That all sounds exhausting (introvert here).
The last thing I want to do when out in public is be stuck talking with strangers.
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As an introvert, one thing that works is that I repeatedly go to the same shops and restaurants so people know me and I know them, and we’re not strangers anymore.
As a fellow introvert, I would recommend that you see it as taking medication. Or getting exercise.
You don't do it because you like it. You do it because if you don't, then you'll be worse off years later.
> You do it because if you don't, then you'll be worse off years later.
This feels hyperbolic. While I would agree that community and remaining connected are very important to overall health, I don’t feel like making a habit of talking to strangers is a prerequisite.
> This feels hyperbolic.
In my experience, it is not.
I'm "on the spectrum." In my case, it has been a net positive, because it afforded me the career that I have, but it has made interpersonal relationships difficult.
I have also spent my entire adult life, in a community that forces us to have fairly intimate interpersonal relationships (a program of personal Recovery).
It has been exhausting (you'll always find me in the kitchen at parties), but it has also been seriously therapeutic.
These days, it's almost unnoticeable. Definitely still there (ask my wife), but most folks never have a clue.
"I don’t feel like making a habit of talking to strangers is a prerequisite."
But if you practise that skill, you will then also be able to pick up a conversation with people you do find interesting.
You might not be interested in knitting, but if you keep a pair of needles around and practice a few stitches regularly, you will gain the necessary skill to do any knitting that you do find interesting. Humans are knitting animals.
You say this as if introversion is something to be "cured."
It's like telling a gay man that he just needs to try dating more women.
There's nothing wrong with being an introvert. It's not really a choice in the first place.
> You say this as if introversion is something to be "cured."
Not at all what I'm saying. You don't get cured by exercise either. You're never "done" exercising. It's just a thing you do, in order to have a long term better life.
I don't like talking to strangers. It still tastes like medicine. I have no expectation that I'll ever like it. But I still have to take my medicine, or I'll be worse off long term.
And like being sore if you've not exercised in a while, the aversion to being social is stronger after taking a "solitude vacation". But you can't not do it.
So yeah, you completely misunderstood.
I still think when you use terms like "take my medicine" it's like you're trying to cure (or treat) a disease. Why will you be worse off? For me, being social is tiring and uncomfortable, but unlike exercise I don't see a benefit.
> I still think when you use terms like "take my medicine" it's like you're trying to cure (or treat) a disease.
Well, that's on you. Especially since I also added "Or getting exercise" and another clarifying paragraph after that.
> For me, being social is tiring and uncomfortable
Exactly my point. "But I don't wanna!". Yeah. That's why i compare it with taking your yucky tasting medicine, or exercising.
> I don't see a benefit.
Pearls before swine, I suppose. Shrug.
You’re missing the parent’s point.
You’re still making introversion out to be something that you should work at to compensate or fix, because not doing so would be unhealthy.
E.g. you exercise because if you don’t, you risk disease, cancer, and a host of other physical issues.
There’s nothing unhealthy about never striking up conversations with strangers.
There are more natural and organic ways to meet and interact with people you don’t know (many have been covered in other comments).
But striking up conversations with random strangers in public shouldn’t be equated with exercise.
> You’re still making introversion out to be something that you should work at to compensate or fix
Not fix. You just to hold your nose and do anyway, with no expectations if your experience of it ever changing.
Compensate? Not the way I think you mean it, no. Say you hate exercising or brushing your teeth. Ok. Nothing wrong with that. That's not good or bad. But you still have to do it.
Now, am I saying that only the social interaction with random strangers, that only inane smalltalk does it? Of course not.
This is something I've definitely lived by for many years. Nearly all of my colleagues and friends don't believe me when I say I'm an introvert. I purposely put the effort in to make meaningful connections with anyone I can and it has paid off more times than I could ever count. Is it exhausting? Absolutely. But in my mind, the alternative is worse. People are great. Get to know them.
"is be stuck talking with strangers."
Then learn not just how to start, but also how to end a conversation. I hated having to do small talk with people - until I learned that I had not to. I now can share something interesting - and then go back to minding my buisness. (If the other person is deaf on their end - strong signals to end a conversation are looking away, turning the body away, opening up ones laptop ... (or put out the damn phone) or put on earphones)
The price of community is inconvenience
The price of a strong community is extreme annoyance (and it's worth every bit of frustration)
that's not a strong community, but an overbearing, suffocating one. but that behavior leads to disagreement or disunity. it's why i left germany/europe btw. a strong community stands by its members. it supports them. it doesn't annoy them.