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jphackworth

These aren't myths. This is the author attempting to redefine the meaning of the word "introvert". For example:

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

From dictionary.com:

noun: 1. a shy person.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/introvert

If you want to use the word "introvert" to support some psychological theory, that's fine. Just don't act like everyone else has been misusing the word all along.

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Well, actually that's true. From Man and His Symbols by Carl Jung (the guy who came up with the terms introvert and extravert):

"But if one is an introvert and the other is an extravert, their different and contradictory standpoints may clash right away... The extravert, for instance, will choose the majority view; the introvert will reject it simply because it's fashionable."

That doesn't sound like shyness at all to me. So yes, the original definition of introversion all along hasn't been shyness.

Dictionaries aren't necessarily a good reference for technical terms.

Exactly. Dictionaries don't always reflect current usage. Take a look at how the Oxford English Dictionary defines "sarcastic": "a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark." By that definition, "you're stupid!" is sarcastic.

I like to emphasize "Dictionary editors are historians of usage, not legislators of language." ( http://lesswrong.com/lw/od/37_ways_that_words_can_be_wrong/ )

This issue has been raised and discussed quite at length at http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2657554 (article was in essence the same list).

You should post this at the article-level so it gets seen.

Maybe I use the word wrong, but I'm an introvert and I'm certainly not shy.

I accidentally downvoted you. I still disagree, but disagreement doesn't warrant downvoting (I think it's totally abused lately). Anyway, I think you're just reading into it too much. The author is just saying that they're misunderstood. What may appear to be shyness is in fact something else entirely like really super deep thoughtfulness.

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