So, yesterday I was at a day-long training [View all]
listening to a key-note speaker who talked about "reaching introverts." He said, "You know, the socially awkward who are all in their heads, not making eye-contact."
That offended me. I'm not "socially awkward."
Yes, I'm often "all in my head," so busy thinking about something that I'm not making eye contact or interacting with those around me. I don't consider work or chores at home a social environment, and I LIKE being "all in my head." I wish extroverts would realize that interrupting is still rude when you are interrupting internal thought rather than external conversation. I often wonder if they aren't "in their heads" because whatever is in there won't spark without someone from without poking at it.
When I'm in a social situation, by choice or not, I know how to interact with people. I'm not "awkward." Those who are uncomfortable, who are "awkward" with themselves are uncomfortable around those of us who are not, and so project their "awkwardness" on to us.
Yes, there are socially awkward people, both introverts and extroverts. But being an introvert does not automatically make one "awkward."