By "quiet people," are you meaning those who are shy, those who are introverted, those who don't talk to you, etc? If a person doesn't say what he/she is thinking, then there is no way to know what he/she is thinking (unless you are possessed of some truly phenomenal psychic abilities). If the person wants you to know what he/she is thinking, then he/she will certainly tell you.

Some people just like to keep things to themselves. They don't say much unless they feel it's substantiated, and they never seem to draw too much attention to themselves. What are they thinking? Who knows? Then, there are some people who talk about everything and anything. To avoid being rude, I try to listen to them. However, these type of people seem to annoy me at times.

I'm “quiet people” and this is what I think when I am new to a place or group: I sit among a group of people who I don’t know too well or I am new to and I analyze. I wonder who is more frequently the center of attention, who is always getting picked on or shamed, who speaks in quality over quantity, who has my sense of humor and who doesn’t, who is judging my being quiet, who I might have the most in common with, what my place or role be in this group, etc. I am quiet in general. I choose my words carefully in the beginning, but once I feel comfortable I open up and end my quietness until someone new shows up. People who can just start up a conversation with a total stranger as if he has spoken to him/her before amaze me. I don’t like that they do that though. You never know if they’re speakin with a quiet person.

they are thinking: why do people wanna know what i am thinking?

The premise of "what's up with quiet people?", suggests that there is something wrong or abnormal with them. But you could also make the argument of "Noisy people, what's up with them?". There is nothing inherently wrong or a problem with being either quiet or noisy, it's how you are made up. If you don't like quiet people, that's personal preference and there's nothing forcing you to be in contact with quiet or quieter people. Live and let live.

Other contributors got it right, but to sum it all up, there's nothing wrong with them, and whatever it is they're thinking, when they want you to know, they'll tell you. Stableboy- got a couple of ideas about the avatar, I can be contacted via e- mail, it's on my profile. Thanks.

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Don't you know? They are all in it together. It's a conspiracy I tell you.

They're thinking, "Listen to this vacuous jerk prattle on about nothing. Please shoot me if I ever get that way."

They are quite because they understand the truth in the saying: “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.” .. Benjamin Franklin

They're asking themselves questions like, "Did time exist before the Big Bang? If so, what event triggered the Big Bang?" And "Is it really impossible to travel faster than light?" And "How can I build a cold fusion generator that produces more energy than it consumes?" And "Are there any alien civilizations elsewhere in the galaxy? Why haven't we been contacted (or conquered) by them yet?" And they're annnoyed by the fools in the next cubicle over who keep arguing on about utter nonsense such as which footbowl player scored the most home runs last season, and so on...

they are thinking that there is something wrong with them because people ask what theyre thinking and ask why they dont speak. but really, the question is, why are they the only ones that think.

I don't know. They never tell me...

"Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens" - Jimi Hendrix something to think about...

lets face it, none of us know if they are thinking, maybe they arent, maybe they are just listening!!

I think they are not really interested in getting to know other people. They would rather stay by themselves. I always wonder what they could possibly have going on in their lives that is so special and exciting and secret that they don't want to share it with others. I work with someone who is very quiet and I never know what the heck she is up to. It is very annoying because we are supposedly a team. I also find it insulting- I have been very kind to her and very friendly but that has not been returned to me. I helped her get this position and I trained her for it. She now knows a whole new trade which she can make good money at. I also notice that she never gets involved in things. Trying to get a rally going to end the war? Trying to stand up for human rights? Don't ask her for help!

She has been here a year and a half though! I mean, what kind of person is still like this after a year and a half? maybe she should get some help, for goodness' sake. I think that an easy way to break out of self centeredness or self consciousness is to ask other people about themselves. Except she doesn't seem to be interested. Not a very appealing character trait. So she shouldn't be surprised if nobody really cares abut her, either! She doesn't even tell me if she's lkeaving early for the day, even though it would be good for me to knwo this, seeing as people may call for her. She treats everybody like this, not jsut me! I also think she thinks that people won't find out how weird she is if she never talks. Every once in a while she will come out with something really bizarre. Like she thinks that Harvard University is for rich, stupid kids. Umm...stupid????? With perfect SAT scores and straight A's? harvard also gives out scholarships. So anyway, I wonder what other weird things she thinks that she enver talks about?

just a very very shy introvert

nothing .shush

It all depends on the person.

I'm quite because I prefer observation to participation with most things, I really enjoy sitting back and watching events fold out before me, while I ponder what's happening and beyond. So, I'm thinking about what's happening around me. Depending on what's actually happening, I could be thinking about 'why' it's happening, or 'how' it's happening, perhaps I'm thinking about what would make the situation more exciting, perhaps I'm not even thinking about what's happening around me at all... I daydream often, and rather enjoy it ; ) I could be thinking about anything, maybe even you. ***** I suggest everyone try it sometime if you haven't already... Just sit down somewhere and watch things unfold - you can discern so many interesting things just by watching and thinking : ) It's relaxing and often enlightening.

I just observe people. Mostly watching the loud-mouths make asses of themselves.

I'm thinking about everything and I observe everything, but always trying to forget the bad things.

We think - What's with loud people... ;p

They are thinking of something to say!

I am quiet because I do not believe in talking just to hear myself speak. If I have something to say I say it. If I don't, then I keep my mouth shut.

Shhhhhhhh... Be vewy quiet ... Wabbit twacks .

They are thinking about how they are going to kidnap you and skin you.

They are thinking, "What's up with loud and obnoxious people? Why are they talking?"

they are shy...not quiet!!! i dnt beleive in quite ppl they r shy...the end they probably quuiet round new ppl but i bet they loud infront of other ppl obviously

My vote's for the quiet people of which I used to be one. Something happened somewhere along the road to life, and now its not unusual to see me with a bunch of foot in the mouth

that everyone else is unnecessarily loud...and/or maybe plotting their move to take over the world, so i hear, lol...i'll have a talk with them at the next QPoA (quiet people of america) meeting, "talk some" you say, right?

"I wish I could be like Violet from The Incredibles and disappear at will."

"I hope I ammuse you, because you certainly don't ammuse me." That's normally what I think.

What a wanker you are....

He'll never see it coming. He'll never see it coming. He'll never see it coming. He'll never see it coming.

They're thinking of good questions to ask on answerbag, naturally.

they are thinking of something to say that is amusing to the listener as well as themselves. lol

they want to think about sex with the people aroudn them, lol i think itis true, lol or they want to rape you terribly

Trying to figure out how to bring the pawn up the the eighth file.

I'm usually just receiving further instructions from my intergalactic masters.

they are thinking of something to say.

As a quiet person, I think why do loud people run their mouths so much? Do they love the sound of their own voice? Do they know how foolish and annoying they sound? I wonder if they csn be quiet for more than 5 minutes.

Depends on the person. As far as I go, my mind goes all over.

Like a quiet little dog that wants to BITE you!

See that's the best part about being quiet. While your running around trying to figure out what I'm thinking I've already been in your head and know what your up to and as long as you keep talking I'll always be one step ahead of you.

Dunno bout others, but for my I'm prolly thinking on multiple levels on multiple things from tough trouble tickets @ work, planning my retirement, planning my day tomorrow, wondering if I am drunk enough to sleep yet, if I have time to drink a beer or need to mix Everclear and sour apple schnapps 50-50, what order do I attack my day tomorrow, am I in line to meet my short term financial goals, retirement goals, how is the retirement portfolio doing, did I forget to do anything today, do I have anything important coming up, gotta remember to pull the redt of the money from the ATM to pay the PO on Monday, can't forget to go meet the PO, need to get a money order for a new comcast install Monday afternoon, gotta call and schedule my first 5,000 mile maintenance for Tuesday next week for the truck, need to buy TP and paper towels tomorrow after work when I stop to get beer, How many open service calls do I have? How many Incidents? Gotta ask Ted the hostnames of the depot servers, Is my Jawbone charging? How am I on cell minutes so far this month? Still planning to move next year? Sticking to a highrise or going closer to work where none are available? Rent or buy? Anything need to be cleaned outta here before comcast shows up on Monday? Gotta call old ISP and cancel. Gotta call MetLife and see if employer corp discount is better than current ins co. Damn...Ed still owes me a lunch and I gotta pitch that he needs JT on his team. If I don't refil my ice trays tonight, when will I run out? Bring batteries for voice recorder tomorrow. Remember to check on that SAS drive at site 6 in the morning before rolling in to the data center. Get gas. Damn I'm tired but still need another stiff drink before I can zzz through the night. I better stop writing this answer. And anoth<snip>

I think people are quite because they've been brainwashed with watching tv and playing video game and thats stopping him/her from wanting to go out and interact with people...

We're thinking that nobody will notice us if we just sit here really quietly, and the next time the boss is on the warpath, he'll glide right past as if nobodys sitting here & attack the loudmouth over in the corner. And other times we wonder about silly little trivial stuff, like the meaning of existence, how self aware we actually percieve ourselves to be at this moment, or concepts like Shrodingers Cat, or Occams razor.

All I'm doing is plotting against the people that have pissed me off and you would be surprised at how many ideas you can come up with from just watching how the people on AB interact.:-)

We quiet people think about everything. -Did you know that most phychopathic people (like stratagic killers and stressed-out geniuses) are introverts? It's creepy!

knife, gun or explosive?

They're thinking about other quiet people.

They are thinking about SEX!!!! Just kidding, I really don't know?? Everyone is different.

quiet people seem to be smart so they are probably figuring out some formula for something

world domination.

I'm just plotting that's all.

&quot;what should/can i say?"

often they are listening !!

I get asked that on a daily basis.We've got nothing to say anyone woud be intrested in.Typically,we think about our future or something were trying to deduce.

If only they would turn up the volume I would know.

I'm quiet. I'm usually just not caring about what other people are saying, and going off into my own world.

A number of things all at once; "I'm weird" "This person is weird" "If I speak, I'm going to sound like an idiot" "Wow, this person is an idiot" "I wish I was invisible" "I wish I wasn't so invisible" "I have no fricken idea what this lunatic is talking about." "Whoa, what a nut case" "Whoa, I'm a nut case." "If I speak, I'm likely to get punched in the face because I'll seem weak or worthless" "Damn this social anxiety" "I want to get out of here" "Wow, these are some mean people" "They won't understand me" "I don't understand them" ....etc, etc, etc....

As a quiet person I like to see whats going on and think of possible reasons why. But I also feel I may be interfearing, may not have anything I feel is worth whiled to mention in a conversation or just don't want to be insulted as a result of what i say. It is many reason that work together that make me be a quiet guy more so then just the ones I have said.

Simple Truth: Quiet people make good students, but don't make good teachers.

I'm laying the foundation for the revolution. It won't be televised, but it might be blogged.

We're thinking and observing and it keeps us from getting into trouble prematurely. We are usually more careful and plotting, I mean, scheming, no, that's not it, methodical, that's it!

I quite sometimes but it's because I am careful at what I say. I think about what could be said at that moment but sometimes is better left unsaid. Usually if Im quite I'll sing in my mind or think of things I could get done that day... basically keep my mind busy as well and do math problems in my head, haha it maybe weird but I love math. I heard that it's good to keep the mind active, I mean your exercising the mind.

They're plotting your destruction ;)

i'm quiet until i get to know you

I've often heard that still waters run deep. Quiet people are thinking their own thoughts, or so I/ve been told:)

i'm quiet. and i absolutely hate it. i've been trying to break out of that and live my own life instead of watching people live theirs. but i'm also shy and i have social anxiety so it's quite the struggle. i noticed that when i'm texting or talking via aim im not as quiet or shy and ill say anything but when im talking to someone especially when i'm around a lot of people i lose control of the situation and i dont know what to say and i'm scared to say something because i feel like it's stupid.

They are plotting how to enslave the human race and steal all the jam sandwiches.

I am a quiet person and have been all my life. I was an only child and surrounded by adults most of my childhood. I never related to people my own age. I prefer to watch and analyze the world. Sometimes I feel like I am pressed up against the glass or invisible. Sometimes that has it's advantages. I like to be alone and do things by myself. I like to be around people sometimes and don't always know what to say to people I don't know. I am always thinking and do like talking to people sometimes but, I have to be comfortable first. People watching has always been a fascinating hobby of mine. I did some research and found that the numbers of quiet people in western society are around 20 - 25% of the population. It is also more likely for a child who is quiet to be mis-diagnosed as having ADD or some other disability in school. The thing is that some of the most famously smart people in the world are quiet people. If people could read my mind or know what I was thinking I believe their opinions about me would change. Remember, it's always the quiet ones...... - Jager

They are usually thinking above most of our levels.....

im a quiet person, and dont really speak unless i need to, and A.D.I.D.A.S.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, ITS NOT A THOUGHT, BUT A CALMNESS OF FULL CONTROL

&quot;Yeah!! That's why they're so smart!!"

I'm usually wondering why people feel the need to talk so much.

They are thinking wat are you thinking of. Ya, it is true... Like if you are thinking of asking him out and calls his name, he might think why in the world did you do that.. so he is trying to "read" your mind, before actually answering. They walk away only went they find something amiss. ^^

how bad their life sucks so badly i.e. me!

I'm somehwat of a quiet person, and I'm usually just observing and listening, and not thinking anything about it. Sometimes I'm thinking that I'm being too quiet and don't want to be left out.

they are analyzing social interactions between different people and groups. They don't feel the need to talk unless there is a specific purpose. at least that's how i feel

There are two types of quiet people... 1) The ones who understand the truth 2) The mentally retarded

I'm quiet, and that's because I have nothing to say, or I just want to listen to a group of people, and observe how they interact with others and the environment. Sometimes I don't want to be quiet, but I always am.

Well...it depends, sometimes they are just listening to the conversation...other times they are zoned out here are some examples "oh i agree with so and so" "wow...i wonder if he/she could shut up for like 5 seconds" "i have no clue what he/she is talking about" "ok, so and so makes no sence" "her eyeliner's smudged" "he has a big nose" "i wonder what im having for lunch" "oh my gosh after this i have to do this and this and this" "i wonder whats going to happen in that book that i am reading" "i should get new shoes" "hmm...i think i need to re-apply my lip gloss" "he/she thinkings there funny there really not" "ouch, my shoulder still hurts from when i fell" "why is this person stairing at me" they could be singing their favorite song in their head "he's cute" "im hungry" "im tired" "im sleepy" "oh my gosh im never going to finish that one project on time" "so and so pisses me off" "ok, hes been stairing at her for like an hour already and she doesnt even notice him!" "i want to go home" "hmm...i nice chocolate sunday would be so good right now" "i cant wait until..." "does he/she ever get tired of talking" those are just some but they could be thinking about anything and if you ask them theyll just say "nothing" or they would ask "why?" so well...they basically just dont feel like talking, are zoned out, or just listening. just dont ask them why they are so quiet or if they ever talk because that would piss them off and you dont want that because quiet peaple listen to everyone and some peaple might call it easdropping but they call it "just walking by while so and so was screaming about..." so ya...they probebly know something about you that you dont know they know...so watch out!!! lol jk.. but seriously the quietest peaple end up being the nicest if your nice to them and the deadlyest if your not...so well ya...i think im done

They're thinking because they're inventing something in there mind,maybe some new earplugs?

lots and lots of things :-)

they are wondering whats up with talkative people? why do they have so much to talk about??? lol

thats why being quiet is a useful psychological tool, you dont know what there thinking.

+5 about all the strange fun stuff going on with ab members.

They could be listening. Or are waiting for a conversation they know information about, and daydreaming, or can't hear you properly, or afraid to answer. A million and one things imagine what you think of when you're alone.

&quot;It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain

They're thinking You wouldn't like to hear what they could say and that the things You say most of the time shouldn't have ever come out of Your mouth.

they are probably thinking can i get on this train or is there a muslim on it with a bomb strapped to their back

My mother always said "measure your words before you speak so if you don't got nothing good to say then say nothing at all and shut the hell up!" Yo go mama! :) +6

I'm in high school and I'm quiet. When I walk into a room ,people around me are always talking so much that it makes me feel its better to just think about what i feel ,rather than saying it out loud because most people really don't care what others are trying to express....while i'm talking ,they are probably just planning on what to say next......so i just replace my words with my thoughts...its much easier that way.

If they wanted you to know, they would tell you. +5

thats such a cute question..=) you know you always have to watch out for the quiet ones lol

Ive seen that some quiet people are very good listeners. When i was in high school this one guy never ever spoke in class no matter what,i never heard his voice. But he would always get really good grades on all the class work. I guess he would just listen and observe to learn.