I thought innocence meant something else other than "inexperience"

83% Normal
6 Comments

English isn't my native language.

I always thought that innocence means being a gentle (and sometimes shy/timid) person with very sweet personality traits such as niceness, politeness, respectfulness, kindness, care for others, etc., but for some reason, people say things like "only children are innocent" and "innocence means being inexperienced and not knowing something".

If being a gentle person with sweet personality traits is not called innocence, then what's being someone gentle with such traits called?

I used to tell people that I'm someone who is innocent, yet very brave, strong, and able to take care of themselves, but now I have stopped describing myself as "innocent" because people always end up wondering that how can someone be innocent yet brave, strong and able to take care of themselves. I always meant to say that I'm someone who has those sweet traits I mentioned and that at the same time I'm brave, strong and able to take care of themselves.

Also, what about the word "innocent" when it comes to law-related things, such as the "person proven innocent" thing? In those cases, being innocent means being someone that hasn't committed a crime.

The word innocence is so confusing nowdays since people apparently have another idea about that word.
I have never associated innocence with stupidity, ignorance, inexperience, or anything like that. I have always associated innocence with being a very pleasantly sweet person.

I also have never thought that innocence has something to do with virginity, so I have no idea why people also say things like "if you're not a virgin, then you're not innocent". As if not being a virgin makes a person nasty or something.
And yeah, I have lost my virginity long ago, but losing my virginity didn't change my personality, nor is the personality supposed to change after losing the virginity. Losing the virginity just means having first time sex.
For some reason some people also think that all non-virgins are supposed to dress up and act sexily as a "status symbol" in order to embrace the non-virginity or something. I've been called a virgin just because I just want to keep the sexuality to myself and be modest.

Is it normal that I thought that innocence means something else than "inexperienced"?

Voting Results
83% Normal
Based on 6 votes (5 yes)
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 6 )
  • Nikclaire
    4 years ago

    A lot of words in the english language have different meanings depending on the context it's used in. It's a difficult language.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    2
    2
      -
    • Anonymous Post Author
      4 years ago

      Yes. That's what I thought.

      But the problem is that many people seem to only rely in one meaning for the word "innocent", and the meaning they rely on is the "inexperienced" thing.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
      0
      0
  • Shiki
    4 years ago

    Innocence is a big word, it can be used in a lot of different things to be looked as innocent.
    So neither is right or wrong. Just think what you think is innocence for you

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    1
    1
  • MrMercury24
    4 years ago

    A lot of the qualities you describe are ASSOCIATED with innocence, but are not the actual definition of it. You're good.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • litelander8
    4 years ago

    Innocent until proven guilty. Assuming guilt is a negative thing, innocent would imply someone who doesn’t do bad things. It all kind of ties in.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0
  • Anakaren0501
    4 years ago

    Maybe you can just use words like gentle, shy, timid, sweet.. instead of innocent. I think innocence (in the context you are talking) does mean something like inexperienced, but more like.. since the person is inexperienced, therefore he/she doesn’t know about ”bad stuff” so he/she if very innocent

    Comment Hidden ( show )
    0
    0