Ever wondered what hell would be like for introverts?
I think it would be something like this…
The 9 Circles Of Introvert Hell
Abandon all hope, ye introverts who enter here…
Circle 1: Networking
In this circle the introvert souls writhe and groan as they are forced to shake hands, drink coffee out of urns, and listen to people talk about being disruptors.
They howl in wretchedness and engage in small talk while dressed in smart casual attire.
Circle 2: Garrulous People
Here the introvert souls are trapped in an everlasting fire with a taxi driver, dentist, or massage therapist who talks non-stop.
Unable to escape the scorching verbal flames, the introvert souls are ceaselessly required to answer questions about where they live or what they do or what they think about random bland topics.
Circle 3: Organised Activities
Circle 3 is where the introvert souls are tortured in a seething underworld of group activities.
Their strength is pushed to the very limits of endurance as they engage en masse in games, ice breakers, trust exercises, and other ordeals of group damnation.
Circle 4: Group Projects
Here the tormented introvert souls are condemned to complete tasks with other people, despite being willing to do all the work themselves in exchange for being allowed to work alone.
Fallen angels, heretics, and bossy loudmouths dominate every discussion while contributing no actual work. The sullen ones gurgle beneath the waters. And also contribute no actual work.
Circle 5: People Who Can’t Won’t Read Cues
In circle 5 the introvert souls are trapped in a nightmare world where people refuse to acknowledge the universal signals of Please leave me alone.
These wicked torturers ignore obvious earbuds, open books, dark sunglasses, closed body language, avoided eye contact. Instead, they firmly tap shoulders, smile and wave jovially in faces, and obliviously talk and talk and talk at the squirming and twisting introvert souls. The introvert souls are hurled about in this violent storm with no hope of rest.
Circle 6: Crowded Shopping Centres
In this foul swamp introvert souls must wander from level to level of the abyss, jostled endlessly by people with no sense of personal space.
Here is found a bottomless pit of sales and seasonal clearances, where things lacking appeal at full price are hurled at the avaricious and the prodigal, who screech and grasp and surrender all dignity in exchange for discounted items they do not need and have no room for. Also called limbo.
Circle 7: Having To Answer The Phone
In this nether world the miserable introvert souls are encased in flaming tombs, also known as automatically-answered telephone headsets.
Without hope of peace, the accursed introverts wander amid the thieves, liars, cheats, sorcerers, false prophets, and those who post too many selfies, forever blown about by vile winds and unavoidable telephone calls.
Circle 8: Unnecessary Space Invaders
The introvert souls in circle 8 are condemned for all eternity to be in uncrowded places yet have noisy, vexatious persons disregard the many available seats and sit very close by.
In this pit of perdition the noisy ones talk loudly, ignorantly, and incessantly. Their ignored children thrash about and scream in hellish agony, for absolutely no reason at all.
Circle 9: Satan’s Personal Pad
Here is the lowest and most terrifying level, the grim depths of hell, dominated by the salivating, ever-devouring mouths of Satan.
Also known as Ikea.
With thanks to http://www.danteinferno.info/circles-of-hell/
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It is The Hell ( maybe He’ll 9b, annexe) of Endless Summer and it’s not half way through and I am a frazzled, flat and very Un- festive me trying to escape hordes ( why do they multiply so and why are they everywhere even blocking my usual escape routes???????)of happy tourists and families etc.
I just love how you summarized exactly what it is like. Well said.
You had me laughing out loud. Thank you. Said the inbound callcenter agent with an automatically-answered headset…..
Oh no! I hope you are ok there in Circle 7. 😮
Ha! Love this! In my previous job in a large open plan office I bought myself HUGE bright orange over ear headphones just so people couldn’t miss the in ear bud ones.
That’s brilliant Daynor! I might steal that idea. 🙂
Love it. So true. Especially shopping and ikea!
Lol Jill, ESPECIALLY! :p
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I absolutely love this and agree with everything but one. You got confused on the location of Satan’s pad. I definitely understand how you made the mistake but I must correct you. Satan actually has a primary home and a vacation home. Sometimes he flits back and forth between the two. Especially during the holiday season. In point of fact, his real home is Walmart and his vacation home is the mall!
Ah, I stand corrected, Susan. That Satan is one crafty devil!
You’ve just made me realize I’m an introvert. All resonate with me except ikea. I love ikea but when there’s no one there (I know, never).
Welcome to the club, Sandy.
PS We NEVER meet! 😛
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Circle 9 – true Hell in it’s purest form. I like their stuff and furniture, but actually going there? God NO. My family has to inform me in advance, that we will be going to Ikea, so I can mentally prepare (it changes nothing-I’m always overwhelmed the moment I step in) – only my dad gets me. Our personal record – going in, grabbing the needed stuff and running to the checkpoint-32 minutes. We are very proud of ourselves.
Lol you deserve to be proud of that achievement, Ewa! I needed a lot of chocolate therapy after my last visit. 😮
Oh Michele, you are sooooo spot on here – who knew there were so many ways to torment us poor introverts! Circle 5 is the absolute epitome of hell for me – if only it was considered socially acceptable to wear a ‘Please Don’t Talk to Me’ sign around your neck when venturing out in public ???
Agreed, Lesa. Although I think with some people NOTHING would work!
Hah, put this list upside down for me and put “Birthday-Parties” where Ikea is. Because I love Ikea. I love my little cave and I love ideas for the place and organising my cave… Birthday Parties on the other hand. A bunch of strangers and you barely get any time with the one person you do know… Me in the kitchen washing the dishes and helping out. So fun.
But the ninth circle of hell is networking-parties. Satan’s place to be, all strangers, all small-talk, all self-promotion and no kitchen to hide in. Argh, kill me now!
Dalia I love those Ikea catalogues. But getting trapped in the store with hoards of people… ugh!!
I’m definitely stuck in level 8, which in my instance includes neighbors with leaf blowers who just can’t stop making noise.
Oh Karen! Leaf blowers ugh!!
This is so absolutely accurate that my head is exploding! Someone must be recording my every thought and feeing and has exposed my weakness to the world. To expose the inner dread of an introvert feels like we have just given ammunition to those who want to ask us: “Is everything ok, you are sitting there by yourself with that book. Come join us we are watching the Kardashians and playing guess which one Chloe is going to yell at tonight! So much fun plus every time Kim mentions Kanye we have to take a shot of Jaegermeister and expose one nipple or one buttock and ask if these glasses make my ass look bigger? So much fun, put down that book and come join us. You don’t want people thinking you’re a “Party-Pooper” Saying all of this before taking a single breath! Death Come Take Me!