Dealing with Those Pesky Introverts: A How-To Guide

As an Internet-saavy and acculturated individual – you are reading this, are you not? – you’ve probably come across dozens of manifestos on the woefully misunderstood nature of the Introvert. A new wave of this came after Susan Cain’s TED Talk accompanying her published work Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. If you somehow haven’t been exposed to this, here’s a sampling to get your started:

Introverts like me need a lot of help with all this social crap. And even though we’re awesome, we’re really quite annoying, especially now that we’re insisting on this special treatment.

So here’s how you, a gregarious extrovert, can live through another interaction – if it can be called such a thing – with the next pesky introvert you meet. 

1. Approach with Caution

If you were raised right at all, you’ll have been taught that it’s always the quiet ones you gotta’ watch. That’s because, if you’re caught unawares, we’ll bore you with the details of our top 5 fandoms, recite 20th century existential poetry, awkward the shit out of you, or murder you. Probably not the latter so much, but is it worth the risk?

nacho libre jack black awkward smile gif | the lonely tribalist

2. Amp Up the Volume

Introverts are much like any other foreigner; we need you to speak loudly and slowly so that we can understand you. Our ears just aren’t attuned to the native speech patterns of extroverts. It’s like a foreign language (and sounds kind of like this, actually).

3. Never. Stop. Talking.

If there’s anything worse than being around people, it’s being around people and being expected to say anything. (And making eye contact. That’s also quite horrible.) To help out your little introvert, use your god-given power of speech to fill up all pauses with your thoughts and opinions on anything and everything. And I mean anything and everything. Have thoughts on the presidential race? Please have the floor. Your favorite Kardashian is Khloe? Tell me more!

anchorman steve carell loud noises funny gif | the lonely tribalist

4. Interrupt as Necessary

Have you heard the social justice concept of interrupting? It’s the act of catching and interrupting oppression in the act and guess what – you can apply it to introverts! As mentioned before, we absolutely loathe having to talk, so if you see or hear us making the effort to contribute anything to the conversation, please, please, please save us from ourselves and interrupt us immediately. You’ll be doing us a greater favor than you’ll ever know.

5. Encourage Us to be Extroverted Like You

When all is said and done, here is the unadulterated truth: introverts are just unrealized extroverts. So to be a true ally to all introvert-kind, you must push us to be the best that we can be – extrovert-style. After you’ve accomplished all the previous steps and have gained the precious trust of your introvert, push our underdeveloped fledgling bodies out of the tree and into the wilderness! Tough love, extreme unnecessary measures, imbecilic lunacy – ignore the judgments about this kind of bold encouragement. Your introvert will thank you when they’re able to soar in society just like you.

workaholics adam devine victory woo hoo gif | the lonely tribalist

Now you’re equipped with the basics of how to deal with introverts, however exasperating they might be, in a direct and compassionate way. Fly, my pretties, and spread your extroverted seed!

Oh, wait…

Mighty extroverts, do you have any helpful tips to add to this list? Feel free to chime in in the comments below! You’re also allowed to contribute, fellow introverts, but be careful – remember our delicate natures. Take care.
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[Header image source: Pixabay]

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18 thoughts on “Dealing with Those Pesky Introverts: A How-To Guide”

  8. Love this post! Us introverts truly are a special breed, or however you say that nicely 🙂
    I do, however, hate being interrupted. Unless I’m babbling without restrictions due to being uncomfortable, in which case it is necessary to stop me from talking at all. But if I feel what I’m saying is important and someone cuts me off, I get grumpy and stop talking altogether… 😦

    Liked by 1 person

  9. As an extrovert I try to make introverts feel at ease and like they are interesting. Everyone has an amazing story to tell. I make myself open to them to help them feel I am vulnerable too. This is a great post.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Haha this is toooo real. Although sometimes I wish extroverts wouldn’t talk so much….if a conversation with someone I don’t really know goes on for too long I will get tired and just want to leave, no matter how interesting the conversation is! Probably not nice of me but it’s the truth :/

    Liked by 1 person

  11. It seems “introvert” has become the new “nerd/geek” in popular culture.

    Perched perfectly at the center of that particular Venn diagram, I totally understand what you’ve written. People think they “get” me now; in reality, not so much.

    The other day I was asked what my best birthday present was. It was this last year, my wife gave me alone time. Time just for me, myself, and I. She went out with her sister and our close cousins for dinner and to see the new Star Wars (which I waited to see in Redbox).

    I had six hours where no one would need anything or call me or interrupt me or anything. Just me, some chips and pizza, and whatever I could find to do on the internet or TV. Bliss.

    Oh, and I’ve been told death is preferential to my recitations of existential poetry.

    Liked by 1 person

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