Comment Re:Sad, sad times... (Score 1) 333
For the record I would have ZERO problem doing this at all... in fact I could think for hours... although having a pencil and paper to keep track of ideas and plans would be helpful.
I think you're on to something there. I don't think this is about introverts vs. extroverts, or "engagement with the world". If you think about it, even introverts are rarely "disengaged" from the world. We're reading or writing, or otherwise engaged in our own world, but we are fully engaged. I consider myself a strong introvert, but almost never am away from a book I want to read, or a computer where I can work out my creative urges. Simply sitting in a chair, unable to act upon the chorus of our brains seems like it would be as infuriating to introverts and extroverts alike.
When left to myself to think (say taking a shower), I frequently find I have a lot of ideas that i know are going to be forgotten when I become engaged with the world. Left in a place where I can't write them down or act upon them, I might become frustrated and erratic. I like to think I'd survive more than 15 minutes, but I can see it happening. I'm not sure this is entirely a bad thing, on its own.
What would have been more interesting is to compare the results of this survey with people 50 years ago, 100 years ago, 200 years ago. I suspect that we are becoming more incapable of this sort of activity as the amount of stimuli and distraction available to us increases. The reality of instant gratification, coupled with the relatively reduced importance of a strong memory might be withering our ability to endure this sort of sensory deprivation.