How shy are you?

[Whateverist]

I scored a 36, somewhat shy.

I was born shy, most especially toward the opposite sex. But I'm no longer a practicing shy person. My mother helped me see women as braving the sexual attentions of men for the purposes of procreation while taking no pleasure in the act whatsoever. (Thank god she was wrong - in most cases.) Now I'd say I am most comfortable in the company of women. I genuinely like them a lot and enjoy a little low level flirting.

While I can still feel uncomfortable in arenas where the other people are much wealthier, I no longer half expect to be discovered and thrown out -as I did when staying at the Ahwanhee in Yosemite before and after our wedding. I've also come to realize that rich people have some predictable issues too. Many have a hell of a time knowing what to do with their time when they don't need to make a living. It doesn't seem to satisfy them much.

---

Beyond one's ability to function in social situations, there is the degree to which one looks forward to them and feels energized by them. I'm still shy in that regard. I don't relish such situations but no longer dread them either. I need solitude to recharge, not interaction.

But when I was in school, answering a question before the class would make my chest tight and my mind fogged. There was a real feeling of uneasiness and panic about forgetting what I would say.

Now I have some appetite for social situations, probably always did really, and they cause me less panic. It's complicated.

[thesummerqueen]

A "low" level?

[raised eyebrow]

[Whateverist]

Yep. Just a little shy left. But I still like my me-time.

[Davidthegoliath]

I scored a 69 do I win?

No, because it's not possible to get higher than a 65 ... so you lied.

I scored a 58 and then I gave myself 11 bonus points for being "special"!

[CleanShavenJesus]

"Your total is 26. You are probably not a particularly shy person, although you may feel shy in one or two situations. Most shy people score over 39 and a few reach the possible high score of 65."

Do I win?

[kılıç_mehmet]

Somewhat shy as it seems. Though its not really because of other people, its more about me. People generally tend to be very uncomfortable around me, and when I look them in the eyes, they turn their heads away. I generally do that while walking to test people, look them straight in the eye, to see how long it'll take them to look away. Sometimes I end up in a fight but whatchagonna do. Really its the only kind of fun I'm having around here.

[freedomfromforum]

Do I win?

Dude, you missed it by 11.

I gave myself 11 bonus points for being "special"!

[paulpablo]

Your total is 42. You are somewhat shy.

My scores went up and down a lot, because although I hate parties and social situations like that I'm not the kind of person who tries to go to these type of things or has doubts about my social competence, I know I'm socially incompetent and I'm not shy about admitting it.

I don't like parties or forced fun, I like hanging out or being in a group with a task that has to be done though.

[Rayaan]

Somewhat shy as it seems. Though its not really because of other people, its more about me. People generally tend to be very uncomfortable around me, and when I look them in the eyes, they turn their heads away. I generally do that while walking to test people, look them straight in the eye, to see how long it'll take them to look away. Sometimes I end up in a fight but whatchagonna do. Really its the only kind of fun I'm having around here.

That's a really bad manner, I think. You're pretty much bullying people for no reason.

What kind of fun is that?

[Angrboda]

Somewhat shy as it seems. Though its not really because of other people, its more about me. People generally tend to be very uncomfortable around me, and when I look them in the eyes, they turn their heads away. I generally do that while walking to test people, look them straight in the eye, to see how long it'll take them to look away. Sometimes I end up in a fight but whatchagonna do. Really its the only kind of fun I'm having around here.

That's a really bad manner, I think. You're pretty much bullying people for no reason.

What kind of fun is that?

Not to mention that it is normal, psychologically speaking, to look away after a short while and not maintain steady eye contact. Most people experience such sustained eye contact as "creepy" because it is abnormal, and a signal of unusual intention. If the person you maintain the eye contact with is a potential sexual partner, it's a relatively sure-fire way to see that you end up alone.