Comments on: A Question for Introverts

By: Dick Richards

Dick Richards — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 17:46:02 +0000

In Jungian terms, an introvert’s main interests are in the inner world of concepts and ideas, while an extrovert’s are in the outer world of people and things. It is really that simple. So, as an introvert, it wouldn’t much matter to me whether the “people” were real or not — they are “outer.”

By: Verghese

Verghese — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:17:49 +0000

Hmmm - I don’t agree that it’s a consequence free environment. If you are married and entered the holodeck you couldn’t sleep with a hologram and expect there to be no consequences - your spouse would certainly object! Having said that I would be more outgoing on a holodeck.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:34:24 +0000

When I was a kid, and to this day, I have to make sure that the stuffed animals I have held onto are “comfortable”. They have to be treated with respect and placed in such a manner as not to distress them.

When I play video games, I treat the other characters are kindly as possible. I know a lot of people who get excited that they’re no longer in the “real world” and go berserk, hurting character and destroying property.

To me the fantasy of myself doing that type of thing is really unappealing and the image of it would haunt me whether or not it was real. So I abide by the same rules as real life.

It’s a little hard to say all this because I bet people will think it’s weird or freaky, but it’s only the truth. And I still enjoy the games, so I see nothing wrong with being civilized in a simulation.

By: Rektor

Rektor — Tue, 20 Sep 2005 00:58:44 +0000

I do not want to agree that introverts would respond differently to a holodeck than extroverts. Both intro and extroverts would be able to bask in a range of possibilities.

But I’ll answer the question. If I had a holodeck, where people acted to the fidelity of real people, how could I treat it differently than the real world? (If a holodeck is something else, then my answer will be less valid, but again the question would also be rather uninteresting)

I could drown myself in an extacy of having every imaginable desire and fantasy come to life. But a holodeck is an absurd thing to think of. It raises a lot of questions that are so what-if-ish that I can’t really relate to it. Ah, stupid sci-fi

By: joyce

joyce — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:33:32 +0000

All i can say is that i’m proud being an introvert and no extrovert can able to influence me to come and join them in their crazy world.

By: Zsa Zsa

Zsa Zsa — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 13:57:59 +0000

I am not sure I would know how to act if I were an introvert? Sometimes I think it might be kind of nice to be an introvert! However ! It just might be an impossibility for me to be anything but an extrovert!

By: Mike Gale

Mike Gale — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:26:46 +0000

If they are just computer generated “things” without a real life and real goals I’d be bored as soon as that sunk in.

There is no similarity in my mind between mindless drones and, even low bandwidth communication, with real people.

To turn the Turing Test on it’s head. People who are indistinguishable from drone computer programs may not really be human. (Note: that does not exclude some sorts of computer programs from being more worth “knowing” than some humans!!!)

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 21:17:08 +0000

I also disagree with people likening ficticious holodeck characters to real people who are online. It doesn’t matter if the people in your chat channel are even telling the truth or not. They exist, and will continue to exist when you leave the chat channel. The thing about internet socializing is that there are very few venues of normal, subtle communication — changes in posture, facial expression, breath, tone of voice. These would be available in the holodeck example, just without the human context. Why people think that makes internet socializing any less “real” than face-to-face socializing, I have no idea. That’s what causes a lot of internet drama.

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 21:11:54 +0000

Good question. Theoretically, I would be much lest reserved, because I knew I couldn’t hurt their feelings or end up with unwanted emotional attachments (positive or negative). And if I did — well, I could just reset them.

However, if placed in that situation, the level of reality would probably trigger my social programming, and I’d end up acting like I always do, due to being unfamiliar with holodeck technology.

By: trekkie-nerd

trekkie-nerd — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:55:04 +0000

I tend to agree with Dave. While it’s true that I’d imagine I’d be less introverted with the holodeck characters, I will still end up being an introvert trying to be otherwise.

Plus, on the idea that the holodeck is so realistic that you forget that they are fake anyway (especially if you choose a contemporary scenario), and that the computing power is such that it can pick up subtle nuances that can give you away… I can’t imagine how a real holodeck would treat you any other way. But I’m rambling.

Besides, even in some of my wildest dreams, I’m still painfully shy - talk about being true to oneself

By: Fiver Stone

Fiver Stone — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:41:30 +0000

Isn’t this exactly what happens on the web? Not that the people aren’t real, but it’s easy enough to convince ourselves that they are just “virtual” people. Introverts seem to have a much easier time socializing on the web than in person. I have the inconvenient habit of remembering that these are actual people though, so I don’t open up as much as I might otherwise.

I wrote a post a while back about how this sort of thing gets in the way of my blogging. http://fiverstone.blogspot.com/2005/08/blogging-is-not-for-everyone.html

By: bobdobbs

bobdobbs — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:55:26 +0000

I would try to hump them !

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:48:55 +0000

I would interact with them just as I would real people, because an introvert is what I am and there’s no way to change that. The real question should be, if you are painfully shy in social situations would you interact with the holodeck characters differently?

By: She-who-has-no-name

She-who-has-no-name — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 12:32:48 +0000

I’m a bit of an introvert - I “recharge” by being alone or around a few close people who are doing their own things (together w/o much interaction.) I would find the holodeck people annoying becuase I know they’re fake. Now if the holodeck was full of cool puzzles and interesting illusions and other shiny objects things would be different.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 09:12:07 +0000

A method psychologists use for making their clients acquire new life skills is role playing (or maybe the right term is psychodrama - I am not a native English speaker).

For example, if a client has problems confronting his boss about something, or asking someone of the opposite sex out, then the psychologist (or a student of the psychologist) plays the other party, and the client gets to exercise the behavior he or she has troubles with.

I have done this, and it’s quite effective.