Rant: being socially awkward

[docellis]

Well, I re-read the thread and I thought it was, at it's climax, a cronos hypercritical/cronos hyper sensitive thing.

But maybe there is a JOD v IMAD thing under currenting.

[IMADreamer]

Whoa, wait I'm not in this. It was a joke about what Cronos said to me from way back in the thread. I had no problems with the joke at all. I thought it was funny.

[genericposter]

Did you try telling them you drive a Corvette?

[genericposter]

I think they would be very impressed.

[cardsfansince82]

You drive!

[/youtube]

[Sutter'sBeard]

So I thought I'd bump this because tonight I have a really big social situation. One of my best friends is having a cook out for his birthday (on a Monday night, weird). Anyway it will basically be the same group of people I originally made this post about. I'm dreading going, now I don't have Nic to save me or at least be someone to talk to when it's awkward and I have no one else to talk to.

I'm also afraid I'll say something stupid to some of them. For example the two doctors formed a band which I went with some people to see a few weeks ago. WORST BAND EVER. So I hope that doesn't come up because I don't want to have to lie to them. Secondly one of the doctors got divorced for beating his wife and I just despise that.

I'm trying to decide if "I have to detail my car for a show on Saturday" is an acceptable reason to get out of all this.

You are not alone in dreading gatherings like this. I feel bad for my wife because she is extremely social and I absolutely hate parties of more than 3 or 4 other people. I know all of her friends probably think I'm a jerk because I skip 90% of the cookouts and, when I'm there, I don't say much. Not looking forward to when my kids get older so I don't have the "somebody has to watch the kids" excuse.

I attribute my social anxiety to the following:
1. I don't like to talk about myself. Even if I did, I am not very interesting.
2. I hate small talk.
3. Most of the time, alcohol makes me even more reserved. Weed makes me mute.
4. I grew up in an isolated neighborhood in the country where there were only a few kids near my age. Pretty much hung with the same two friends my entire childhood..

[Spider John]

Sutter, I am very socially awkward too. On top of that, I don't drink anymore, which did help me loosen up ( which was often was worse than the akwardness) .


IMA, you built a successful business, sold it, and made enough money that you don't have to work. There's a lot of professionals who would love to be in your shoes. You don't have take a back seat to anybody.

[Freed Roger]

Dreamer - just go and make your own fun. We all have events we feel obligated to attend rather than look forward to -because of [expletive] that may be there. Rarely is it as bad as you expect. Just be cordial and avoid the [expletive], they usually can figure out you don't want to hang with them.

I can relate - sort of - Have a big fun family, so non-family social settings were out of my comfort zone (apologies for the corporate speak). Not a fan of fake phony types. I guess some of that goes away when you have kids -they put you in places and around people you normally wouldn't be. Plus getting older helps too. At some point, you realize -not everybody is watching you - and you couldn't give a fiddler's fart what they think.

A lot of alcohol - not a solution -our basic neighborhood social group had some newcomers last weekend. Passing out at the table and puking in a trash can is not a good impression. A little bit of alcohol can take the edge off though.

Edit: My wife and I - we don't keep score - but we do allow each other excused absences. One or both of us may skip it.
You have a long hard week, you just may not want to be with some people you're not entirely cool with. My friend has a rule, he doesn't go to super bowl parties -he's a football coach and likes to watch the game itself. I've been jealous of this, so this year, we skipped the super bowl party - and it was great.

[phins]

This thread was unintentional comedy gold.

[Bo Hart]

Best thread ever, how did I miss this?