I just wanted to say hi to all the people who have de-lurked to contribute to this thread, before they go back under the radar. Hello!
I think people who would make a big deal out of someone not talking very much aren’t really worth the effort. So if you want to look on the bright side, at least you’re weeding out the undesirables. There just happen to be more than you thought. 
Not I, but I’m really only quiet in groups. It’s difficult for me to get into a group converstion because I’m not quick enough on the draw. In large groups, such as Dope the Halls Ginger & Dave’s, whenever someone finishes talking, somoene else will start before I can open my mouth. So, I wait for a lull, which usually happens long after the conversation moved away from what I wanted to talk about. Thus, I tend to be quiet unless I manage to get into a small group or a one-on-one conversation.
Ok, here’s a perspective from an extrovert: I don’t think quiet people are creepy (hell, I married one!), but damn, you people are a lot of work to talk to. Sometimes I feel like I have to do all the conversational work when I am with someone who is really quiet and it is a pain in the ass. I know that you are just an introvert, you need longer pauses to leap in, you have a higher threshold for censoring yourself, etc, but it feels (rightly or wrongly) like you aren’t even trying and instead are making me do all the work.
I don’t think it occurs to quiet people to think of the situation this way, so I though I would try to explain it from a talkative person’s viewpoint.
I’m another quiet one, but I never had anyone tell me to my face that I was horrible or weird. Sometimes I feel like its a strain to make small talk with someone I don’t know, but I’m fine with people I do know and feel comfortable with.
I have a soft voice too, sometimes I forget to speak up. At times when I’m talking I get interrupted and talked over, so that doesn’t help at all either.
I usually don’t talk unless I have something to say, and though I’ve never been called creepy or weird, I have been called mysterious several times. Then again, that just might be their polite way of calling me creepy *and *weird.
Pensandfeathers, I agree. In my experience, the talkative people with “great social skills” are terrible listeners. They will ask you the same questions every time you see them, and counter your response with the same same stories. I’ve always found that a bit rude and obnoxious, as if they don’t actually care to get to know me, just need to “network.”
I guess it all comes down to a difference in priorities. Networkers seem to prefer having a large social circle so they always have someone to talk to and something to do. I prefer to have a small circle of close friends who know I care about what they say, and vice versa.
Given an environment in which I don’t have to speak, I can go days without opening my mouth for anything but meals. Speaking just isn’t something that I feel the need to do unless I actually have a real need to do it. Now, being in a relationship with another person, and working with the public, I do actually have to speak to people. But that just makes me savor the silence when I can retreat into it all the more.
I understand. I’m actually quite the introvert myself (sorry if it sounded otherwise, pensandfeathers), and I often feel guilty or embarrassed about my inability to strike up a pleasant conversation with a stranger.
On the other hand, when you feel like you’re doing all the work in a conversation, it might be worth stopping. If you’re not liking doing the work, there’s a decent chance that the person you’re talking to wouldn’t mind a little bit of silence, and so you both win! For introverts, we’re not trying to make you do all the work: we often don’t want that work done, instead wanting some companionable silence.
Daniel
Yeah, I have to say, if you’re trying to make small talk, and I’m not responding, it would be far less painful for all involved if you just stopped talking. It’s not so hard. And there’s not a damn thing wrong with it. I won’t like or dislike you any less for stopping.
Don’t force a conversation where there is none. It’s not always necessary. Talking to me in tidbits when and if it’s important or interesting is fine; if I have something to say, I’ll speak.
Sometimes, we have nothing of note to add.
But hey, I’ve been just as guilty of talking when there’s no need than anyone else; sometimes, I’m the hardest bugger in the world to shut up, once I get going. You’d wish I’d stayed silent. 
I come from a small town of loud folk; if you wanted to be heard, you usually had to be the last one talking. Ugh.
Perhaps I’m just a bit sadistic, but I enjoy using my quiet nature as a weapon sometimes.
“You’re so quiet, why don’t you talk?”
“My mother always told me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, I shouldn’t say anything at all.”
That shuts 'em up
I’ve always thought that if someone judges me arrogant because I don’t want to talk about the weather or some other trivial facet of their life with them, we wouldn’t have gotten along anyway.
Mr.NVME is one of those “quiet ones” and thats exactly why I married him- because he wasnt going to say no!! 
Anyway- right now his quietness is hurting us a bit because he is having trouble finding a job (IT/tech support)- he’s so quiet it does creep people out and he doesn’t like to promote himself. Sometimes I wish someone would just, say " hmm… a quiet guy that comes to work, does his job, stays in his seat and doesnt bug anyone? You’re hired"
I’m an introvert. It takes me a while to warm up to people, I grow bored quickly with small talk (bad trait, I know… i do my best to keep it interesting), and I don’t tend to talk unless I feel I have something to say. Yes, this does piss some people off. I don’t intend it to, it is just how I am.
I’ve been called rude, and snobby, and boring. Just because I didn’t talk enough or I wasn’t outgoing enough. I’ve been shy all my life, so I just accept it. It is who I am, and if you don’t like me for that, you can go tuck yourself in.
I’m not an introvert, or even particularly shy: I just don’t have much to say on topics that don’t interest me - TV, sports, celebrity gossip - don’t know, don’t care, not going to talk about it. Talk about something that interests me, and I’ll happily engage. My wife is the same, so we can spend a perfectly convivial evening reading or sewing and not exchange six words apart from, “Do you want some tea?”.
As far as work goes: well, I’m the boss, so it doesn’t really matter. I’ve been described as “intimidating”, “cold” and “scary”, when I’m really a pussycat - I just don’t talk when I have nothing to say, but I think that so many people are used to the sound of meaningless yap that they think silence must be hostile. Talk about something other than who was on “American Idol” last night and we can have a conversation: otherwise I’m not dumbing down just to make you more comfortable.
George Carlin said, “I bet you that 9 times out of 10, when you are watching the quiet one, a noisy one will come up behind you and fucking kill you!”
There is a DJ on BBC Radio 2 called Johnny Walker. Occasionally he’ll be rummaging round for a CD and not immediately be there to talk when the newsreader/traffic gal/whatever finishes their report. It’s funny that they ALWAYS comment or try to get him to fill in but his reply is that there is nothing wrong with a little bit of silence on the radio and that everyone will wait. And you know i’ve never heard of a listener writing in to complain that there was thirty seconds of silence. i very much admire his stance.
Silence can be very restful. i prefer to have conversations in fits and starts so at one time i’ll be laughing and joking around and another i’ll just be deep in my own thoughts. Some people do seem to find this silence disconcerting though. They keep trying to start conversations with redundant smalltalk. i assume because they are trying to be helpful and make me feel comfortable. At such times i just pop some earphones on and relax in the silence. It’s weird that they would let me be silent to listen to noise but not to just be silent.
please allow me to straddle the fence. i do both. i don’t usually talk to people unless i have to, but if i’m bored, i’ve got no problem with striking up a conversation if need be. i guess i’m “conversation in a can”. (now how that conversation got in my can, i’ll never know)*
this came up freshman year of college. i left class about an hour before everyone on my floor, and freshmen migrate in packs. i’d go to lunch by myself and come back and already be napping/playing homework/doing what not when they’d be ready to go to lunch. they’d all bitch at me about not waiting, that “i shouldn’t eat by myself” like it’s a giant sin. so i placated them somtimes. i’m all about the compromise, baby.
*if you want to take my posting privileges after the groucho comment, i won’t hate anyone.
I don’t talk much either. Don’t much like listening to others talk either. It’s my opinion that a lot of people say a lot, without having a lot to say.
I don’t really get a bad reaction to my quietness.
I hate small talk. I hate going to bars/parties where I don’t know anyone, 'cause then I’ll be expected to either make small talk, or take the intiative and introduce myself to people. I have yet to meet a person via small talk or parties or whathaveyou that has turned into a lifelong friend. Everyone I know and love is someone I’ve known over a period of time and with whom I feel comfortable.
I’ve been called ‘snobby,’ ‘boring,’ ‘dull,’ and (by someone who does not know me whatsoever), ‘afraid to LIVE LIFE!’. No…actually, I’m living mine by observing and thinking about it, is all.
And Brynda, I understand that extraverts often feel like they’re being forced to carry the burden of the conversation. I’ll echo others here when I say that you shouldn’t feel as if you have to have a conversation in the first place. Chances are, inside they’re breathing a sigh of relief that you’re not expecting them to talk and won’t think down on them for not doing so. And then later on, when they’re going over the event in their minds, it’ll probably come out something like “another frigging party where everyone expected me to be a freakin’ chatterbox and blather on about nothing in particular. Oh wait. There was that one person who didn’t try to force me at all…yeah. She was nice.”
The one I hate most?
“SMILE!”
or
“Why don’t you smile a little? People won’t be afraid to talk to you then!”
You ought to work at the station where I do, then! People will complain about anything you can possibly think of, and a whole lot of other things you never thought it would be possible to complain about. Silence is one of the top ten. It’s related to the most idiotic question in the universe: “Hey, did you guys know you’re off the air?”
I hate small talk. I hate going to bars/parties where I don’t know anyone, 'cause then I’ll be expected to either make small talk, or take the intiative and introduce myself to people. *
OP by Aguecheek
What are you doing inside my head? This is exactly how I feel. And, before I sound like a boring person, I must say, I love to go out with good friends, people I know well. My close friends think I’m the life of the party.
Trust me, I may be an extravert, but honestly, I know how to listen, too. In fact, I am a psychologist, so you might say I am a professional listener.
On the other hand, silence that lasts too long between people who don’t know each other well–as opposed to the comfortable silence between friends–is darned uncomfortable. It would be greatly appreciated if you introverts would chime in a little more. If you do, I promise to shut up.