[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Cloud

introverts can get along with other people, and work as a team to get things done just fine.

Introverts can be part of a team, but they are not going to go out and form the team. What's more, even as part of a team they have limits that the extroverts aren't going to have. In a modern workplace environment, for example, these limits will probably never be tested. But at some point the strain of prolonged social requirements would take their toll. Several introverts in this thread have already talked about requiring time to recuperate after periods of social interaction. What if they couldn't have that downtime? Ever? Every introvert's line is going to be in a different place on this, but the more strenuous the circumstances, and the more social interaction required, the more introverts would fall by the wayside while the extroverts soldiered on.

Originally Posted by Cloud

I don't equate introversion with lack of social skills, shyness, or dysfunction. It's a natural inclination toward an inward focus.

I don't equate it with dysfunction. It's a different way of operating, and one that can be afforded in the modern world. I do, however, equate it with the traditional definition of shyness, which is to say, introverts prefer not to be overly social with people, and are uncomfortable in such situations. Whether part of that is a lack of social skills depends on the person--you certainly can have an introvert who is completely comfortable with people, just prefers to be away from them. Lookout seems to be saying this fits his personality. For me, I find that I am naturally an introvert, who has a very finely honed extrovert "persona," such that I can switch modes and perform flawlessly as needed, yet left to my own devices I will revert back to my introversion.

It's kind of like you're defending the brilliant but lightweight academic, and I'm pointing out that the brute football player is still going to be the one who can defend his family from a mugger. Both skillsets, introversion and extroversion, are needed and useful in the modern world. But if push ever came to shove, the extroverts would survive better and in greater numbers than the introverts. On the one hand you say that introversion is "just different" and "different is okay," yet at the same time you made it pretty clear you think extroverts are inferior, or at least, insufferably annoying. That's all I was taking exception with, the idea that extroversion offered no usefulness in and of itself.

Originally Posted by skysidhe

Introverts can be empathetic, gregarious, run businesses and gauge human character.

Never said they couldn't. In fact, I think that in the end introverts are capable of being more empathetic than extroverts. As far as being gregarious, yes, they certainly can do that--again, in the context of their close friends. They're not incapable of gauging human character, but they are less confident at it, and more careful about it.

Originally Posted by Cloud

disagree. Just off the top of my head, I can guarantee you that Microsoft is a major company.

People think Bill Gates must be an introvert because he's a computer geek. But I've seen Bill Gates speak to a crowd of thousands, and it's my personal opinion that he's not an introvert. Or at least, he has the ability to perform as an extrovert, either the way lookout does, the way I do, or perhaps some completely different way. Of course the only way to know would be to ask him. Almost no one is entirely one way or the other; most fall somewhere in between. All I'm saying is that there is an inherent importance to the skills of an extrovert, and it's foolish to write them off as unecessary. You should always admire people who have skills you don't have, no matter what those skills are.