I noticed this today while I was eating lunch. I've been eating at the student cafeteria. But the faculty cafeteria just re-opened after some sort of break, so I went there to try it (surprisingly, they're the same cost). It was so much fancier. I really felt out of place. But, the main point is that I was the only person in the whole room. I ate nearly my entire meal in solitude.
While I was sitting there, I was on my phone. Checking facebook, and other social networking apps and things that I have to chat with other people long distance. What stuck out to me was when I considered the prospect of someone else coming into the dining hall, sitting at my table, and commencing a conversation with me. It was a terrifying thought.
So, I spent the rest of my meal thinking about how odd it is. In person, I believe I experience at least some degree of social anxiety. Yet, online I do not. I am the most extroverted and outgoing person I know while online. I comment on every Facebook post, "like" everything, text people, email, chat, flirt, and really put myself out there. Yet, in person I am rather shy. I can be outgoing around people I know well, after I've warmed up. But around new people, I do not strike up conversation. In fact, when I came in to my new job to meet the department head and the other new faculty members, I was looking at a display on the wall when another new professor came up next to me and started looking at the same display. I didn't say anything to him. I left the area and when down one flight of stairs to avoid him.
So, why is it that I'm so sociable online and so anti-social in person? I find it to be quite baffling, really.
While I was sitting there, I was on my phone. Checking facebook, and other social networking apps and things that I have to chat with other people long distance. What stuck out to me was when I considered the prospect of someone else coming into the dining hall, sitting at my table, and commencing a conversation with me. It was a terrifying thought.
So, I spent the rest of my meal thinking about how odd it is. In person, I believe I experience at least some degree of social anxiety. Yet, online I do not. I am the most extroverted and outgoing person I know while online. I comment on every Facebook post, "like" everything, text people, email, chat, flirt, and really put myself out there. Yet, in person I am rather shy. I can be outgoing around people I know well, after I've warmed up. But around new people, I do not strike up conversation. In fact, when I came in to my new job to meet the department head and the other new faculty members, I was looking at a display on the wall when another new professor came up next to me and started looking at the same display. I didn't say anything to him. I left the area and when down one flight of stairs to avoid him.
So, why is it that I'm so sociable online and so anti-social in person? I find it to be quite baffling, really.
Comments
Post a Comment
Anyone is allowed to comment on this blog. As you can tell from reading my blog, I am very opinionated and I'm not afraid to share my opinion. You're welcome to disagree with me as mildly or vehemently as you like, but be aware that I will reply with my own opinions, very strongly. If you don't want that kind of open discussion, or you think it will hurt your feelings, then please avoid posting. I do try to be respectful, but my verbology often comes across as brusque.