, as good as that is. Perhaps they're not wholly accurate as biographies, but they're beautifully written and you really feel you've experienced the world as the subject experienced it.
Terrific post, Ian. I relate to the sometimes-extroverted introvert. I love going to social events, or at least think I'm going to, and sometimes regret saying yes. But I go and socialize. Being able to do it was important in my career. It sometimes takes two hours of quiet to recover after getting home. I'm married to a true extrovert who is energized by it all. And, yes, sometimes the social/emotional IQ is lacking.
Paul would love hearing the Abbey Road cover compared to a Hockney or Magritte, two of his favorite artists.
Dolly was divine. Why do we keep losing the good ones?
Thanks Barbara!
How did those guys on the Beatles podcast miss one of the funny bits on "Paperback Writer," that the background vocals are the boys singing "Frere Jacques"?
They say opposites attract but your excellent post raises the possibility that whomever you're partnering with is actually more of one than the other--and if you fail to appreciate this you may never fully align and get in sync with each other. When the dichotomy you describe in this post between two people is out of sync and one of them comes across as intrinsically more introvert than he/she actually is, above average miscommunication and contretemps are likely to ensue. I have also observed this play out on larger stages, e.g. famous people or top corporate execs, who are used to attracting gobs of attention. When I get to observe and know them even a bit better, I can often discern some are at heart introverts but come across as (or have retrained themselves) to find some measure of comfort as extroverts--and constantly send mixed signals to not just those immediately around them but huge audiences beyond.
Interesting, thanks Byron
Upskilled introvert here too. I am quite good it now, crediting years of my mum telling me shy people are annoying 😂 My dad is very deeply introverted but 86, he now knows how to charm the nurses at the hospital. It’s lovely.
Back in the USSR is one of my favourite Beatles songs. Beatles and puns is a whole PhD for someone ?
Love this
Well done, you've done it again! That AI story is truly disturbing. Do you reckon it points to consciousness (agency, moral decision-making, conception of oneself *as* a moral agent among others) or just a sophisticated simulation of it?
Thanks! Yeah…I think a simulation of it but in a sense that debate is secondary to what they actually do/how they behave, and therefore what we humans need to do to stay in control!