Social gatherings, in general, are not a strong point for introverts at the best of times, but some gatherings prove more unbearable than others.
- Office of the parties
The office “party” is an introvert’s living nightmare: one of those social gatherings so intimately linked to your survival. Your boss will inevitably spot you as something very different from the “team player” you assured them you were when you came in for the interview.
Once again, a night of nervous laughter and horrible attempts to appear social while your head is about to explode from the tension of playing this not entirely normal role.
- Team building exercises
Everyone’s in the room but you look so elated when the boss mentions that work on Wednesday has been cancelled, the office is going to have a team building event, full of party games and opportunities to “get to know each other better”.
Like office parties, team building events are social situations to be tolerated rather than enjoyed by introverts. Again, you’re the only person in the room who’d rather be at his desk, or indeed anywhere else than here.
- Dinner parties
Dinner parties are particularly problematic social gatherings as they are set up in such a way as to ensure conversation. Thus, when the guests are other than your close friend, immediate family, or partner, the conversation is sure to be painful. She hopes to avoid small talk as much as possible.
But in turn, you pray to God that no one talks about anything interesting either, because you risk talking uncontrollably about it and then spending the rest of the night in a state of anxiety and guilt.
- Blind dates
Even scarier than normal social gatherings are social situations in which you are judged by others for your worth as a human being. Pressure to succeed is the perfect recipe for failure because you don’t want to be outgoing and try to appear “normal” in vain.
Instead, this character takes on a life of its own, making you seem even more queer than you really are. This unfortunate chain of events leaves you reeling from the injustice of being rejected for having a personality so unlike your own.
- Speed dating events
If being rejected by just one guy in a horrific train wreck for a night out doesn’t appeal to you, try the prospect of small talk with several people and evaluate the impression you make. You won’t succeed. When your friends suggest this would be “fun” and if you “get out there” you could meet the partner of your dreams, stay firm. You know nothing good can come of this.
- Weddings
When you receive the invite, your initial response is to try to pretend you didn’t see it. But no matter where you put it, it burns into your consciousness, whispers “RSVP…”, torments you, and begs you to find a good excuse not to go or to bite the bullet.
You don’t have a good excuse. You are an unacceptable person. Going to a friend’s wedding is the foundation of human decency. You’re playing with the idea of pretending to get lost in the post or contracting a strange disease.
For goodness sakes, pull yourselves together! They will never speak to you again – you have no choice! Get something to wear, get some kitchen utensils as a gift, and go to the wedding. It’s only one day, for goodness sake! Sure, you can afford to exchange pleasantries with strangers for a day in your life!
- School reunion
There are social gatherings one thinks one might be able to get through with courage and fortitude, and there are school reunions. There is nothing on this earth that can tempt a school reunion. There is absolutely no good reason to put yourself through such misfortune. In fact, just the thought of going could take years off your life. - Induction days
Everyone loves a fresh start, starting a new cycle or a new job. Unfortunately for introverts, every silver lining has a cloud, and when it comes to starting something new, that dark cloud looming over your happy life comes in the form of induction day, or in introverts’ parlance ‘another reason to dread’. Until the good times. - Nights on the town
While some people’s idea of fun, singing and shouting obscenities may be the idea of fun, the introvert is unlikely to count among them. The only part of this formula that may appeal to you is the plaster cast, which they prefer to do at home or in a quiet place with a close friend. - Holidays with friends
Let’s face it, all people, regardless of their disposition, would probably be better off getting away from going on vacation with friends. As fun as it sounds, the events that ensue are inevitably unpleasant for everyone involved.
