Last night we went to a get-together for expats here in Paris, and one of the attendees happened to be a mathematician visiting the city for a month. When the topic turned to introversion, as it often does once I mention that I write this blog, the mathematician shared a great joke about his peers that relates to the topic. Since I don’t trust myself to phrase it as aptly as he did, I found a version of it on the Mathematic humor Web site as follows:
The difference between an introvert and extrovert mathematician[s] is: An introvert mathematician looks at his shoes while talking to you. An extrovert mathematician looks at your shoes.
Hearing this joke inspired me to include more introvert humour on Spectatrix, but unfortunately I don’t know any good zingers. Got any good ones? Please send them my way via comments or email. (Kudos to the first person to give a funny answer to “How many introverts does it take to screw in a lightbulb” other than “One, obviously.”)
Update: Check out the comments section for some great joke submissions I’ve received since posting this. Thanks to everyone who has responded so far, and to everyone else, keep ’em coming!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I emailed an introverted computer programmer friend this question this morning, and he sent me several replies. These were my three favorite:
Five. As each takes up the place in the room furthest from every other introvert, the 5th will end up in the middle of the room near enough to the lightbulb to change it.
Just one, but three will show up with a new lightbulb because they wouldn’t talk to anyone else about their plans.
And my favorite, and most close to my reality (with my burned out porch lights that have remained unchanged for a couple of months now):
April 18th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Eclexia:
These are excellent! Thanks for sending them in and brightening my day 🙂
April 20th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Check out http://adillaanggraeninoor.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html and scroll down to “Tuesday, March 06, 2007 MBTI Jokes”
April 20th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
An introvert walks into a bar. “What’ll it be, buddy?” asks the bartender. “Pitcher of beer. To go.”
What was the first thing the introvert did when he was shipwrecked on a desert island? He started writing his thank-you note to the shipping line.
Knock, knock. Who’s there? An introvert. An introvert who? [sighs] I told you already, an introvert!
April 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
(btw, I had to switch over to IE7 to post to your blog, Firefox was getting Javascript validation errors)
April 21st, 2008 at 12:29 am
Fran,
Thanks for this link! I really enjoyed the lightbulb jokes for each Myers Briggs type, but I also liked seeing which Harry Potter character I most resemble (Remus Lupin, apparently). The full moon doesn’t affect me quite the same way however.
RichM,
Awesome! Thanks for posting these (and for dealing with browser issues to do so). I’m not sure what could be causing the problem with Firefox, but I’ll look into it.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 am
Hello Spectatrix, I made my way here on a convoluted path through the ‘right to quiet’ post. I don’t have any introvert jokes to share but wanted to say how much I roared at the ones posted here. We are a funny lot. I also enjoyed learning how my counterpart Severus Snapes would approach the light bulb question!
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Kyahgirl,
Glad you’re enjoying the the comments so far. I am too!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Perhaps this one’s a change in tack, but still from an introvert’s point of view: How many extroverts does it take to change a lightbulb? One. They hold the bulb up to the socket and the world revolves around them!
May 21st, 2008 at 4:18 am
Where can I find the harry potter personality & myers briggs introvert tests?
May 24th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Phedre7,
If you follow the link in Fran’s comment above, you will get to a page that matches each Myers Briggs type with a specific character from Harry Potter. As for the MB test itself, because it is more in-depth than a simple personality test, people usually take it in a work, school, or therapy setting from someone who has been trained/licensed in giving the test. It is possible to take the official test online (go to https://www.mbticomplete.com/), but there is a $60 fee to do so.
July 14th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
I am an extrovert, whereas my good friend is the opposite. He told me this joke and i liked it so in search for more found this and figured i would share.
“yo momma is so introverted, that when i asked her to go to my big party she said, ‘no thanks.'”
December 27th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Anyone ever think of the light bulb. Maybe the light bulb is an intravert and DOESN’T WANT TO CHANGE.
December 27th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Sign outside of a community hall:
Introverts club has been cancelled due to lack of attendance.
December 29th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Dave:
Thanks for these additions to this topic!