Mashable - The Social Media Guide - Latest Comments in IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

deebee — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:24:43 -0000

Actually, most introverts I know hate social media as introverts they DETEST self promotion of any kind. Introverts value their privacy over anything else and social media is just a less threatening way to broadcast yourself. I think most of the so-called introverts who supposedl
LOVE social media are just shy extraverts.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

GalaxySpectrum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:38:17 -0000

We all have our dual personalities.

We are complex chameleons

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Simon Deane-Johns — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:25:58 -0000

The voting options are misleading ;-) You might be an introvert, an extrovert or neither, but not both. I suspect all the "both" voters are "neithers", like me - a "pragmavert".

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

S!ick — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:28:34 -0000

Oh...then, for sure: introvert. I don't lose it when with others, but there are times when it seems they can drain it from me. No one can motivate me more than I can myself...

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Jennifer Leggio — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:32:00 -0000

It's mildly ironic. I think a lot of people assume that introverted = shy. Introversion really means you get your energy from within yourself, versus getting your energy from external elements (extroversion). So an introvert isn't necessarily shy -- it just means he or she draws energy from within versus relying on being around other people. Introverts can be just as gregarious as extroverts. They may just not rely on it as much for satisfaction.

At least that's what I learned in college psych. Then again that was a long time ago... heh

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Chris Cavs — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:18:38 -0000

This is fascinating. So many of us consider ourselves introverts (myself included), yet we do all this socializing. I'm intrigued by the implications this finding has on the way we as humans use communications tools as a way of subverting our mentally imposed barriers. Thanks for pointing this out.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Harbinger Entity — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:17:09 -0000

I definitely consider myself to be an introvert (to the point that sometimes people have to "threaten" to drag me from the house to attend events). I warm to the crowd once I 1.)start DJ-ing or 2.) have a couple of drinks. I guess some people DO have to have alcohol to relax. Dang.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

refinch — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:11:10 -0000

I don't think that the introvert/extrovert dichotomy is all that useful for what you're trying to learn. I'd be much more interested to know the Myers-Briggs personality types of those at the forefront of this social media movement. Do they cluster around one or more types? What are the most prevalent commonalities? Which of the four couplets is least predictive? Does being an ENTP make me more or less similar in comportment to Scoble or Laporte?

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Who Cares — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:45:51 -0000

This is lame. Who the hell cares - write about something real.

Writing about A-listers is exactly why blogging is accused of being navel gazing.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

thom singer — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:05:52 -0000

This is one reason why I think that social media has become so popular. People are longing to connect with each other, but many of these people are introverts and are not comfortable reaching out in person.

Some mistakenly take solice in having a high number of "friends" in Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn. Even when some of these connections are nothing more than a digital link, it makes people feel they are not alone.

I am not knocking social media. I find it to be a very useful business and personal networking platform, and I have made several real friendships with those whom I have met through blogging, Twitter, etc.... Yet I wonder when people will begin to desire to thin the ranks of their online contacts and deliver their limited amounts of time to interacting with those who they can have a real two-way connection.

Following someone in a social media arena is not much different that watching TV. I like to follow the "online celebrities" in the social media communities, but I also know they often do not notice me. Much like the cast of LOST has no idea if I am in the living room seeing thier performance, when someone is following over 5000 people, they cannot see me.

Followers become like Neilson Ratings for some.

I think all types, introverts and extaverts (and those inbetween) benefit from social media, but we need to see it as the tool that it is...not an antidote for real person-to-person connections (be those in-person or online).

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

dan light — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:57:44 -0000

i prefer 'closet extrovert'.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

sbrown — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:21:03 -0000

Introverted does not mean shy, nor does extroverted mean un-shy. Instead, these are references to where one sources energy. Introverts get energy by being alone and lose it when with others. Extroverts get energy by being with others and lose it when alone.

I'm an un-shy introvert. I'm not shy. But I'd rather be alone.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Aaron Strout — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:57:44 -0000

Put me firmly in the extrovert camp on both fronts. One of the reasons I love Twitter, Facebook and Friendfeed is that they extend my networking capabilities (and I agree, meeting someone on Twitter and then augmenting it with a F2F is the best). What's great about these new tools is that I can be more scalable and move beyond local boundaries with these great new social tools. For instance, I haven't felt a drop off in my conversations with friends Scott Monty @scottmonty, John Johansen @jljohansen and now Bryan Person @bryanperson.

Long live social media!

Best,
Aaron | @astrout

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

S!ick — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:20:15 -0000

At heart, an introvert.

I'm probably one of those "tears of a clown" type of people: at my core I'm shy (I don't remember ever asking anyone out on a date), but as long as I can remember I've "performed" (literature/stage, chorus/choir, band, radio/television).

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Nicole Simon (Berlin, Germany) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:52:43 -0000

@GeekMommy absolutly same here. it took me a while to realize why I was so fine in corporate time with being more on my own on the weekend - it was that I would recharge from the week. And I am fretting a bit my upcoming trip to the states for the expos in NY and Vegas - it will be awesome but I will need recharging time.

Recognizing your pattern makes it far more easy to adapt to it - I for example loath on site or after reporting of events, simply because my energy goes to different outlets during this time.

There is no right or wrong in it, just recognize your pattern and then work it. ;)

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

GeekMommy — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:31:12 -0000

Hm.
Now see, I classify myself as an introvert because I regain my energy by isolating. I recharge by going home, being alone, and being around others drains me.
I classify extroverts as those who recharge by being around others - they draw their energy from those around them, and recharge in crowds rather than exhausting themselves.

By that definition, I'm introverted as is my husband - but our daughter is, unfortunately for her, an extrovert. Which makes it tricky when one or both parents is trying to run away to recover and she's pursuing us to do the same.

That said, I'm also extremely gregarious. I loathe crowds, but I do know how to channel that energy through myself so that I can be "social" longer.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Nicole Simon (Berlin, Germany) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:17:19 -0000

@coachdeb that definition of Extroverts vs Introverts is so spot on. ;))

I do not think that smart people (and we do have a lot of *very* smart people in this space) are comfortable with just lowering expectation all day long. Also they are sufficient enough to stay on their own and do not need that more simple kind of interaction.

It is just the label society gives. Feeling comfortable with throwing yourself at everybody, talk to everybody about everything on a broader level etc in opposite to being more picky is the label for extrovert if you like.

To this, your typical 'social media' person is introvert. Once we enter the Net, we suddenly find all kind of people who are alike. We get to know them from the inside out instead of starting the other way.

And then it gets really really interesting.

At least for myself I find that I thrive on connecting with people, which is one reason why I like to visit events. But not just any people - my kind of people. That is the difference.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Leslie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:27:22 -0000

Total ENTP extrovert here. :)

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Chris Bennett — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:24:44 -0000

Im old school and prefer introducing in person, I always feel self aware and like everyone thinks I am only talking to them cause of a hidden agenda online. Offline totally comfortable and can carry out a convo with anyone.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Adam Zand — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:48:55 -0000

IMNSHO, I don't see the point of social media if it's not "social" w. in-person gatherings (& I guess business meetings) at some point.
Meeting people like Pete, Brett, Karen & the crazies & darlings of NYC/Boston/NH/Maine & a cast of thousands during Summer Mash Boston was big fun. Add to that my summer blur of BlogPotomac, PodCamp Boston, Social Media Camp, Social Media Club, GaryVee book in Boston, Tech Karaoke, Mzinga BBQs, Bryan Person bye breakfast, Scott Monty roast, WBUR Tweetup, Pulver Pizza & later Pulver beer, etc is the chance to meet people face-to-face & talk/network/drink/karoke/cuddle rather than just blog, qik, tweet, talk and stalk on Facebook ;).
I respect the perspective of the introverts, but if you're a social media shut-in you'll never get to see me do "Borderline" Karaoke (no big loss for actually) or talk to the sharp dressed man of social media - Pete $ Cashmore

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Ling — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:21:06 -0000

You could write a book on social skills needed to succeed and build a following on social media networks. This is a whole new ballgame compared to in=person meet-ups.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Andrew Mager — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:17:23 -0000

I am definitely an introvert, I have researched it :)

I do love hanging with people though.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

brandyradey — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:14:07 -0000

oh god...i am an extrovert trapped inside an introvert..or is it the other way around? either way, these are some awesome perspectives. when i first signed on to twitter, i felt like i always had to say something meaningful. now that i've loosened up a bit and learned how to surpress my inner grammar-nazi, i'm enjoying it much more. that's my 2 cents. and p.s., mashable rocks.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Jake Lockley — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:13:26 -0000

Tireless self-promotors indeed.

Re: IRONY ALERT: Social Media Introverts?

Cali Lewis — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:09:27 -0000

I'm comfortably introverted. Introversion is my home base. Having a voice on the Internet has helped me discover a path toward extroversion. It's still a secondary part of my personality, not the one that feels most natural. I enjoy connecting with people through the Internet in a way that I've never enjoyed connecting the analog way.

It's kind of like...if I can build a digital foundation first, the analog aftermath starts to feel a little more comfortable than I would naturally expect.