Update 2/4:
We have over 1000 signatures now!
One week ago Jenn, from Introvert Dear, and I started collecting signatures to tell four dictionaries — Google, Dictionary.com, Oxford Dictionary, and Cambridge Online Dictionary — that their definition of “introvert” is incorrect.
Between the petitions found on both sites we’ve reached 500 signatures!
Join…
Laurie Helgoe, author of Introvert Power
Sophia Dembling, author of The Introvert’s Way
Nancy Ancowitz, author of Self-Promotion for Introverts
Rachel Tucker, filmmaker/creator of Introverts Web Series
Brenda Knowles, creator of the space2live.net blog
Lisa Avebury, creator of Sacred Introvert
Val Nelson, a work & life coach for introverts
Kathryn Hall, creator of thebusinessofintroverts.co.uk
Andy Mort, creator of Sheep Dressed Like Wolves
Tanja Gardner, creator of Conscious Introvert Success
Catherine Callender, who runs Quietly Authentic
and Michaela Chung, who runs Introvert Spring
in signing a petition telling 4 dictionaries to stop defining an introvert as a shy person.
[emailpetition id=”2″]
(petition not working? You can also sign the petition at Introvert Dear’s site.)
Here Google’s definition of introvert:
“noun:
1. a shy, reticent person.”
Ummm, No. Sorry Google, but you’re providing your users with incorrect information.
Here’s the definition we suggest:
“An introvert is someone who has a preference for minimally stimulating environments, due to a difference in the way sensory input is processed in the introvert’s brain.”
Why I’m doing this:
When I was growing up the closest words I had to describe myself were shy and weird. Although those words were an accurate description of how I often felt and behaved, neither of those labels were very useful to my understanding of myself. Learning the word introvert though has had a huge impact on my life. Such a big impact that last year I decided to make introversion – the study of it, and the helping of fellow introverts – my career! But this was only possible because I was able to learn that the word introvert IS NOT a synonym for a shy person.
I know there’s introverts out there who are struggling to figure out why they behave different from some of their friends and family, and all they have is the word shy, a word they may feel doesn’t describe them. That’s why I’ve started this petition.
Spread the word:
I’ve helped fix the myth that introversion = shyness! Here’s how to add your voice: https://introvertology.com/500-petition-signatures (click to tweet)
[emailpetition id=”2″]
[signaturelist id=”2″]
p.s. I’m doing this for shy extroverts too!
