It's this week's TIME cover story.

EDIT:  Only subscribers can get the full cover story (bah!), but here's a full article:

http://ideas.time.com/2012/01/26/dont-call-introverted-children-shy/

"Introverts are not just boring extroverts"

-my friend's mom

My mom actually has a physical subscription to Time.  I'll ask her to save the article for me.

I'm almost painfully shy.  I've learned to get past it when necessary, but initial impulse is definitely to retreat.

I'm 50/50

I used to be a lot more introverted as a kid, now I'm more balanced out.

A little off topic, but I've always considered introverted men far more attractive than extroverted men.They are so sweet and adorable ...my Cancer Mars goes nuts for 'em.

(I'm not saying all of them are...some can be quiet and then they start talking and you realise it would have been better if they kept their mouth shut.)

Shyness and introversion are not the same thing. Shy people fear negative judgment, while introverts simply prefer less stimulation; shyness is inherently painful, and introversion is not.

- very true :) I would definitely consider myself an introvert, but not necessarily shy... And I like how she explains that it comes from being very sensitive to the external environment and stimuli. Also very true! It's more of a self-protection from being easily overwhelmed. Guess that explains why being in large crowds is so utterly painful to me...

Yea I think I've read that article! And I totally agree with the quote @strawb. posted!

You know I have a leo stellium yet at times, I need nothing but quiet time and my OWN time. I am fun and the life of the party when the time requires me to be that way, but I am perfectly happy without the stimulation, perfectly happy alone, perfectly happy doing quiet things. Our society needs to appreciate introverts more!!!!! :)