[nixe]

I am clearly an introvert. I'm not falling off the end of the introvert/extrovert sliding scale or anything, but there is no question that I stand with both feet planted firmly in the territory of I.

And yet, to those who know me well, I talk a lot. Raise an interesting topic and I can go on and on. I really would prefer a conversation to a monologue, but sometimes all you can do is your best under the circumstances. I honestly don't intend to bore anyone. If the audience is disinterested this is very distressing and I will endeavor to keep quiet as far as possible.

Sometimes this is not possible.

I was briefly but passionately excited about the cognitive functions list for INFPs, but after doing more research it began to seem that the extraverted thinking they mentioned was not necessarily the extroverted thinking I wanted to discuss.

I introvert my feelings. They are not hidden, exactly, but they are private, something that must be processed internally before I can know what they mean, or speak and act usefully on them.

But as for thoughts.. I once told my parents, who complained that I talked too much about inorganic chemistry, that if I wasn't talking I wasn't learning. I can also write to think, though it can take much longer and anything formal is very stressful. I feel almost no motivation to write if I have no expectation that my words will ever be read.

I don't want a monologue, honestly. Ideally, no matter the format, I'd like a conversation.

I feel this problem in my major. I'm studying computer science. The programming is fine because the conversation between the computer and me during the programming/debugging process is enough. I am talking. We're both talking, and I'm learning.



It's harder to talk about the other things I'm leaning, increasingly technical, decreasingly interesting to any of my friends. Even with classmates, no one seems really keen to discuss it after class.

Is this a problem that other INFPs have encountered? Truly, a simple "me too" would be very much appreciated. It's lonely here.

If anyone has tips or suggestions, let me express my gratitude in advance. This issue is really affecting my enthusiasm for my major, which makes me so sad because there are times when I adore it so much I could burst into embarrassing song and be completely okay with the weird looks.

[obz900]

I am clearly an introvert. I'm not falling off the end of the introvert/extrovert sliding scale or anything, but there is no question that I stand with both feet planted firmly in the territory of I.

And yet, to those who know me well, I talk a lot. Raise an interesting topic and I can go on and on. I really would prefer a conversation to a monologue, but sometimes all you can do is your best under the circumstances. I honestly don't intend to bore anyone. If the audience is disinterested this is very distressing and I will endeavor to keep quiet as far as possible.

Sometimes this is not possible.

I was briefly but passionately excited about the cognitive functions list for INFPs, but after doing more research it began to seem that the extraverted thinking they mentioned was not necessarily the extroverted thinking I wanted to discuss.

I introvert my feelings. They are not hidden, exactly, but they are private, something that must be processed internally before I can know what they mean, or speak and act usefully on them.

But as for thoughts.. I once told my parents, who complained that I talked too much about inorganic chemistry, that if I wasn't talking I wasn't learning. I can also write to think, though it can take much longer and anything formal is very stressful. I feel almost no motivation to write if I have no expectation that my words will ever be read.

I don't want a monologue, honestly. Ideally, no matter the format, I'd like a conversation.

I feel this problem in my major. I'm studying computer science. The programming is fine because the conversation between the computer and me during the programming/debugging process is enough. I am talking. We're both talking, and I'm learning.

It's harder to talk about the other things I'm leaning, increasingly technical, decreasingly interesting to any of my friends. Even with classmates, no one seems really keen to discuss it after class.

Is this a problem that other INFPs have encountered? Truly, a simple "me too" would be very much appreciated. It's lonely here.

If anyone has tips or suggestions, let me express my gratitude in advance. This issue is really affecting my enthusiasm for my major, which makes me so sad because there are times when I adore it so much I could burst into embarrassing song and be completely okay with the weird looks.

I think I understand what you're saying..but I'm so tired it feels like I'm slightly stoned. Could you put the gist of it into one sentence?

[nixe]

I think I understand what you're saying..but I'm so tired it feels like I'm slightly stoned. Could you put the gist of it into one sentence?

I'm also pretty tired (it took about two hours to get that first post into something even semi-readable). I'm afraid bullet points are about the best I can do at the moment.

I think the most important things I wanted to say were as follows:

• I seem to need to externalize my thoughts and ideas, whether by talking or typing (as long as I have at least some expectation of an audience)
• It's not just a preference. I honestly seem to need at least some unofficial outlet for discussion for every subject I study or I become very demotivated and even mildly depressed
• I remember telling my parents that if I wasn't talking I wasn't learning. I think I was onto something.
• Oddly, it's become increasingly difficult in college to find people with a real interest in discussing the things we're learning

In short, I feel that in order to think I have to talk, or possibly write.

I feel like this is having a very real and negative affect on my education. Am I the only INFP who feels this way?

[obz900]

Alrighty that's better. No you are not the only one. I am also very introverted, but I can get into conversations(mostly with close friends) where I go on and on and on..I love discussing things and getting my point across. It feels like I have so many feelings and thoughts in my head and it's impossible to sort through them without writing them down or talking to someone about them. And I find that when I do, things come out that I didn't even know were there to begin with.

[pinktees]

me too. I love my major, though lack those to share my passion with-due moreso to my extreme introversion.

the only remedy is to seek out those who are as enthusiastic about [insert topic here] as you.

[white-knuckle]

just find some programmers online! Most all of em' are introverts and the knowledgable ones are few and far between. My bf plays this game TAspring...pretty much everyone is computer nerds in there. When they aren't playing games they help each other on projects, they talk about computer stuff, and they basically have a very supportive community. They cuss alot and they like to play pranks and give the newbs a hard time, but they are just joking. So, yeah my bf is a computer programmer thats where he goes to be around other programmers. Maybe you could find a community as well though ta spring is pretty neat because they come from around the world...but most computer nerds your not going to find off thier computers! lol

[SenhorFrio]

i ALWAYS wanna talk,when i find something interesting i usaly find it VERY interesting, and the only way i can remember it long term is by telling people. but often people don't take interest in t they listenand they sometimes appreicatethe ig picture butthey aren't to interested in the finer points wich is what i love. Somtimes people just aren't in a talking mood and i hate it when it happens it's alway some emotional problem and they don't want to talk about it and me no matter how i feel i'm always talking.
i'd say it's common among INFP's not so much a love of talking but of commuication