I’ve been playing a fair bit of Lord of the Rings Online this week, and on a character that’s off on her lonesome on Landroval. I made her, Pyropa, for the Fellowship walk, but couldn’t take part ’cause of that nuisance known as time zones. But there she was, blessedly alone, and a class I was interested in, so I’ve been having fun doing something not Minstrel.

To increase the playability of things, I kept an eye out for a kinship to join. Landroval is the only official roleplay (RP) server (a holdover from when the servers were split by country/language, I believe), so I was on the lookout for a non-RP/RP-optional group. I easily found Cloak and Dagger on the back of reasonable open channel advertising of it, and have been making myself at home. It pleases me, because it reinforces what I know – that I can settle into new groups with ease upon identifying likely ones. I am painfully aware that people work on the presumption that I am incapable of such due to the fact I haven’t managed that locally yet, or because of my introversion, they presume that I am painfully shy. While I am high on anxiety, I wouldn’t call myself shy – if I really want to talk to someone or introduce myself, I will thusly do it. I’m just at a loss as to how to do it here, as I don’t have any locales that remind me of home. The dive coffee shops, the all-night diners – these were bastions of artists and artistry, where I could take comfort in the sameness of soul amongst the other patrons to feel securer in association. Here is all about the pub, which I can’t do – people drinking gives me a nasty horrible contact buzz, and erm… I’m not going to be happy associating with people if I’m feeling sick for doing it.

Still (on the subject of introversion), it’s pleasing to see more and more articles and pieces on the importance of introversion. Here’s one I spotted in The Guardian this morning:

Why the world needs introverts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/13/why-the-world-needs-introverts

I am not a second-class person because I am not showy. I am not a second-class person because I find it abhorrent to stand up and scream about the glory of me. Nor are you wrong if you love chatting yourself up – just do it in moderation, like all things. When it comes to relationships and relating to others, I am not ‘doing it wrong’ because I don’t do it the current prescribed way. I will reach my goals and desires in my own time, and in my own way; we all do this, so why does it matter that my way doesn’t match yours? As long as nobody is getting hurt, it’s all good.

Anyways, just a bit of food for thought on this Pi Day. May this article and opinions round (yes, you can groan) out your views on people, ’cause that’s always good. As for me, I’m running away before I get any more puntastic!

<3