Introverts/extroverts
About half of the US population are introverts. Is this a healthy percentage for any community, or does a healthy community have a higher percentage of extroverts? If a community wants to grow, does it need more extroverts?
When a community grows more robust networks, people become more connected. Do introverts by definition keeps networks more disconnected and fragmented because they don’t do their part to pass along information and connect people in other ways?
Just wondering, noticing lately how introverts and extroverts interact differently in communities. If we do make the case that extroverts are better for building healthy social networks - like in the blog community here - what’s the value and role of introverts?
October 26th, 2005 23:21
An interesting question. Not to say that introverts are necessarily more intelligent or have more or better ideas than extroverts, but to make a sweeping generalization here, someone has to give the extroverts something beyond gossip to talk about.
An interesting factoid: Whenever I’ve taken the Myers-Briggs, I’ve come out as fairly well balanced on the introvert/extrovert measure with a skew more to the introvert side. (Go figure.)
October 27th, 2005 03:50
I might suggest this possibility: the blog community is comprised mainly of introverts who are using the anonymity of the medium to step out in a way which is uncomfortable for them in face-to-face interaction.
October 27th, 2005 07:58
introvert/extrovert is the system for checks and balances in the natural world. assumptions made are mostly erroneous, consider the other two comments.
October 27th, 2005 08:07
It is my understanding that introverts [being one myself] do better participating in small groups and personal interactions, compared to extroverts who you might find leading the small groups…
October 27th, 2005 13:03
Great comments! Thanks. As I engage introverts, and there is enough trust in the space, I am often delighted with treasures not previously revealed. Blogging introverts makes more of this possible. It’s interesting the kinds of assumptions introverts and extroverts harbor about each other : )
October 28th, 2005 00:53
Jung’s approach to introversion/extroversion has to do with where folks find their source of energy. Some of us introverts are very comfortable and adept at engaging others, but when we are done, we need time alone to recharge the batteries.
October 28th, 2005 23:43
How about an “Introverts Night Out” to mine those precious gems our communities need to maintain “robustness”!
To Nick: Blogger Steve Goldberg is no introvert- so add that to your theoretical database.