You Talkin’ to Me?

I could probably count on one hand with a few fingers left over the amount of times I was glad the person next to me on an airplane wanted to chat. I don’t mind a shared laugh or a random comment here and there. It’s just those times when the person doesn’t stop talking and I’m left wondering if they missed Kindergarten the day they did the lesson on social cues. Cue #1, if someone keeps returning to their reading material, they’re either introverted and have grand plans for their alone time or you really prattle on too much. Even some extraverts can’t stand the latter.

Today’s PixieTip photo is from a hilarious video I found on strategies to use to get the person next to you to stop talking if they seem to have forgotten Kindergarten social Cue #1. I don’t think there is a certain personality type that is more prone to ignoring this important rule but if you put a knife to my throat and forced me to give names, I’d say Extroverted Classic Structures and Extroverted Fun Structures. Sorry to throw you under the bus but a knife to my throat is serious business — there is a reason I’m not a CIA agent! Personality types most likely to pick up on the fact that you don’t want to talk to them would be Extroverted Classic Freedoms, Extroverted Fun Freedoms, and almost all Organics.

I’d be willing to wager my life’s savings that almost every Introverted Smart Structure (INTJ) would agree with the following statement, “It’s not that I don’t enjoy other people’s company. It’s just that I more often prefer my own.” They’re the ones most likely to literally read their book while you talk and not feel compelled to reply to anything you say to them.

This leaves Extroverted Smart Structures and basically every Introverted personality type, and they’ll probably take a hint quickly. Truth be told, I’ve oversimplified personality talk for this post because the Introvert/Extrovert in a person’s type has an impact on more than just how you recharge your internal battery. But, if I go into technical personality type talk here about dominant auxilary functions, I’ll lose a vast majority of you. As a generality, Introverts almost always appear a bit more reserved as they process a lot of information internally versus their Extroverted brethren. Therefore, they are the least likely personalities to prattle on without noticing the impact.