never-ending gallery

[LisaLCFan]

...'sunnmøre museum'. local people call it 'borgundgavle'... a collection of old houses taken from all over norway. you can go inside them, old shops, school houses, churches, cottages ... all in a big area of natural beauty...with ducks and swans on a lake. a lot of viking boats there as well...

That sounds great! Two things that I love -- museums, and areas of natural beauty (complete with waterfowl)! The museum actually sounds pretty cool, but I'm into that kind of thing!

...i like it best when we meet in the shopping centre called 'moa amfi', that's where i shine, never get bored...

On the other hand, hanging out at a busy, noisy shopping centre full of people and bright artificial lights is definitely not my thing. But, hey, whatever makes you happy!

I was recently reading an article about brain differences between extroverts and introverts -- specifically regarding dopamine and acetylcholine, both of which are "feel-good" chemicals -- and how they affect the two different types of brains. It provides a scientific basis to help explain why extroverts -- such as yourself, from the sounds of it -- are energised by a lot of sensory stimulation and social activity (because those things produce a lot of dopamine, and extroverts need a lot more dopamine to feel good compared to introverts), whereas introverts are energised by quieter activities and solitude (because a little dopamine goes a long way for them -- too much dopamine makes them very unhappy! -- and introverts also enjoy getting their good vibes from the gentler acetylcholine chemical). Here is a link to the article, if anyone is interested:

https://introvertdear.com/news/introver ... o-science/

What it comes down to is that extroverts thrive on the kind of stuff that you, Geoffrey, really seem to enjoy, whereas introverts (like me!) thrive on the kind of stuff that apparently bores you. Of course, I've always known that such fundamental differences existed between people: in addition to being more self-aware, introverts also tend to know and understand more about extroverts than extroverts know and understand about introverts, because extroverts can be so loud and obnoxious that it's hard not to notice them -- but it is always nice to have a scientific explanation that goes beyond the merely anecdotal, providing substantiated evidence that people are different from one another and thus will enjoy doing often very different things than somone else, because their brains are actually different.

Of course, some people may enjoy a mixture of activities -- introversion and extroversion exist on a spectrum, and one can feel more or less one way or the other at different times and under different circumstances, but in general, as the evidence seems to confirm -- and as I know very well about myself! -- there is a fundamental difference between one who is primarily introverted and one who is primarily extroverted, including an actual fundamental difference in how their brains work.

Therefore, it is probably best to avoid dismissing or deriding any of the things that other people enjoy, even if one thinks that they are boring or otherwise unworthy of one's attention, because people truly are different from one another, and as a result, different people will have completely different preferences when it comes to what they enjoy and how they wish to spend their time. These things are differences, not deficiencies, and one should try to respect them. To each their own, right? Cheers!

[Geoffrey]

thank you, lisa. what a superb message! will look at the video and chew on it all for a bit before responding.
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sharing a quiet moment together

[Geoffrey]

thank you again. yes, the brains of extroverts and introverts are different, according to those who have studied the subject. it was interesting to read the article, and your message. both seemed fair and balanced, without siding on one side or the other.

in conclusion, concerning myself, i do probably lean towards being an extrovert, but only because i like socialising with friends. i am uncomfortable being in the spotlight, and am mostly quiet with strangers, or participating in big gatherings. having said that, i have performed alone on stage a few times, but then am way out of my comfort zone.

enough about me. i don't mind talking about myself if the time seems right, but am much more interested in other people.
---
by the way, not only was your water lily picture great, i was also impressed by the file size of 255 kb. - not everyone can achieve that, or even thinks about it. even with this sketchbook page below, i could only manage 254 kb.

[LisaLCFan]

thank you again. yes, the brains of extroverts and introverts are different, according to those who have studied the subject. it was interesting to read the article, and your message. both seemed fair and balanced, without siding on one side or the other...

It would make no sense to take sides: I can no more be an extrovert than an extrovert can be like me -- it's just the way we are -- and so there's no judgement or competition involved -- neither way is better or worse than the other -- such judgements are meaningless. It would be like saying that a penguin is better than a hummingbird (or vice versa), simply because they are different from one another in how they are and how they interact with the world, but that would be absurd -- they are both perfect just as they are, being themselves!

...by the way, not only was your water lily picture great, i was also impressed by the file size of 255 kb. - not everyone can achieve that, or even thinks about it...

Thank you! (And, I think about everything... )

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>. . . in addition to being more self-aware, introverts also tend to know and understand more about extroverts than extroverts know and understand about introverts . . .

yes, sources seem to agree that introverts think more about things than extroverts, suggesting perhaps that those in the middle, or those who fluctuate between the two categories, can be fortunate enough to have good experience of both.

>I can no more be an extrovert than an extrovert can be like me -- it's just the way we are . . .

agreed. neither group is superior in intelligence, each has their strengths and weaknesses. they are simply two opposites. as has been stated: whereas an introvert may like to work and think alone, an extrovert would prefer to discuss a project with others. an actor could easily pretend to be an introvert, but an introvert might find it considerably harder to pretend to be an extrovert. or, to put it simply, an intelligent person could act like a fool, but a fool could never act like an intelligent person. most of us shine and excel in certain areas, while having limitations and handicaps elsewhere. andrea bocelli is great at singing opera, but would be a disaster at driving a taxi cab.

>I think about everything . . .

me too, but not always. i just wanted you to know that your perfect file size did not go unnoticed

[dar]

How about a musical interlude? Not by me, but by a phenomenal acoustic guitarist from Australia, Tommy Emmanuel. I saw Mr. Emmanuel perform live in concert recently, and he was amazing -- his talent and energy is thrilling and inspiring! His music defies genres, being a mixture of blues, rock, classical, world music, jazz, pop... Here he is playing his own version of "Classical Gas" (originally an instrumental pop-classical hit written and performed in 1968 by Mason Williams, which was a staple of classic rock/pop radio for many years), with a bit of a medley thrown in for fun. While it may not be Gangnam Style, it's far from a melancholic dirge! Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33tWZqXhnk

Wow. OMG. All the three's. Subscribed immediately. Can't wait to see more. Thank you!

[LisaLCFan]

...yes, sources seem to agree that introverts think more about things than extroverts, suggesting perhaps that those in the middle, or those who fluctuate between the two categories, can be fortunate enough to have good experience of both...

Hmm, "those in the middle", kind of like yourself? How "fortunate" you are to be a bit better than those on the edges, and thus how unfortunate it is to be mostly introverted or mostly extroverted (incidentally, I do not believe that, but that is what you wrote!). I hope that you can see that your terminology is value-laden and judgmental, for you are suggesting that there is, actually, a better or worse way to be, or rather, a more fortunate or less fortunate way to be, which is the exact opposite to what I have been trying to say!

I never suggested that the middle ground between introversion and extroversion is preferable, because that is simply another way of being, different from those who inhabit the areas on either side. To return to my bird analogy, I said that being a penguin is no better or worse than being a hummingbird -- just different -- and you are essentially saying, "But it's even better to be a loon!" (i.e., loons have some characteristics of both: they can fly, like hummingbirds, and swim under water, like penguins).

...most of us shine and excel in certain areas, while having limitations and handicaps elsewhere...

Again, you and I differ in this respect: I do not perceive inherent personal differences as "limitations" or "handicaps": as I noted previously, to me, such things are simply "differences" and not "deficiencies". One would not say that a penguin is limited or handicapped by its inability to fly, for that would be unjustifiably comparing it to something that it is not and will never be. But you are comparing people that way, suggesting that lacking characteristics that somebody else has is an unfortunate handicap, instead of looking at each person individually and seeing them for the excellent individuals that they are, comparable to no-one.

You seem to be imposing the same standards on everyone, suggesting that there is an ideal to which everyone can be compared, and that some people come closer to it than others (as you say, some excel while others fail!), but I am saying that such standards and ideals do not exist -- they are an artificial construct that only serves to make people feel good or bad about themselves when they compare themselves to others, instead of rejoicing in who they are as individuals.

I have never considered myself to be limited or handicapped or lacking in any way because of inherent characteristics that I do not possess. I do not think that I would be a better or more complete or more fortunate person if I were to possess more extroverted characteristics, because that is not who I am or how I am -- it would be as absurd to me as saying that I am handicapped or limited because I can't fly!

I think that I am just fine the way that I am, different from various other people in a variety of ways, but I have absolutely no desire to be like anyone else, I don't want to have their characteristics or be more like them in any way at all, and I will never compare myself to them positively or negatively, because I am not them, I'm me! How somebody else is, is completely irrelevant to me, it is irrelevant to my completeness as a person, and it is irrelevant to my happiness and contentedness in being exactly who I am and how I am!

That is actually another documented difference between introverts and extroverts: introverts are, by nature, very introspective, and they tend to look within themselves for their own standards and ideals, comparing themselves to nobody else but themselves, and finding personal validation internally, within themselves. Any perceived deficiency or limitation is thus based not on a comparison with other people, but only on a recognition of one's own inner potentials, and then deciding if one can improve based on one's own personal set of abilities and characteristics.

Extroverts, on the other hand, are more likely to compare themselves to others, to seek some sort of external validation for themselves, based on the ways that other people are, rather than on how they are, individually. And, extroverts seem to want to apply the same criteria to everyone, just as you have done, essentially seeking validation from others, and thinking that everyone else should do that, too.

And, of course, when one compares oneself to others and to an artificially created external set of standards, then, in various ways, one may inevitably either fall short or exceed some of those standards, resulting in the (erroneous!) mindset that there is a better or worse way to be, and that some people are better or worse (or more or less fortunate) than others, due to inherent characteristics that they either do or do not possess, but over which they have absolutely no control (and again, I am talking about how people are, by nature -- based on how their brains work, etc.).

Anyway, that's just how I think and feel about these things, and you will think and feel in the ways that you think and feel! I perceive that there is quite possibly a fundamental difference in our respective perspectives on these matters, for this is not the first time that I have observed similar disparities. And, of course, that is perfectly fine, because all I am doing is recognising inherent differences in people, including you and I, which manifest in so many different ways, but none of which are better or worse -- they are differences, not deficiencies!

[LisaLCFan]

How about a musical interlude? Not by me, but by a phenomenal acoustic guitarist from Australia, Tommy Emmanuel. ... Here he is playing his own version of "Classical Gas"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33tWZqXhnk

Wow. OMG. All the three's. Subscribed immediately. Can't wait to see more. Thank you!

You're very welcome! I have certainly enjoyed discovering Tommy Emmanuel's music -- have fun!

[Geoffrey]

thank you, lisa. i willingly surrender and bow to your genuinely impressive message. you are one smart lady, and have convinced me that you know far more about this rather complex (at least for me) subject than i could ever match. it's a privilege to interact with you.
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sketchbook page, the male face

[LisaLCFan]

thank you, lisa...it's a privilege to interact with you.

You're too kind! It's a pleasure -- I enjoy writing about stuff that interests me!

sketchbook page, the male face

Oh, I like the dudes -- nice piercing blue eyes (and nice hair!).

I am rather fond of Yamahas -- I have three of them (and they are all rather different from each other)! Did you notice that the Yamaha logo is made up of three tuning forks (the kind used in music, of course!)?

I won't mention that your last two pictures have been rather stereotypical in how they present females and males, with the accessories that you have drawn. Either set of accessories could easily apply to any gender!

P.S. The male faces sketchbook page is 254.24 KB -- well done!

Edit: here's a picture of me with one of my Yamahas!

[Geoffrey]

LisaLCFan wrote:
>I am rather fond of Yamahas -- I have three of them (and they are all rather different from each other)!

an acoustic guitar, i am sure.

>Did you notice that the Yamaha logo is made up of three tuning forks (the kind used in music, of course!)?

no, not until you pointed that out. it seems i would not make a very good detective. i just saw it somewhere and liked the pattern.

>I won't mention that your last two pictures have been rather stereotypical in how they present females and males, with the accessories that you have drawn. Either set of accessories could easily apply to any gender!

good of you not to mention it. i actually thought the same myself, but still did it. a picture doesn't need to make a statement - it's just eye candy. whether it is 'politically correct' or not is neither here nor there, in my opinion. if it provokes a reaction . . . well, that can always be a bonus.

>P.S. The male faces sketchbook page is 254.24 KB -- well done!

thank you - ha ha ha !!!
people often do not realise that making a picture to publish online is only a part of the process. achieving best zoom potential is also quite important - and not always simple.

>here's a picture of me with one of my Yamahas!

that is one interesting photo, not least due to the surrounding background. the yamaha logo on the fuel tank is also easily identifiable. glad to see you are wearing the necessary gear for maximum safety. society needs all the introverts it can get

cheers!

[LisaLCFan]

LisaLCFan wrote: >I am rather fond of Yamahas -- I have three of them!

an acoustic guitar, i am sure...

No, I don't have a Yamaha guitar, but I do have a Yamaha piano! My third Yamaha is a little compact stereo that plays CDs.

It took me years to discover that the Yamaha logo consisted of three tuning forks!

As for my motorcyle gear, I value my life (and my brain!), and so proper riding gear is essential, and, it looks kind of cool!

Cheers to you , too!

[dar]

thank you, lisa...it's a privilege to interact with you.

You're too kind! It's a pleasure -- I enjoy writing about stuff that interests me!

sketchbook page, the male face

Oh, I like the dudes -- nice piercing blue eyes (and nice hair!).

I am rather fond of Yamahas -- I have three of them (and they are all rather different from each other)! Did you notice that the Yamaha logo is made up of three tuning forks (the kind used in music, of course!)?

I won't mention that your last two pictures have been rather stereotypical in how they present females and males, with the accessories that you have drawn. Either set of accessories could easily apply to any gender!

P.S. The male faces sketchbook page is 254.24 KB -- well done!

Edit: here's a picture of me with one of my Yamahas!

LisaLCFan Yamaha 1.jpg

Hi Lisa,
I used to ride a Yamaha 250 two-stroke. The one where you had to mix the gas and oil. It was pretty fast and I would ride it out in the desert. While learning to ride I had problems and went from pavement to desert sand more than once. Been on many long distance rides with ex-husbands and experienced all the "fun" stuff...like rain, wind, bugs, cold, heat, sore butt (since I was the passenger on those trips). I'm past those biker days but if I ever did take a ride again on the back of a bike it better be some old farts massive Harley with the huge seat with stereo, cooler, chair arms...hell, make it a recliner on back. That'll work.

[LisaLCFan]

...Hi Lisa, I used to ride a Yamaha 250 two-stroke...I'm past those biker days but if I ever did take a ride again on the back of a bike it better be some old farts massive Harley with the huge seat with stereo, cooler, chair arms...hell, make it a recliner on back. That'll work.

I always call those massive Harleys "Lazy-Boys on wheels"! Over the years, I have ridden a few big Harleys as rentals, and they are definitely comfortable, in a cushy sitting-on-a-couch kind of way, but I much prefer zipping around on a lightweight sport bike -- it's way more fun! I've never been a passenger on a bike, but I have taken other people for rides on previous cruiser-style motorcycles that I've owned. For some reason, none of my current aqcuaintances are willing to perch on the high, tiny seat on the back of my Yamaha, but I'd be open to it, if anyone wanted a ride!

That little Yamaha would have been fun!

[Geoffrey]

who's bad!