It Turns Out We Introverts Are Racist
I am, depending on the day, a moderate to strong introvert. Nowadays, basically no one understands what this means, because they use it as a synonym of social awkwardness or occasional social discomfort, and everyone will answer "I am introverted too" even when it clearly is not the case. I can interact socially but only with a great expenditure of energy -- the few people I call my friends are the ones whom I can hang out with without it costing me energy. I cross streets to avoid interacting with neighbors, and frequently avoid eye contact with most everyone because every instance of eye contact could potentially lead to a social interaction I am trying to avoid. Like a manic depressive, I go through times that are better and worse -- in times of extreme introversion I will hide in the bathroom for hours rather than even attempt to make conversation with people at some function. If I am not in the bathroom, I sometimes go on talking jags, which is another way not to interact if you think about it. Also like many introverts, I love public speaking, the larger venue the better. Despite it being the #1 reported fear in the general population, I have never feared public speaking -- in fact, I often seek it out.
I don't avoid social contact because I hate people. I like people, and I am not a misanthrope (except maybe when I watch MSNBC too long). I don't avoid social contact because I dislike myself or lack confidence -- folks around me can tell you I have an over-abundance of self-confidence. If this does not make much sense, neither do a lot of phobias to folks who do not have them. The closest I can equate it is that I can get a feeling similar to claustrophobia when interacting with people.
I don't really discuss this much in the blog because a) it is largely irrelevant to blogging and I am unlikely every to meet 99.9% of you face to face; b) I have learned to function pretty well in most situations; and c) I have no particular desire to be a victim. In fact, to the latter, it is impossible to escape feelings of guilt about it, particularly for my wife who has to put up with embarrassing things like seeing me stand alone in a corner at some function.
I bring this all up only to warn you that apparently, this all means that I am a racist:
Students who avoid making eye contact with their peers could be guilty of racism, according to Oxford University’s latest guidance.
The university’s Equality and Diversity Unit has advised students that “not speaking directly to people” could be deemed a “racial microaggression” which can lead to “mental ill-health”.
Ray:
The SJW's dream of the day when their vision of the ideal social norms can be enforced by law and those who stray can be punished.
I am also an introvert and can relate to some of the things you wrote. While I'm not a huge fan of public speaking, I have found myself seeking out leadership roles which tend to provide me with a bit more of an acceptable reason to remain socially 'detached' from colleagues recreationally. I don't mind the professional interactions in the work setting at all... (other than it does drain my energy from time to time).
April 24, 2017, 9:09 amMr. Generic:
"Students who avoid making eye contact with their peers could be guilty of..."
..being on the Autism Spectrum.
Seriously, who the eff came up with this crap?
April 24, 2017, 9:33 amMercury:
"Students who avoid making eye contact with their peers could be guilty of racism, according to Oxford University’s latest guidance."
April 24, 2017, 9:37 am---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This really has nothing to do with introverts.
First off, obviously it is understood that the above can only be the case if the student avoiding eye contact is from a "privilidged" ethnicity and is choosing not to look someone else in the eye who is a member of a traditionally "oppressed" ethnicity.
I mean, no Cultural Marxixt at Oxford is going to call out a female Muslim student of color for failing to look Mike Pence in the eye if he comes on campus for a meet-and-greet with students (in other news, only certain types of people can be criminally liable for refusing to bake a a gay wedding cake).
Given that most Millennials (and youngers) today have zero face-to-face social skills (for reasons that have nothing to do with racism) and it is unlikely that you will get eye contact, a firm handshake and a polite response from any of them. Period...., Oxford is effectively giving notice to white kids only that more is expected of them and them only in this regard.
Can you smell the socio-political "Progress" here?
ColoComment:
Some years ago, Jonathan Rauch wrote one of the most succinct yet complete accounts of introverts living in (coping with?) an extrovert world. I have shared it with numerous people in an effort to communicate some level of understanding of our introvert personalities.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/302696/
More recently, Susan Cain also has an excellent book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking," here:
April 24, 2017, 10:10 amhttp://a.co/5SMyJ3M
joshv:
You will make eye contact https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/94/Clockwork%2771.jpg/440px-Clockwork%2771.jpg
April 24, 2017, 10:39 amcraftman:
I love/hate Susan Cain's book - because it also correlated with a period of time where people I know who are clearly extroverts (fully booked social calendars, constantly on the phone talking when physically alone, etc) began bragging about being introverts. Or as Tyler Cowen would say, "Introverts were temporarily raised in status." Now we can go back to looking busily at our phones or laptops whenever a casual acquaintance walks into the coffee shop. Oh God, he saw me didn't he, he's going to come over... :-)
April 24, 2017, 10:46 amcraftman:
"I don't avoid social contact because I hate people."
I hate people in my mind, and then as soon as I start talking to them I realize they are people just like me with flaws who make mistakes, and I generally like most of them. It's a tough barrier to get over. I could know someone for months before talking to them and already be so sure that I'm going to hate them with the internal narrative I've got going on in my head.
April 24, 2017, 10:48 amjames:
Introvert / extrovert.
Something dreamed up by psychologists.
I'm happy with my own thoughts, If someone asks me to share them, I oblige. So I'm an introvert.
Introvert = shy. Extrovert = exhbitionist.
Introvert = thinker. Extrovert = airhead
Or whatever.
April 24, 2017, 2:47 pmBy the time you've gone through the thesaurus (ignoring airhead = natural leader, I hope) you might find the spectrum is a crock.
marque2:
Some introverts are talking, over talkative because they use it as a crutch for not really socializing well. I am not kidding. I don't think introvert necessarily means quite, just feel awkward and do not enjoy social situations, especially with random people.
April 24, 2017, 4:06 pmReallyOldOne:
Let me rephrase this: "Thinking that not making eye contact is racism or a microaggression is a great definition of insanity."
April 24, 2017, 4:16 pmDave Boz:
It turns out that... everybody is racist! Well, everybody white, anyway.
April 24, 2017, 5:31 pmAndrew_M_Garland:
The left wants to control everything. They want to establish the moral authority to control all evil-doers. Ayn Rand's character Floyd Ferris explained this in "Atlas Shrugged".
Introductory quote in "The Cowing of the Medical Profession" by Dr. Richard N. Fogoros, at The Covert Rationing Blog.
http://covertrationingblog.com/open-wide-and-say-moo-the-good-citizens-guide-to-right-thinking-and-right-actions/chapter-3-the-cowing-of-the-medical-profession
=== ===
Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against.
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them.
One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone?
But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers.
=== ===
Accusations of bigotry are wonderful tools for this. Only a tiny fraction of people are outward and effective bigots. The goal is to identify everyone as a bigot in his heart. This is the basis for confession under Communism and for anti-discrimination classes in colleges.
First, ask that people come forward to confess their white privilege and bigotry. Then, involve as many as possible in discussion, to trip them up and identify their supposedly incorrect use of pronouns as evidence of their bigotry. Then, point to those who have not joined in and may be sitting far in the back. Show the research that their unwillingness to participate comes from deep prejudice and a dislike of confronting their feelings.
Of course, this identifies everyone as a bigot. But, an escape is applied to people of the Left. Blacks supposedly can't be bigots because they don't hold power in society as a group. White lefties can't be bigots because they have proven their purity by being active in the cause. Black conservatives remain bigots because they have joined the group in power.
April 24, 2017, 6:56 pmjoe:
they are going to have us in camps soon, and the worst part is I'll have to be close to a bunch of people
I'm from New orleans, my wife is from Colombia, and one time at a restaurant when we first moved back to the US she was chattering away with the waitress in pidgin English, at one point the waitress said "your husband doesn't speak English does he"
April 24, 2017, 7:52 pmkidmugsy:
It's easy to refer to Princesston but what the devil are we to call Oxford?
Mind you, you are a racist. Everyone is a racist.
April 25, 2017, 6:45 amGeorges Lacombe:
Good to know that a person I admire is also an introvert like me. I have done Myers-Briggs type indicator test and I was classified as INTP - meaning Introvert and something else.
April 25, 2017, 3:17 pmJTW:
SJWs of course. I'd not be surprised if more whites are autistic than are blacks, therefore being autistic is racist or something like that.
To which I'd only say "try it for a while, and enjoy the panic attacks, meltdowns, depression, and social rejection you're going to suffer"
April 25, 2017, 8:38 pmCC:
One of the most dangerous things one can do if in a dangerous neighborhood or bar is to make eye contact, and never do it with a homeless person. It will be presumed that you are challenging them and could lead to a fight.
April 26, 2017, 7:18 amInsecure SJWs assume that people not making eye contact is about them, but in reality people avoid eye contact as a way to deal with crowds. As a white guy I can attest that one can walk all day through a big city and no one will make eye contact. The exception is girls who notice you looking at them, but that is not a positive eye contact.
HoratiusZappa:
I'm inclined to believe that among serious introverts, it's a combination of two things that lead us to avoid casual and trivial contact/interaction: our minds are often preoccupied with something of which we are seized and we don't care to interrupt that process; and/or we lack patience to make small talk. I'm withdrawn while idle chit-chat is in progress, and talkative when the topic interests me.
April 28, 2017, 7:08 pmSamWah:
No prob, Warren; EVERYONE is racist.
May 1, 2017, 6:04 pm