I might consider myself to be introverted, but public crowds don’t bother me. People are too busy worrying about themselves and I know I won’t be the center of attention, so more extroverted activities like going to the bar or concerts is fine even if I don’t prefer going out. I can still do those things, I just don’t always enjoy them for one reason or another. The physical activity of jockeying for a space somewhere to enjoy your drink or see the stage. The emotional drain of being social and talking to strangers, trying to make new friends or connections. So I tend to avoid those situations.

Now, though, I don’t really worry about those things as much.

As a hobby (and for some, a lifestyle) live streaming has changed the game, so to speak, of being introverted versus extroverted. Viewers can interact as little or as much as they want (or is available in a given stream) and broadcasters can technically do the same.

For me this means I can be a total lurker in some streams, or a casually active chatter in others if I feel like it, but when I “Go Live” as a broadcaster it’s a totally different story.

As a broadcaster on Twitch.tv (my channel here because, you know, self plug on my own blog) I become a bit more extroverted. I start to do things that I normally wouldn’t do IRL, like talking to strangers from around the world and trying to put myself and the game at the center of all their attention. Being behind the camera, in the comfort of my own home, makes it easier to act more extroverted than I would at a place like the office.

So now, I get a nice blend of being both introverted and extroverted. It can still be tough though. I have my schedule days off to try and make up for the emotional drain that naturally comes with being an introvert. Sometimes those aren’t enough, and I need an extra day off, while other times they become extra streaming days if I’m feeling up for it.

That’s just my experience with streaming. Maybe I’m actually more extroverted than I give myself credit for. Either way, it’s been a lot of fun, and I hope to keep doing it for a long while.