You're only being asked to stay home and watch Netflix

[boredbutterfly]

I'm so sick and tired of hearing this from naturally more introverted people. As if it's the easiest thing in the world to do this day in day out on end.

Some of us are extroverts. We need social interaction. It's what makes us happy and energises us. On the flip side introverts tend to need alone time to 'recharge' and that absolutely fine to.

But I'm so sick of hearing from introverts that staying home alone all day is so easy. Yes it may be easy for you but we're not all the same.

Imagine if that was some pandemic, or even just a sociological phenomenon, which meant that it was never safe to be alone. Some form of the 'buddy system' had to be introduced. Or some kind of sociological shift where we all had to go out and partake in an activity, even a basic social one like interacting with a cashier or meeting someone for a coffee, every day for days on end for a year. How long do you think it would be before the introverts were breaking and talking about how they 'just need one day for themselves' and they were willing to take the small risk just to get some time alone to recharge because they were going crazy.

I'm just so sick of all the sanctimonious introverts acting like because this is their preferred way of living the rest of us should find it easy to adapt to. And that it's not just asking us to stay home and watch Netflix, but to give up everything that for some is us have life meaning, was our way of recharging or unwinding or energising ourselves.

I probably haven't articulated myself very well. I just need a vent after hearing yet again some variation of 'it's just staying in and watching tv, the rest of us are getting on with it fine, why can't you' and I want to scream 'BECAUSE THAT'S ALL YOU BLOODY DID BEFORE LOCKDOWN TOO, NOTHING HAS CHANGED FOR YOU!'

I don't even have Netflix.😔

I completely agree

Most of my friends, and me, are introverts. We have all struggled during lockdown.

You’re misunderstanding introversion. I’m more introverted than extroverted and it doesn’t mean you enjoy being stuck at home.

Totally agree with everything you say! Some people’s lives have undergone minor changes since lockdown, and some people’s lives have changed drastically ( in relation to the social interaction aspect), it’s absurd to suggest they are sacrificing to the same degree.

You know this isn’t a walk in the park for introverts either? If you live with people, there’s no escaping them. Introverts didn’t spend their lives hiding in the houses watching Netflix. Many of us lived lives that included holidays and family and friends. Some of us just needed time away from people to recharge. This isn’t that.

Us introverts do need interaction with people too - introvert does not equal hermit. The problem with being an introvert is that we may not have a bank of people to call on for a laugh over zoom or whatever.
Also, I now never ever get the house to myself. And I need that total alone space sometimes.

I don't know, I'm an introvert and I hate lockdown and have found it a real struggle.

Being an introvert doesn't mean you never want any social contact, just that you need a balance between time with others and down time to recharge.
I miss seeing my family and friends hugely.

I must admit, I finally cracked and yelled at my husband today.

I don’t mind being home all day, but (as an introvert) it has been driving me crazy having everyone else here as well.

So I finally cracked and told my husband I am sick of everyone being home ALL THE TIME!

He was shocked. Still, wanted to add some solidarity and let you know it’s tough for some of us introverts as well.

Now if you don’t mind I am going to see how long I can hide in the cupboard under the stairs for.

Totally agree, and irrationally I loathe the assumption that everyone has Netflix !

I also dislike all the twee comments like "it's so nice to spend time as a family without all the rushing around" - it's not obligatory to "rush around" all the time ...

Just because you’re introverted, it doesn’t mean all you do all day is watch Netflix and refuse to talk to anyone else or go out of the house ever.

I'm sick of people saying, 'Going on holiday is selfish. I haven't been on holiday for 20 years." Well, good for you. I happen to need a change of scene and culture for my mental health and will be going away as soon as allowed.

I'm not glad that anyone is struggling. I'm just sick of being chastised by the introverts I know for not being able to just get on with it like they can. And them asking me why I can't just find a way to enjoy my own company. The same way they can't just find a way to enjoy always being in the company of others - we have different needs and they don't seem to get that! And I'm so bloody sick of the phrase 'you're only being asked to sit home and watch Netflix'

@MadKittenWoman

I'm sick of people saying, 'Going on holiday is selfish. I haven't been on holiday for 20 years." Well, good for you. I happen to need a change of scene and culture for my mental health and will be going away as soon as allowed.

I am sick of the word 'selfish' being used to shut down people who want to engage in perfectly normal human things, such as seeing family, having a hug etc. Is the most overused word of this pandemic after 'keyworker'.

You don't seem to understand the meaning of the word introvert.

I agree that the phrase about staying home and watching Netflix is tiresome but you ABVU to make this an introvert/extrovert thing.

I think the majority of people (certainly everyone I know) is finding this very difficult no matter what their disposition. Introvert/extrovert, small family, big family, living alone, small kids, big kids, adult kids, no kids.

There are pros and cons for everyone but mainly it's shit for the majority.

It’s such a simple minded statement, isn’t it? Some people are in abusive home environments, abuse doesn’t have to be physical violence - it’s not nice being in an environment where you have to walk on eggshells or face constant rows. It has been a difficult time for more people than you think.

Forgot to add, therefore some people need that outside interaction

I’m an introvert and this year has been tough. I can’t wait for my family to just fuck off for 1 day.

Disclaimer: I love them all very much

That's not what introverts like either.

We enjoy going out and meeting people just as much as extroverts, we just need a day to ourselves now and again to re-charge.

Introverts aren't hermits.

Tbf, the alternative you're describing is just life I never really realised the effect the commute and offices had on my general disposition until this happened tbh.

I feel sympathy for you, but this is a temporary challenge for you and likely to be a temporary oasis for me.

I'll be clear about my feelings towards this period whenever anyone asks because that might actually change things (this is sort of the case already for my workplace as WFH will be much more practicable going forward, simply because it's clear that a lot of people can work from home and actively prefer it).

Why are you making this about introverts?

Dh and I are introverts, we aren't enjoying lockdown and don't want it to go on any longer than necessary.

I know a few extroverts who are lapping up the drama of all this.

I would gladly stay at home and watch Netflix all day than be unvaccinated in a room with 32 others. It’s rubbish for everyone.

I need a balance of social activities and people outside of my house and also alone time. At present I get none of it. I have nothing to do outside of the house apart from go for a walk which in itself is great but not when it's the only thing to do. I have my 5 year old at home every single day and the 3 year old 4 days a week, the only respite I get is a few hours a week but I'm either out walking just to escape the house or I'm in the house and having to listen to/deal with everyone anyway.

Watching Netflix is easy, the life that comes with it isn't. During the first lockdown I wondered why I was struggling so much when all I was being asked to do is stay at home and watch TV but then I realised that it's not just that, it's having everything that I live for taken away from me.

To be fair, for every hour of actual programming I watch on Netflix I spend at least an hour searching for something to watch on Netflix, followed by 30 minutes of passive aggressive non-committal discussion with my partner where we both pretend not to care what we watch. So it does fill a lot of time.