Korean Job Discussion Forums

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Seriously, I've been thinking about 'God knows what' for the past 30 years and I've concluded that happiness is directly related to how a person interacts with 'the world out there', on whatever level.

So, extroverts should know, you've been dealt the better hand.

Being introverted brings its own subtle delights but it's a hard joy to sustain, particularly in Korea where nature and company of similarly minded individuals is difficult to find (Korean nature doesn't seem natural... Confused

) and the extroverted character gets extra brownies on socializing with co-workers and teaching.

Thinking and being alone is God damn addictive. I wonder if it's like all bad habits and can be broken?

<End of feeling sorry for myself>

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Actually, feeling sorry for myself and talking about it on a forum seems healthier than complaining about Korea, because at least then there's an opportunity for action.

Easier to change yourself than the culture of a nation.

Okay, I take that back. Korea sucks. Wink

Kikomom · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:

Just for you, tfunk... from your own Auntie Beeb:

http://www.geocities.com/kikos_stuff/solitude/

Turn off the player on the bottom and find the hidden .wav files. Wink

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Gamecock · Joined: 26 Nov 2003

Being an introvert doesn't suck. There are TONS are advantages. An introvert doesn't have to rush around all the time trying to find or coordinate social events or gatherings. When an extrovert is unable to socialize, they are generally stressed and unhappy. Introverts generally don't need alot of attention to feel validated. It is a much more serene and peaceful life. Different from being an extrovert, but it is certainly not inferior...

That is, unless you are an emotionally insecure person, in which case your life sucks whether you are an introvert or extrovert. Oh, and in Korea, you will be always misunderstood if you are an introvert. But really, who cares what they think.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

mithridates · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

Pathetic extroverts in coffee shops are the funniest because they seem to treat it as a bar even though it's the middle of the day and everybody's just chilling and maybe studying something. One of them came in to Starbucks the other day, started out strong with his order and a bit of chatter with the employee, but then he got his coffee, sat down (his friends hadn't arrived yet) and suddenly he realized that he was alone at a table with nothing but his phone. Shocked

After one sip of his coffee he couldn't take it anymore and began calling up friend after friend "yeah I'm in a coffee shop waiting for (name) and I just got here, oh okay I'll phone you back later", "hey I'm in a coffee shop blah blah oh really? Yeah I know that's great. Okay. Sure, bye." to friend after friend until finally the person he was supposed to meet showed up to put him out of his misery and luckily they went off to find a better table away from me.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

Introversion speaks of getting your battery re-charged when you're alone, or maybe with a friend.

Find quiet tea and coffee shops that are out of the way.

Check out the book exchange at the Wolfhound pub~ 2nd Sun 2pm. of the month. (It may not be happening in the summer~ check the thread.)

Find people that share your hobbies.

Use your imagination~ dream harder.

Join a writing group.

Crap or get off the pot! Wink

visitorq · Joined: 11 Jan 2008

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Too many people confuse introversion with shyness.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

That's right, I've seen shy, quiet as a mouse sorts becoming total blabbermouths once they are in company they don't feel threatened by.

It's them that gave rise to the phrase "captive audience".

tfunk · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.

As Harpeau pointed out, introversion refers more to how a person recharges their batteries and this explains why it's often confused with shyness, having no confidence etc.

It's possible to be confident and introverted, although I think this is rarer than introverts would like to admit. There is a consoling image of the introvert content in his solitude, riding the highs of music, art and nature in a cocoon high above the superficial babbling of the 'common rabble'. The introverted character tends towards thinking, abstracting and imagining over interacting physically with the world. The problem with this is that thought can lead anywhere, and as thinking by its nature is an activity based upon the assumption that 'there is a problem' the person that habitually thinks themselves into the world, instead of interacting with it, will continually find problems with it.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

Hey Tfunk, I like your openess. Firstly I believe that it is true, like the saying that blondes have more fun, yeah likewise with extroverts.

Therefore your initial observation should get some credit.

But if you could, what would you trade for a little more free spiritness?? I'll wager that the first thing an introvert will opt for and prize in any form of hierarchy of wants is "looks" or "riches" b/c to him/her doing things that extroverts do is not attractive.

Extroverts place value on human exchanges and they instinctively know that trappings of wealth, looks and other will not be adequate.

All depends on your parents. If they made you feel a valued member of society, then all handicaps will be overcome. If they made you feel inferior, well, there are worse fates., So, everything's ok.

midgic · Joined: 14 Feb 2004

For many years, I tried to over-compensate for my introverted nature by making an unnatural effort to interact with people more than I really wanted to. For some reason, I thought it was unhealthy to spend vast amounts of time alone.

However, about three years ago, I decided to embrace my introverted nature and I tried to take it to the extreme. Now, I very rarely leave my apartment except to go out for exercise (individual exercise of course). The only other adult I talk to on a regular basis is my wife. I haven't had a single conversation with an English native speaker for three years. I read books, watch documentaries and movies, study subjects of interest, and overall spend my time fairly productively (I think?).

The result of this little experiment is that I've never felt happier or more positive about life. It's in my nature to be introverted and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by not interacting more with other people.