Nail on the 'ead

An essay by Jonathan Rauch about the "trials of introversion in an extroverts' world" has inspired a huge response since it was published in The Atlantic Online in 2003. The general thrust of Rauch's article was that introverts are discriminated against by the extrovert hegemony of modern culture. Everyone is expected to be outgoing sociable party-loving extroverts at all times and the world's dominant extroverts simply don't understand that, for some people, making small-talk is a real effort for some and genuinely tiring.

Me, for example: I have no idea how to start a conversation with a complete stranger. I am lousy at chit-chat. Unless there is some common point of interest then maintaining a conversation is like trying to clean an oven with candyfloss for me. Sure, get me onto a subject that I am enthusiastic and knowledgeable about and I can bang on for hours but talk to me about the weather or work or... whatever it is that strangers talk to each other about when they first meet then you can forget it.

But at least I am not alone.

You can read Rauch's original article here.
You can read a follow-up interview with Rauch here.