The Top 10 Myths About Introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

 

Truth right there. I'm a bit of an introvert, I just don't have a thing to say cause I don't have things in common with them.
Just an assumption, You're an introvert?

 

Small talk sucks;

I am kinda afraid of people;

I am quite a gentleman, unless your driving the wrong way down my street or almost hit me cause you're on your cell;

I don't like people until I do;

Public's pretty cool, crowds aren't;

I don't ever want to be alone these days, except to jerk it;

I want to be a rich eccentric, I really don't mind being weird;

I'm one of the only people I know that knows what's going on in the world, but I don't have a clue what shows are hot;

Give me beer or bud, and I'm the chillest dude around, I do have trouble relaxing, but I have no trouble having fun;

An introvert can learn to be more extroverted; but by god, why would they want to?

PS-I fully expect this post to be ignored, I am mostly talking to myself

 

THANK YOU
i just put this on my blog a couple days ago it's nice to see people spread around the word.

 

We are cut off the very same cloth my friend.

As for the OP, great post. It really rung true.

 

yeah, sounds about right. i have been known to adrenaline-whore occasionally, but the rest is pretty much me to a tee.

 

Yes, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue.

 

i agree, i am an introvert; of that i'm sure. everything on the list is correct for me other than this. its not as if i'm constantly seeking thrills but undoubtedly, at certain times i'm drawn in that direction..

i love being introverted and would not change it for anything.. i think extroverts miss out on so many subtle and intricate pleasures and realizations simply for their high social nature, which (mostly) comes with compulsory dishonesty for the sake of 'fitting in'.

i don't understand their thinking.

 

Wild-Flower, did you write that yourself ?

I can be to introverted for my own good at times.

 

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i had a hard timing accepting being an "introvert", i saw it as the lesser of the two, then i did some research and found out that i'm not a loner with no social drive. haha.

 

I'm an introvert by nature but I have become much more extroverted over the years, so I do think its possible for an introvert to become more extroverted. I don't look at it as "fixing" anything though. If someone is happy being who they are, there is no need to change. I was really, really introverted and it wasn't making me happy so I made a point to change. I craved the easy social connections everyone else seemed to have. Now I make those social connections really easily, but I still have an introverted nature. I just learned how to become more interested in other people and connect with people

Oh, and as for not craving thrills...I've always been a thrill-seeker. I don't really see what that has to do with being introverted or extroverted. I also think one of the greatest feelings in life is being alone in a crowd. I love walking around huge cities by myself. It appeals to both my introverted and extroverted side, I guess.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFUHgDo4-Lg"]YouTube - Little Boxes - The Decemberists - Music Video by JHB

there are introverts out there who don't like to talk, are shy, are rude, who don't like people, who don't like to go out in public, who always want to be alone, who are weird, who are aloof nerds, who don't know how to relax and have fun, and who have fixed themselves and become extroverts too..

and where is the middle ground? the person (people) who are neither intro or extravert and who's demeanor and lifestyle is used as a gauge to apply those two handy dandy labels to all others?

a list to dispel myths (assumptions) about others because we can't be bothered to get to know them.. or they just don't want to know us... wot a load of shit :mickey:

 

i'd say thsoe are mostly true, where did u get this list?

 

@Oz: Totally agreed. Everyone is different, and not everyone who falls into the category of introverted have the exact same personalities. Id say at least most of the "myths" of introverts are true for most introverted people. I think a lot of people class themselves as introverted, when really, they aren't. Just because you aren't an extrovert doesnt automatically mean you're introverted. Being an introvert is polar opposite of extroverted, at the extreme end of the wedge. A lot of people fall inbetween the 2, as they arent really one or the other.

Goign through some of those "myths", I find that at least some of them ring true for me. Although Im the first to admit that Im extremely introverted.


Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.

I dont know that I'd say I don't like to talk, but it's quite rare for me to chat to anyone anyway. And when I do, Im usually very nervous. I also usually don't say anything unless I'm spoken to. Sometimes online, I can be very chatty though, so I think deep inside I do have the capacity to be chatty, but Im usually not, especially in person.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

I am painfully shy, and I also am afraid of people and am also generally very distrusting of anyone.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.

I am the complete opposite of rude, in fact, I'm very polite. Ive had a few people saying they cant understand why I'm so well spoken and polite when Ive been treated so badly in my life. Its just not natural for me to be rude. Sometimes even to those who would really deserve me to be so.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.

I am deeply distrusting of most people, and I would say as a general rule, I do dislike most people. Most people Ive known havent been very nice, in fact the total opposite. Which has helped to shape my very negative view of the human race. Of course I realise there are some good people out there, but Ive certainly seen far more bad than good, so generally, I don't like people.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

I very rarely go out. Apart from if I need shopping or if I have an appointment, I never go anywhere. I do suffer with nervous problems, and I live in a bad area, which certainly exacerbates my dislike of going out.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.

For me, this definitely isnt true. Ive been alone all my life, and although I was able to cope with that okay for quite a long time, in recent years, Ive found the loneliness harder and harder to cope with. And now being alone makes me feel very unhappy and vulnerable.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.

Im sure lots of people would class me as weird, and I probably am. At least to the extent that I know Im very different to most people. Physically at least. I think in the eyes of most people, Id be weird, so I probably am.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.

Im definitely not aloof, but I am a nerd, and proud of it. lol

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

I dont relax, or have fun. But I dont know if thats so much about me being introverted as it is that Im living a highly stressful life in unpleasant surroundings.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

I dunno that I could ever be extroverted, but I do feel held back in a lot of ways, and that my true personality has been stifled. I dont think I could ever be a highly sociable person, but I think deep down, I am naturally a more chatty and bubbly person than Im ever able to show.

 

As do I.

 

I don't pander to a shrink given label.

I am who I am.

 

I found it on a blog and thought it was interesting. And true. And wanted to fellow introverts to see it.

 

I never really paid much attention to which I was but after reading this, I know I'm definitely an introvert! Awesome list!