you don't have to be outgoing to be respected... although there is a difference between people who don't say much because they don't have anything to say or don't care and those who want to say something but don't have the courage to do so...

BTW to Peter_20: if someone interrups you... interrupt back and see how they react... then YOU will be the one with "the upperhand" so to say...

and i don't think nominus meant that some people decide that it's okay to treat a shy/weak person disrespectfully... i think he meant that it's the shy people who let people treat them disrespectfully... not that that's okay to do but that's life pal...