If I receive one more email about my September 8th post (INTP personality type, or more interestingly, Architect Rational) about how a person in my position couldn't or shouldn't be an introvert . . .

Introverts have a bad rap and are assumed anti-social and unhappy. This is no truer than for extroverts. I do prefer smaller groups of people I know or one-on-one interactions. I value time alone and have never felt lonely on a quiet Friday or Saturday night by myself. However, I am social and maintain a large network of friends and past colleagues and don't consider myself particularly shy or uncomfortable around strangers. I am not bothered much by new situations with new people or public speaking (as long as I know my subject inside and out). But, I do need plenty of time to collect my thoughts and recharge between social engagements. We are a thoughtful bunch, afterall.

There are qualities in an introvert when it comes to courtesanship (if you can think of a better word, please let me know):

• While introverts avoid social situations with large numbers of people, they tend to enjoy intense, one-to-one or one-to-few social interactions.
• Extroverts may talk in a confused manner as they are always emotional and their emotion never being controlled. At the same time the introverts communication will be more clear and in polite manner.
• There's always something to talk about as 60 percent of the world’s best minds have been introverts,
• We're good listeners and we think before we speak.

Like much of the population I am most likely somewhere in the middle (an ambivert) but lean toward an introvert. An ambivert is someone normally comfortable with groups and enjoys social interaction, but also relishes time alone and away from the crowd.