Rather "yes" (don't use the term from physics ;-) ). I think Filligree (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12461044) and cmdrfred (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12461049) gave decent short descriptions. I would describe it in a lot more words with: You surely know after what kind of activities you feel really exhausted (in particular mentally, but also physically) that you just want to go to bed (or as an introvert to some silent place). These are activities that exhaust your energy. On the other hand there are activities that will give you energy (for some introverts for example intelligent conversations with close friends).
So "energy" refers to the state whether you are mentally exhausted or have enough ressources available that you would love, say, found a startup, to revolutionize the way something is done (which does not mean you are capable to do or it is a good idea - but you really would love to and mentally you are willing). See "energy" as the noun derived from the "energetic" adjective in "Jane Doe is a very energetic person".
"Depleting your energy" is a pointless, baseless description. There is this strange perception in our field that introverts are smart
>>for example intelligent conversations with close friends
when in reality, introversion and extroversion are not traits that are inherent to you as a person. Introverts are people who have not spent the time developing social skills. There's no reason to not bias towards extroversion -- the arch-typical extrovert is social because they can be, not because being alone "drains them of their energy".
I take you are an extrovert who really doesn't understand at all what it means to be introvert (and who probably doesn't understand any other people with any different psychology than yours, according to your words and tone).
"Introverts are people who have not spent the time developing social skills." Really? Yeah, sure, they are just lazy bastards, I guess. And please stop naming 'skill' something that generally consists of wasting other people's time because you need to tell the world everything about about your so interesting self, or because you need to drown each piece of information in an ocean of unnecessary blah-blah, or plain seductive lies...
Yes, some extroverts can't bear to stay alone and need a group around them and if possible an audience. Guess what, I know a few and I even like the company of a few of them (those who are not in tech, obviously, so that they have something interesting to tell). When it is not in a work situation, I can offer them my listening and they can talk 95% of the conversation; this is fine for both and I can leave when I want. But I don't want any of this at work, thank you, especially considering it often comes from a manager that you cannot dismiss easily, since this kind of showmen and talking machines generally end up in that position.
I've had one that was telling me about his grocery list before leaving the office to go home. Well, I knew he would be trouble: when he recruited me, he almost only spokes about himself during the interview. I mean, THE GUY SPENT SEVERAL MINUTES TELLING ME ABOUT HIS BLOODY DOG DURING THE INTERVIEW. He would never stop talking, on the phone, in random offices, disturbing people who were trying to work to tell them for the third time about the wonders he'd achieved. And that would last 12 hours a day because he wouldn't stand being alone, he needed someone to talk to (and listen passively if possible) all the time, so he stayed at the office as long as possible because they was a captive (though not captivated) audience always available there.
I've never seen an introvert being such a nuisance. I've seen many extroverts being PITA and sometimes not understanding that they annoyed everyone, or even though they understood it from people's attitude or people telling them, not being able to stop going on all the time.
I'm actually someone who was an introvert, who has spent the time developing my ability to connect and relate to other people by fostering a larger range of interests and socializing with people more.
You're going to "no true introvert" me and tell me I was an extrovert in sheep's clothing all along but again:
these labels are meaningless, and used as a crutch by people who want to justify their reclusiveness.
You're mistaking extroversion for narcissism. Obviously having social awareness and self awareness are healthy and necessary to having meaningful, reciprocal relationships.
Rather "yes" (don't use the term from physics ;-) ). I think Filligree (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12461044) and cmdrfred (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12461049) gave decent short descriptions. I would describe it in a lot more words with: You surely know after what kind of activities you feel really exhausted (in particular mentally, but also physically) that you just want to go to bed (or as an introvert to some silent place). These are activities that exhaust your energy. On the other hand there are activities that will give you energy (for some introverts for example intelligent conversations with close friends).
So "energy" refers to the state whether you are mentally exhausted or have enough ressources available that you would love, say, found a startup, to revolutionize the way something is done (which does not mean you are capable to do or it is a good idea - but you really would love to and mentally you are willing). See "energy" as the noun derived from the "energetic" adjective in "Jane Doe is a very energetic person".