As a geeky introvert myself, I think I have a broad understanding of this subject. You know, I came from a world long ago where things like smartphones and the Internet didn’t even exist.
It’s funny to look at the past and see how, back then, being a geek was someone who was only interested in computer stuff and technology, and nowadays it feels like that geek culture that had a negative connotation before has become mainstream.
Suddenly, everyone is a geek.
I still remember the boredom I had to endure at family gatherings, trying to blend in with relatives I'd never met before, and that I honestly didn't care, and not being comfortable with social interactions didn’t help either.
There was no easy way out, so I had to find creative ways to deal with it. Nowadays, everybody has a smartphone with an Internet connection, and all you have to do is pick it up and immediately enter your own personal bubble, away from reality.
Even video games are increasingly becoming more realistic, blurring the lines between virtual and real.
I don’t know what social interactions will be like in the future, but I had the privilege to see firsthand how the virtual world slowly started to shape our lives and our perception of reality.
It’s hard to be different in a world with a tendency towards conformity.
Still, being an introvert is not easy. Loneliness and mental health can be difficult to manage, and the anonymity of the Internet makes it easy to just bully or be bullied without any sort of consequence.
Fear, it seems, is the root of it all. This irrational emotion stems from a desire to avoid criticism, judgment, or potential negative consequences for those who deviate from the norms.
It can make you conform or make you stronger.
We all want to be loved and understood by others; therefore, I don’t intend on judging anyone. We are, after all, social beings.
But we witnessed firsthand how difficult it can be to choose to be nonconformist and how it can lead to social detachment, particularly during the pandemic.
Remain strong and never forget that you are not alone on your path!