So I have a lot of friends who are introverts, and I 100% respect that.

I TOTALLY get it. I understand the hatred or anxiety that goes along with small talk or meeting new people. I get that it's crippling and just makes you miserable. And I completely respect that.

I, however, am an extrovert. I am talkative, friendly to strangers, and quick to open up. I show way too much warmth to people I don't know very well and if I'm alone and bored, I'm quick to reach out to someone, anyone around me for a conversation. When I befriend someone in more than a passing way, I think of them often and warmly, and want to interact with them often. I love going on adventures, exploring, going places I haven't been before just to see what kind of hidden treasures may be there. I'm optimistic, friendly, and outgoing.

And sometimes it kind of feels like I'm expected to be more introverted, just because I'm part of the furry/online community.

Lately I've seen extroverts being teased, ignored, talked about behind their backs, laughed at, and mind-bogglingly enough even pushed away as a friend because they're considered just too outgoing. This would be fine if it's just a clash of personality, but all too often I'm seeing good friends splitting up this way JUST because one person expects the other to change. This is a trend I'm noticing not just with me personally, but with pretty much all the extroverts I know - I've seen people bluntly state that they hate happy and cheerful people, or can't tolerate optimists. I've seen people complain on one hand how nobody respects their need for quiet and privacy and alone time, then flip and on the other hand rant about how people who are too happy need to shut up and butt out and learn to occupy themselves inside or just keep their optimism to themselves because it's just so annoying. I've even seen people say that people who are extroverted or have extroverted tendencies "don't belong" in their social circles, simply because they're eager and willing rather than reluctant and complainy whenever they leave the house! Meanwhile, tell some of these people to "loosen up" or "relax and have fun" and get an earful on how it's offensive and rude to disrespect their personalities like that. And that's absolutely correct. Nobody has the right to tell anyone else how to feel or what they can or can't enjoy! But that goes the opposite direction, as well. Respect isn't a one-way street.

I certainly don't expect anybody to put up with my personality if they don't want to, but I shouldn't be expected to change any more than you should.

That said...I couldn't be happier. Carrot is very introverted, I'm very extroverted. We've developed a good balance wherein he feeds my almost constant need for interaction quite perfectly - we have been almost constantly in contact for many many years now, and not for a single second have I felt bored of him. Since the day I moved here there hasn't been a day we've slept apart or a distance between us of more than a few short hours. Despite my joy and desire for adventures, outings, and group activities/communities, I'm totally happy to respect Carrot's preference for quiet time at home most of the time, relaxing at our desks and quietly playing games or watching movies or doing other solitary things in such a way that we don't feel lonely. And despite the fact that crowds make him anxious and interacting with new people is horribly frustrating and being far from home is exhausting, Carrot puts up with my need to go out and do stuff and makes it fun and interesting, without whining or making me feel guilty for it, as well as interacting with the community of trusted individuals we've built up around us. I think we've struck the perfect balance there.

All that said, I definitely recognize that there's just as much pushiness and disrespect from the side of extroverted individuals toward introverts...but this is just a personal observation and I wanted to make my thoughts on this specific side known, because frankly it doesn't seem like there are a lot of people like me on the internet and I'm tired of seeing people being told, like myself, that we don't belong here or don't fit in. It hurts to be excluded for being outgoing just as much as it hurts to be excluded for being quiet.

So...introverts, extroverts, settle down and pay attention to the people you say you care about, or want to befriend! We can all coexist happily and peacefully, with respect to our own individual gripes and needs and comfort zones. It just takes a little communication and some mutual respect.

/soapbox.

Sorry, I have feels tonight. XD