If I ever find myself asking whether I should go to an event/party/meeting and the alternative involves staying home, I go out. It's always the right choice.
But in practice, choosing to be social instead of skulking around on the internet or watching TV by myself at home has turned out to be the right choice 100% of the time.
I don't know your situation, but I think making more connections with other people is innately and completely a good thing. I didn't want to go to a happy hour the other night, but followed my rule and dragged myself down there. Turns out I met the media buyer for an advertiser I've been trying to connect with. Completely random luck, right? Well yes, except that I put myself in a position to meet this guy by stepping out.
Last year I was in a place where I hated going out. I wanted to go out but hated the available options. This year, I found something interesting: While I go out much more than I did last year, and always find something or other to occupy my time, I didn't instantly become a partier. Today I left the social gathering I went to early, and avoided a wilder party and a late-night movie. Partly it's just that I really don't like being around people for long periods of time. I'm not comfortable with most people I meet, and while I can handle mixed company, it's always with a bit too much cynicism and negativity and I don't like being the person who's known for knocking other people down.
There's a difference between being scared/incapable of going out and choosing deliberately not to. Some people, myself included, prefer our own company to those of others.
I hear you loud and clear. I'm an introvert myself and believe that people like us 'recharge' through quality time alone.
That said, I think it's a real handicap that can be overcome, like any other, by consistently pushing ourselves to go out and be social in some appropriate way, on a regular basis.
If you're making something truly cool, I guarantee there are people out there who might not be your target audience, but might know someone who knows someone who is. You'll never make that connection unless you go out. It sucks but extroverts have a big advantage in these areas.
"When in doubt, go out."
If I ever find myself asking whether I should go to an event/party/meeting and the alternative involves staying home, I go out. It's always the right choice.