People lacking in introspection

[Speakpigeon]

There's introspection and then there's neuroticism.

Yeah. Seems to me there are more neurotic people than introspective ones. I don't think there's any connection. Maybe there is not one normal human being, only a lot of different ways of being abnormal. Many friends in my youth were weird each in his own way. Same during my military service, including officers. And the ones who looked normal maybe were smart enough to pretend they were. How many times do you learn that some public figure you thought normal was in fact enjoying all along doing weird things. And just look here. Seems we have a large motley collection of freaks. But that's how society works. Normal people on their own would probably sink the ship.
EB

"Normal" is mainly just the ability to conform to social conditioning anyway.

Then that's not what I would see myself as "normal". Conforming to an imposed standard isn't being normal as I think of it. So, again, maybe normality is really just an appearance some people are able to give themselves. I also don't think people conform to a conditioning since you're essentially unaware of your conditioning. Rather, people may come to do weird things in spite of their conditioning, unable even to understand why they do it. Conditioning often turns into a pathology. Like pent-up frustration shorting part of your brain.
EB

 

[Brian63]

I've always been much too introspective...

How can you tell that you are *too* introspective? If your introspection does not result in you being insecure, does it manifest in some other way mentally? Or more of a suspicion that you needed to spend more time just having fun and less time reflectively focused?

I enjoy thinking about abstract topics, and challenging my own presumptions is (sometimes) fun, so would not consider myself *too* introspective by doing so. How else would you gauge that your level of introspection is too much though?

I suspect introspectiveness is one limited aspect of a particular way that a brain can work and it is my assessment that most people's brain doesn't work like that. People like me are still around so perhaps it's not much of a problem but it does put you somewhat on the outside of the pack. Most people do focus on financial and practical questions, or on things like watching sport workers work. Whoa. Me, I feel closer to shamans and to the Pope than to hard working brutes. I'm fine but I don't think society would work if I was in the majority. And I can think of a few useful things I could do that I don't because I prefer to pursue my interests in abstractions.

Still, I wouldn't want to generalise my case. Maybe you can live a socially responsible life and still enjoy an introspective life. Maybe it's a matter of finding a social role compatible with your introspective inclination. Maybe one could find synergies, like, well, shamans or the Pope have.
EB

Yeah, I can relate to that too. A lot of dinner conversations are simply uninteresting and tiresome to me. Thinking about and discussing abstract topics is more interesting to me, but few people are the same. So I am mostly a hermit and introvert. Though I prefer that lifestyle over pretending to be something I am not and pretending to care more about mundane matters than I actually do.

 

[Speakpigeon]

Yeah, I can relate to that too. A lot of dinner conversations are simply uninteresting and tiresome to me. Thinking about and discussing abstract topics is more interesting to me, but few people are the same. So I am mostly a hermit and introvert. Though I prefer that lifestyle over pretending to be something I am not and pretending to care more about mundane matters than I actually do.

And I'm not convinced we're missing much. From what I see, most people seem essentially interested in things that are ultimately about themselves, which is another sort of introversion but superficially looking extrovert. The best way I think to look at it is to see social occasions as variations of going to the pub to meet people in the flesh and express at the same time their opinions and lack of expertise, without fearing consequences. I guess most people really need to brush regularly with other people, like a vital urge, up until the moment when they eventually realise it's a bit of a smoke-and-mirror addiction. Or maybe getting older just guts their enthusiasm.

Like many people I think, I don't have the time. I like people, and seeing long-time friends is a treat, but I can't do that more than once or twice a year. And each time I ask myself why I did it.

Still, keeping in touch with a few select people is probably a good idea. The brain probably needs to stay anchored in the warm fuzziness of human relationships.
EB