*nod nod*

Definitely.

I wonder if this reaction is related to population density? The more people you're surrounded by that you can't get away from, the more you want solitude?

oh my :o smort akili! that definitely makes sense
how about you? are you more introverted too?

Ha ha ha ha ha, yes.
Oh so much yes.

I blather a lot online but that's because it was ingrained as a defense mechanism: if I'm chatting then other people can't *talk at me* so if I see someone coming I quick blither on about whatever while frantically finding an excuse to leave them before I have to actually have a real conversation.
And it carried over.
Online is easier, but there's a reason my hobbies are almost all solitary pursuits (online games like this are an exception).

I get all the socializing I need from dealing with family and work, so I haven't been out with friends since.... um. Wow, that's sad. I think since 2004? Everything since then has all been family related or work related... wow yeah. That's kind of.... I should maybe fix that. Someday. But there's so many fun things to do alone, so.... And I'm in the middle of a lot of projects! And there are always family events going on!
Urgh.

I think there are jobs where you don’t have to interact with actual humans. Like transcribing audio files lol. I attempted that but i couldn’t even properly hear what the people were saying to actually transcribe anything…8U

But yeah, a lot of jobs require at least ONE other person to work with. XD;; just as your “outside man” lol. XD

Yeah.
I really liked the time period when I was working for myself from home doing jobs that didn't have much interaction.
Then somehow I ended up working at a health clinic.
Do you know how many people I have to deal with every work day??
And my coworkers are friendly! I come home so exhausted from all the socializing.
It's not like I don't like them, they're great people, but it's so TIRING. And they're all so blasted outgoing, they don't quite seem to get it. I'm no good at subterfuge really so it's obvious that I like them (well, they're nice people) so they're constantly expecting me to spend even more time with them and then get confused when I turn it down....
Extroverts, please understand that introversion is not about if you like someone or not! It's about what drains you vs what gives you energy! I get that going out with people makes you very "pumped up" and happy and excited and energetic and full of life, but for me while I can enjoy it perfectly well it leaves me utterly drained and needing days to recover, so I can't just blithely do it all the time....

Sorry, random frustration rant there. I don't know how many times now I've had to explain this concept to very sweet people who seem to take it personally when I don't spend my every waking hour with them. It's so much EASIER when it's a jerk who invites you; them you can just bluntly turn down and leave it at that. When it's someone you like and want to continune getting on with it suddely becomes important to not let misunderstandings take hold. And that's tiring too. It gets to me after a while.

Seriously though that is not a wish to fate to make my coworkers all jerks. I'm perfectly happy that they're nice people, thank you. Rant aside, it's a good thing. I'll take the biweekly lectures in place of having to work with jerks.

Yeah like if you work reception, the main thing you have to do IS interact. I work as an administrator assistant and i thought I’d just be stuck behind a computer filing or doing paperwork. Instead, I’m sitting in reception, taking/transferring calls and greeting people and stuff. And I’m like….anti-social loll. So now i have to force myself to interact with coworkers and talking on the phone and stuff.

Luckily, this is a small company and i don’t have to interact with too many coworkers and the ppl i talk to on the phone, a lot of the time i transfer to someone else. Still. So much socializing…8U

On the topic I have found working reception easier than actual administrative assistant job. Like you have to work closely with your boss and have a lot of deeper conversations and if your boss is exhausting/trying to stir up trouble you're in for quite hard days (no it totally didn't happen to me ^^)
With reception it's easy hello, goodbyes, the restroom is behind you and that's all.
Even when people linger they have to go away eventually and you can use the new people coming in to escape. I loved that job.

Sorry, random frustration rant there. I don't know how many times now I've had to explain this concept to very sweet people who seem to take it personally when I don't spend my every waking hour with them. It's so much EASIER when it's a jerk who invites you; them you can just bluntly turn down and leave it at that. When it's someone you like and want to continune getting on with it suddely becomes important to not let misunderstandings take hold. And that's tiring too. It gets to me after a while.

Same. I have that friend, who, like me, don't have a lot of friends left here and who still don't speak Japanese AND work surrounded by Japanese people who don't speak her language (because she doesn't speak English either) and she's bombarding me with invitations.
I like her but once a week is too much for me so I have been refusing conveniently having dentist appointments when she's free. Oops. (and to be honest, I laugh more in the 30 minutes I spend at the dentist than during the days I spend with her. Which shouldn't happen. It hurts. Maybe I should ditch my friend and invite my favorite resident instead ^^)

Well i work sorta reception and sorta assistant to the administrator and like…everyone one else lol. Like a glorified lackey hahahah. XD we don’t get a lot of visitors, its mostly just coworkers coming up and down.

Did the same thing XD
Guess that happens a lot in small companies. I loved when coworkers from different buildings came to visit, especially the repair guys. At least it was fun.

The job itself was pretty fun, the boss, not so much. And that was minimum wage. When I did part of my boss' work. That too wasn't fun either.

yeah its a smallish family run company. so i end up doing a lot of menial jobs hahaha. xD;; talking on the phone or intercom still freaks me out though sometimes. xD;; i get nervous and start to stutter or hemm and haww. xD;;