Why Saying We Don't Seem Like An Introvert Is Rude
Introverts are not as rigid as people think them to be. It is rude to say to people that they don’t look or sound introverted. Introverts like to live within their own bubble and create a world for themselves. This helps them cope with the outside world. Not many people put in the effort to understand introverts but at least they should try not to be rude to them. Introverts have friends and family, and go out, socialize, work, and do everything that extroverts do. It is important to understand that if introverts were not working as hard, half of the world’s population would be doing absolutely nothing.
Understanding Introverts
There are four primary reasons why people fail to understand introverts and end up being rude to them. These reasons include:
Insinuation - People think that since a person is so outgoing, they probably cannot be introverts. The general public has a notion that if the person is an introvert, they do not talk to people, are antisocial, or simply mumble during conversations. This is not at all true. Outgoing introverts are proof of that. People tend to assume that introverts cannot do anything publicly.
Talking To People - This absolutely makes people ridiculous when they see introverts talking to others. Everyone has to attend get-togethers, business meetings, and conferences. So, if an introvert tries to talk to someone, people are surprised. Well, the whole purpose of meetings and conferences is discussion. So, if an introvert is present and talking, there is nothing to be surprised about because that is what everyone else was attending the meeting for, to talk, make friends, and make connections. Also, if a person does not talk or interact much, one should not jump into labelling them as an “introvert.” The person could have social anxiety or simply be shy. These characteristics are completely different and do not define an introvert. It’s just like how a person who’s sad is different from a person with depression. As they are separate things, identifying them together would be rude. Similarly, shyness, social anxiety, and introvertedness are all separate. So, being an introvert has nothing to do with being shy or having social anxiety.
Nothing Weird About Introverts - Another undercurrent idea is that if there's nothing wrong or weird about you, you cannot be an introvert. Weirdness is a personality trait that has nothing to do with being an introvert. People must understand that depression, sadness, weirdness, shyness, and other conditions have nothing to do with being an introvert. They think that if a person is good at doing something, goes out into the world to work, they are simply not introverts. The truth is, others are nobody to judge that because they do not know the person well enough. People need to understand that there is nothing wrong with being an introvert just as there is nothing better about being an extrovert. It is nothing but simply a personality trait.
Being An Introvert Has Nothing To Do With Success - People should understand that being an introvert has nothing to do with setting up a business, a side hustle, or achieving success. It is mentioned in the book, Quiet, that things went downhill in the American society in 2008 because of boisterous people who would not shut up. Being an introvert or extrovert has nothing to do with your work-life success. An expert in communication has better chances of securing customers but a social introvert can do the same thing while working online.
It is important to be respectful towards introverts and not subject them to criticism. When someone who has been in depression comes out of their room, if there is a snide comment like “well look who finally came out of the room. That's kind of productive!” it will immediately have an adverse effect on the depressed person. Similarly, when an introvert goes to social events and engages in activity, a remark like “Oh, look who showed up finally” can make the introvert avoid those people all the more.
People should never judge an introvert based on their actions and how they speak. It is absolutely rude to judge others that way. For understanding introverts it is important to be mindful, accepting, and compassionate towards them, irrespective of their personality. There are actual pedophiles and serial killers out in the crowd that people need to worry about instead of nitpicking on introverts.
