Shyness Poll

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I'm not sure if I'm really shy, as I'll talk openly to anyone who approaches me, but I won't go out of my way to talk to someone else. I do get anxious in situations where I know I have to talk to someone I don't know very well though.

People think I'm shy but I'm actually not interested in people. As a child my shyness was probably due to selective mutism or again, lack of interest in people.

I think much of my "shyness" is others projecting onto me what they think I am like or what I am feeling.

I'm assumed to be shy because I'm quiet. I'm not quiet because I'm afraid to talk, though. I'm quiet because I don't always have anything to say or add to the conversation.

I'm assumed to be shy because I like to be by myself. To me, this says I'm more introverted than anything.

I'm assumed to be shy because I let my parents do the talking when we're together with other people. This one I think is actually more of a coping technique... I know I don't really have the proper "protocol" to deal with certain situations and I know my parents do. So I just let them do the talking. It's easier to just smile and nod and let others think what they want.

I'm assumed to be shy because I avoid social situations. Once again, there are many reasons why someone would prefer not to socialize.

I'm assumed to be shy because I get uncomfortable meeting new people. This one might be anxiety, related, and possibly shyness. But I think the main anxiety stems from not really knowing how to handle these new people and there's an initial period of uncertainty that I run into. Once I get over that initial hurdle, though, I'm fine.

A few characteristics that separate me from the typically "shy" person include that I'm not anxious to do activities like public speaking. I also don't really care about making a fool of myself in public. I'll raise my hand in class if I have something to say. I like to tell jokes, even ones that are terribly corny.

Very shy.

Uncomfortable in all social situations, even with family members or other people I've known for a long time.

The only time I'm different is at my workplace, where I am thoroughly "on stage" and I can act social enough to get the job done. But it's all totally scripted, and if something doesn't go as planned, there are problems. It works most of the time... Gotta force myself to trudge through the unpleasantness for that paycheck