Heavens to Mergatroid, I chose #2! It was a difficult choice between #2 and #3 but, ultimately, I have to admit that I find most people annoying in person.
#3 was closest. I don’t mind other people, sometimes. I’d mostly rather be by myself. Oddly, most people don’t get that because when I do get social, I get really social so that’s the side they see.
I think the curve is right about where it should be for this crowd - if we liked people more, we’d be out with them. If we liked people less, we wouldn’t be socializing with them on a message board.
Two days of intense interaction with people, one day completely alone to process and recover. And a few quiet hours in the evening to read. Most people see me as very social and outgoing. I guess I am. But I didn’t get that way until I was in my thirties, and I made a conscious choice to become more of a people person. I still think of myself as introverted and needing a lot of time alone, but almost no one who knows me would describe me that way.
I sometimes prefer to be by myself, (my wife doesn’t count. I could be with her all day) but if I need to be sociable and charming I can turn it on in a heartbeat.
I’m with the majority, who are alone a lot, but do enjoy company, but I could have easily went up a notch.
Of course, that’s the simple version. I actually prefer to have people with me, but not so I can interact with them, necessarily. I just don’t want to be left alone and have something bad happen that I can’t handle. I prefer to have people at least be available.
Also, I do get lonely from time to time, even without it being an anxiety thing. It’s usually an oddly sad feeling.
I was wondering about this after I voted. In my mind, “alone” means “in the house with my husband, but not actively spending time together”. I think that for some people that kind of time would count as “being around other people”. I also think I would probably need/want more social interaction in my life if I weren’t married: the low hum of his presence (even now, when he’s still in bed and I am piddling around the house) gives me the social contact I need without the pressure and expectations and pants-wearing that I tend to find burdensome.
ETA: If spouses count as “other people”, I’m suddenly a 10, because I’d always rather him be around than not, even if I wouldn’t always want to be talking with him.
I don’t mind hanging out with people, but trying to socialize with people I don’t particularly like is really draining (like company dinners at my last job - more exhausting than an actual work day). I love hanging out with people I get along with. I do need alone time every now and then, but I think my love for good company and my love for solitude are about equally matched.
I was trying not to count spouse or SO as “other people”. So being alone in the house with your SO would be the same as being alone, for the purposes of this poll.