“Good girl.” “Innocent girl.” These terms are used interchangeably. And they shouldn’t. They really shouldn’t. “Is there even a difference?” Yes, there is, and not many people know…until now. I’ve been called both. One of them I like, the other I don’t. By the time this article ends, you’ll know which I’d prefer. If you don’t, then you’ll have to read the article all over again. Sorry not sorry.

A good girl is one who does good things. Simple, right? Wrong. The definition is simple, but the actual meaning is not. A good girl would help a person being bullied or hold out the door to someone approaching it when they have a lot of stuff in their hands. This person would donate to charities if she could and strive to do her best in a world where people expect the worst. This person is straight up awesome and sometimes they don’t get enough credit. It’s a shame, really.

Now an innocent girl is mistaken to be a girl who doesn’t know the nitty gritty animalistic way of human life. The other people talk down to her claiming “she’s too innocent to know what that is or to have do a certain thing.” This term, innocent girl, isn’t always a good one. In fact, I take it with a negative connotation. Like I said, sorry not sorry. People who label a girl in such way believes she’s constantly optimistic about the world around her, that people can never do anything wrong, never curses or drinks or do drugs or has sex or even knows what those things are. These are assumptions. And you know what they say about assuming. I honestly don’t believe people can be innocent past a certain point in your life. Once you know what death is, there’s no going back. Once you know where babies come from and stop believing the “stork dropped you on our door-step” story, there’s no going back. Once you know the dangers of drinking and driving and the side-effects of drugs, there’s no going back. See the pattern? That innocence is erased. I believe this is around 10-12 years old. Others may say different. Others may flat out argue with me, but I don’t give a damn.

How do these two terms get used interchangeably? Like this: people always associate the word “good” with the word “innocent.” While these terms are similar in denotative meaning, most people use them connotatively. Yes, that is an actual word. Want to the know the truth? Here it is: an innocent girl can be a good girl. However, a good girl doesn’t automatically make her an innocent girl. A girl who’s nice to people can know the dark side of the world and continue being who she is: a good girl. A good girl may curse, drink or have sex, but she could still be considered a good girl overall.

Before you see a shy, quiet person and deem them innocent, watch closely (but not creepily). Talk to them. Hang around them. Get to know them. Be open-minded and prepared for anything. There could be much more to that person, but you would be too hasty to stick that label on them and call it a day. Now you see. Which label would I prefer. I seriously wasn’t joking about reading this article again if you get the answer wrong. The correct answer is “good girl.” Thank you and good night.