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[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

I don't have a Facebook account. Somebody should call the FBI.

Being an introvert doesn't equal having a severe mental illness though. It might be a symptom. Should everyone with, say, depression be screened? Isn't there a cause and effect? What about kids in grade school or high school that are perfectly normal outgoing people but end being introverted or choose to kill themselves because of bullying?

Introvert is a pretty big blanket term. Is being shy a symptom of homicidal intent? I much more believe a lot of mass shootings are the result of untreated or undiagonsed mental helalth issues.

I deleted my FB account last weekend. I guess shooting up a school is my next step?

 

[Ducarmel]

http://www.adultsocialskills.com/jamesholmes.htm

Really offensive stuff

Exploiting a tragedy to sell bullshit.

 

[Emitan]

Are these killers even introverted? That gets claimed a lot, usually by the first person the newspeople interview, but a lot of times it turns out they had friends and girlfriends.

I'm introverted and have friends and had a girlfriend at one point. It just means I "recharge" by being alone.

 

[Row]

http://www.adultsocialskills.com/jamesholmes.htm

Oh man, I get you're enjoying the attention and trying to prolong it but that's pretty tasteless

 

[DietRob]

Give me a break... you are reaching way too far OP.


I understand where your heart is your but not your brain . We are all trying to 'rationalize' and 'understand' this tragedy just like we as a human race try to do with all tragedies. They need to be under a label or identifier in order to make us feel better.

The reality of the situation is something we can't control or regulate. It's kids growing up with parents that love and support them and pay enough attention to see signs of behavior that may be 'off'. Then once they see that behavior jumping in and engaging it instead of flipping on the TV.

My .02

 

[zero_suit]

Introversion is NOT the issue. C'mon, man.

 

[TAJ]

http://www.adultsocialskills.com/jamesholmes.htm

Posting that is the GAF equivalent of shooting up a theater. You must be a loser.

 

[cryptic]

Shit son, I hate to self diagnosis, but I'm almost positive I'm a psychopath.

 

[Davidion]

I'm introverted and have friends and had a girlfriend at one point. It just means I "recharge" by being alone.

And by being alone, you obviously mean self pleasure.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

Another mass tragedy and here we are hearing more of the same about the killer, "quiet", "kept to himself", "not many friends", etc... Obviously the gun control debate will continue on and it's something that needs to be addressed, but what about introversion and the role it tends to play so often in these situations?

It's no secret that there are a lot of introverts on GAF, it comes with the territory, so what can be done to help the troubled ones? Should more responsibility be placed on teachers to identify these types of students early on? This way further steps can be taken to identify if they're just harmlessly introverted or if they pose a thread to the safety of others.

Introverted-GAF, would you have been receptive to teachers probing you or trying to make you feel more involved if they didn't already? I can remember many fellow classmates who were the quiet ones and teachers/faculty never did anything different with them. Obviously 99% aren't going to commit an act of violence like we saw today but it does beg the question if further action needs to be taken.

Sure.
I'm not really an introverted person by choice, people just don't happen to want to be around me.

 

[Devolution]

Weird thread. Bundy and Gacy were pretty outgoing if I recall.

Serial killers and spree killers aren't the same though.

 

[DietRob]

Sure.
I'm not really an introverted person by choice, people just don't happen to want to be around me.

I like you Squiddy. You gave us the Pizza Thread.

 

[OrangeJulius]

Sure.
I'm not really an introverted person by choice, people just don't happen to want to be around me.

Ok, let me ask you this then.

If you feel people don't want to be around you, have you asked yourself why that is?

Edit: I don't want this post to seem confrontational. It's more of a curiosity thing. Being an introvert by choice, I'm curious to hear why you wouldn't want to change.

 

[Emitan]

Ok, let me ask you this then.

If you feel people don't want to be around you, have you asked yourself why that is?

They see the threads he makes on NeoGAF

 

[freenudemacusers]

Serial killers and spree killers aren't the same though.

I don't think the distinction matters in a thinly veiled troll thread.

 

[Lissar]

They see the threads he makes on NeoGAF

Squids is alright despite making awful threads.

And not understanding what introversion is.

 

[Emitan]

Ok, let me ask you this then.

If you feel people don't want to be around you, have you asked yourself why that is?

Edit: I don't want this post to seem confrontational. It's more of a curiosity thing. Being an introvert by choice, I'm curious to hear why you wouldn't want to change.

No one is an introvert by choice.

 

[Devolution]

I don't think the distinction matters in a thinly veiled troll thread.

True enough.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

Squids is alright despite making awful threads.

And not understanding what introversion is.

Yeah, thinking it over it seems that I'm not really an introverted person.
I do enjoy being on my own, but I don't very much enjoy social exclusion.
Your personality is malleable though, so while introversion might not be a choice, you might develop to become more introverted if you are socially excluded in your developing years.

 

[OrangeJulius]

No one is an introvert by choice.

That is completely false.

 

[Lissar]

No one is an introvert by choice.

Ding ding. You either are or you aren't, you can't change it. A lot of other things are called introversion (shyness, anti-social behavior, etc.) but none of them actually are. Introversion in itself has a quite simple definition that has been mentioned several times in this thread and I recommend people go back and read them.

 

[OfWhiteSkinOnRedLeather]

That is completely false.

herewego.gif

 

[zero_suit]

That is completely false.

How? You can put on a mask in social encounters, but you'd still be an introvert.

 

[Lissar]

http://www.carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts

Required reading for those who might be confused about what introversion is.

 

[Alucrid]

How? You can put on a mask in social encounters, but you'd still be an introvert.

an extraverted introvert

 

[Messofanego]

Here's a good talk on introverts.

Read that OP.

Was waiting for someone to post the TED talk. Unite, my introverted brethren! I mean, don't. Keep to yourself. Unite telepathically.

 

[OrangeJulius]

How? You can put on a mask in social encounters, but you'd still be an introvert.

The problem is that many of you are viewing introversion as a disease. You google the definition and think you understand it. It's not a pregnancy test where you are or you aren't. Like another poster mentioned earlier in the thread. There are varying degrees of introversion and as many as half the planet may be classified as introverts by those varying degrees. And further I think many of you are confusing shyness with introversion still.

Introverts are not scared or embarrassed in social situations like a shy person is. They just don't feel the need to pursue social situations.

 

[Mal'ice]

Another mass tragedy and here we are hearing more of the same about the killer, "quiet", "kept to himself", "not many friends", etc... Obviously the gun control debate will continue on and it's something that needs to be addressed, but what about introversion and the role it tends to play so often in these situations?

It's no secret that there are a lot of introverts on GAF, it comes with the territory, so what can be done to help the troubled ones? Should more responsibility be placed on teachers to identify these types of students early on? This way further steps can be taken to identify if they're just harmlessly introverted or if they pose a thread to the safety of others.

Introverted-GAF, would you have been receptive to teachers probing you or trying to make you feel more involved if they didn't already? I can remember many fellow classmates who were the quiet ones and teachers/faculty never did anything different with them. Obviously 99% aren't going to commit an act of violence like we saw today but it does beg the question if further action needs to be taken.

Wow.

 

[Skeyser]

I didn't choose the introvert life, the introvert life chose me.

 

[zero_suit]

The problem is that many of you are viewing introversion as a disease. You google the definition and think you understand it. It's not a pregnancy test where you are or you aren't. Like another poster mentioned earlier in the thread. There are varying degrees of introversion and as many as half the planet may be classified as introverts by those varying degrees.

Why would I view it as a disease? I am one. I can act like an extrovert in most social situations, but it drains me.

 

[Lissar]

The problem is that many of you are viewing introversion as a disease. You google the definition and think you understand it. It's not a pregnancy test where you are or you aren't. Like another poster mentioned earlier in the thread. There are varying degrees of introversion and as many as half the planet may be classified as introverts by those varying degrees.

This doesn't really explain why you think introversion is a choice though.

 

[OrangeJulius]

I suppose I worded my earlier post poorly. It's not so much a choice to be introverted obviously, but the choice to be social is.

I think the problem is that far to many people define themselves as introverts when they are really just shy.

Or they use the word introvert as a crutch to explain their poor social skills.

I'm not sure if I'm making much sense. Sorry, been a long day.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

I think characterizing introvertedness as a choice is problematic for a number of reasons.
It's conflating behavior with personality and minimizes the influence of environment on both behaviour as well as your personality

EDIT: Saw your post, and yeah, I can agree with that.
Social behaviour is a choice, for sure, but for some people, their behaviour is restricted by environmental factors.

 

[zero_suit]

I suppose I worded my earlier post poorly. It's not so much a choice to be introverted obviously, but the choice to be social is.

I think the problem is that far to many people define themselves as introverts when they are really just shy.

Or they use the word introvert as a crutch to explain their poor social skills.

I'm not sure if I'm making much sense. Sorry, been a long day.

Hmm, I can agree with this.

 

[cacophony]

oh lawd this thread

introversion =/= social awkwardness or shyness. introverts WANT to be alone because they become worn by social situations, whereas extroverts gain energy from being social, a lot of social activity for an introvert starts to become draining on them

i hate this association between introversion and social awkwardness and mental disorders

 

[SniperHunter]

Op needs to read the quiet, enstine was an introvert .....terrible thread

 

[Lissar]

I suppose I worded my earlier post poorly. It's not so much a choice to be introverted obviously, but the choice to be social is.

I think the problem is that far to many people define themselves as introverts when they are really just shy.

Or they use the word introvert as a crutch to explain their poor social skills.

I'm not sure if I'm making much sense. Sorry, been a long day.

Yes, but this is why I get (maybe too) passionate on the subject. There is a lot confusion about what introversion is. It's not being social or not. I love going out, but honestly it takes so much energy from me it can take awhile to recharge. There are a lot of people who are shy and think they are introverts, and become miserable and unhappy because of it. If you are miserable and unhappy because you are alone, you might not be an introvert.

When I was younger I was shy and had poor social skills. I had to work to fix those things. But of course, despite fixing those things, I am still introverted because that's an integral part of who I am.

 

[OrangeJulius]

I think characterizing introvertedness as a choice is problematic for a number of reasons.
It's conflating behavior with personality and minimizes the influence of environment on both behaviour as well as your personality

EDIT: Saw your post, and yeah, I can agree with that.
Social behaviour is a choice, for sure, but for some people, their behaviour is restricted by environmental factors.

I absolutely agree with that. Environment and upbringing can definitely influence ones behavior. Hence why we have events like school shootings. Nobody can know the influences and events of another persons life.

We don't know what makes another person what they are. That's why I feel the whole "let's start a witch hunt for introverted types" is bunk. Introverts are not all killers. There are an entire myriad of life experiences, and possibly genuine psychological disease that drive people to do things like that. Being introverted has NOTHING to do with it.

Edit: "If you are miserable and unhappy because you are alone, you might not be an introvert."

I had to quote you there Lissar, because that pretty much sums it up.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

I don't think most of us introverts are potential mass murderers. We're just very shy.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

I absolutely agree with that. Environment and upbringing can definitely influence ones behavior. Hence why we have events like school shootings. Nobody can know the influences and events of another persons life.

We don't know what makes another person what they are. That's why I feel the whole "let's start a witch hunt for introverted types" is bunk. Introverts are not all killers. There are an entire myriad of life experiences, and possibly genuine psychological disease that drive people to do things like that. Being introverted has NOTHING to do with it.

Edit: "If you are miserable and unhappy because you are alone, you might not be an introvert."

I had to quote you there Lissar, because that pretty much sums it up.

Yeah, based on that, I'd say that if we are going to "hunt" any particular character trait down - it'd be extrovertedness.
Extroverts who are social recluses are more likely to be unhappy about their situation than an introvert that is asocial.

 

[Freshmaker]

Introverted-GAF, would you have been receptive to teachers probing you or trying to make you feel more involved if they didn't already? I can remember many fellow classmates who were the quiet ones and teachers/faculty never did anything different with them. Obviously 99% aren't going to commit an act of violence like we saw today but it does beg the question if further action needs to be taken.

Personally something like that would be highly annoying.

One, it casts me as a ticking time bomb. This is BS.

Two, what teacher has enough time to track which kids have "enough" friends in high school?

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Addressing the other other issue: Education.

E T H E R

 

[SniperHunter]

I don't think most of us introverts are potential mass murderers. We're just very shy.

We are not shy...our brains are wired differently. We prefer written communicatoon, dont care about a ton of friends or parties....

 

[Mako_Drug]

As an introvert I find this thread hilarious.

 

[OrangeJulius]

As an introvert I find this thread hilarious.

You really shouldn't though. There is a large portion of the population who genuinely fear you simply because you prefer to be alone or with very few people.

It's sad really, it's not much different than racial profiling in principal.

 

[Dr.Palutena]

As an introvert I find this thread hilarious.

Yea, I dont. I have it bad as it is in western society without people thinking I may be a mass murderer/serial killer/ etc.

 

[cacophony]

You really shouldn't though. There is a large portion of the population who genuinely fear you simply because you prefer to be alone or with very few people.

It's sad really, it's not much different than racial profiling in principal.

It actually is pretty annoying when I hear people say shit like "It's those quiet ones you have to look out for!", yes just because I keep to myself and prefer to listen rather than talk means I'm going to shoot a place up someday

 

[J.W.Crazy]

Weird thread. Bundy and Gacy were pretty outgoing if I recall.

A better example would be Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold of Columbine. The media tried to paint them as outcasts or introverts but Dylan brought a girl to prom just a few days before the shooting.

 

[ColonelColon]

Yea, I dont. I have it bad as it is in western society without people thinking I may be a mass murderer/serial killer/ etc.

lol, I could remember at least one person actually saying that I look like the type of guy who would bring a gun to school and go on a shooting spree. Feels bad man. I didn't enjoy high school.

 

[Kalnos]

INTJ reporting in.