Very 'normal' things that make you feel awkward

[DancingDucks]

First of all I'm sticking a 'lighthearted' in here. 😊

A friend and I had this conversation the other day and it made us both laugh, so maybe it'll cheer up a wet and windy day for some.

Some of mine:

When people wish me happy birthday on Facebook. It's very lovely of people but makes me feel so weird and embarrassed, so I now have my birthday hidden.

Waiting to get off a bus. Not sure what I think will happen, but I get all weird and stressed in case I forget to thank the driver. Which would never happen because it's so drummed into me.

Standing behind people at a cash machine. Even though I stand well back, I fear I might look a shifty and robby type, so try to arrange my face as benignly as possible, hence looking slightly vacant.

Walking past my own house. This is so weird and I've no idea why it makes me feel like I should give a jolly wave to my house.

Please tell me I'm not alone in my weirdness ...

Introducing myself, especially when I have to include my job title. I have got it wrong before now and I'm quite senior, so they must wonder how the hell I keep getting promoted when I don't even know who I am or what I do

Does anyone remember that thread about the woman who introduced herself as Angela Hernandez but that was actually the name of the person she was speaking to?

I’m the same. I’ve always had a few people in different areas rather than one big friendship group and it feels super weird what to do if my different circles are crossing - I literally don’t know what to say.

The other one if if I’m commenting on someone’s FB or in a WhatsApp group about an event and it turns out that my comment is the same as the previous ones. E.g someone posted that they were unwell and wouldn’t come to an activity today and then 3 comments in a row, all exactly the same - “Get well soon Suzan”. I know what more can you say? but “ the lack of variety” still looks awkward for me.

In the nicest possible way, how did you guys have an empire?

I hate enforced jolliness . Like being in the middle of a sing song type of thing . Or prolonged clapping at a show . Stand up , not stand up ? Whoops and hollers

^
Oh god me too

Like, what do we do now?? Ugh

When to stop saying Happy New Year

Jan 5th?? 10th? If I say it on text then see them in person do I say it again???

Fuuuuccckkkk

I love all of you and wish we could be a friend gang

Once went to see a local Am Dram do Animal Farm. It was very good, except for the bit where I was cringing with awkwardness at seeing adults I know neighing and oinking as they were playing the parts. Silly, I do realise, of me, but it took me a long time to not feel awkward.

Men. What is it that saying, having the confidence of a mediocre white man?

I'm dying...😂😭

Small talk. Awkward silences during small talk. Trying to fill that awkward silence. Repeating myself thinking, I must not have responded. Realizing I did, in fact respond, twice now. 🫣

I upset our neighbourhood bin wanker when I bought some naice house number and road name bin stickers off Etsy. Instead of the giant numbers from B&M. I had the “audacity” to get Monopoly style ones in yellow because I liked the bright colour. Bin Wanker thinks we are at least a Bond Street Green if not Park Lane or Mayfair colour, so now he doesn’t touch our bin as yellow is for common roads. Bin Wanker has aspirations beyond reality!

Going into an empty store

Getting up and leaving the cinema at the end of a film with everyone else. For some reason I find it excruciatingly embarrassing.

I have so many so am likely to repeat post on here.

First is being in my back garden when my neighbours are also out. I never know whether to say hello?

Second is meeting someone I know in a supermarket/shopping centre etc. Do I stop and chat or can I just say hi and carry on with my day? I have been known to leave a supermarket if I see a car I recognise in the car park and if I do meet someone I know I’ll check carefully each aisle to try and avoid seeing them again.

Next up is that awful clapping along at the theatre. Everyone out of time to begin with and people not knowing when to stop. Wanting to stop but feeling like I can’t.

Then there’s standing ovations. There’s always someone desperate to get up then a few more do and you sort of feel like you should but I’m happy sitting down and clapping enthusiastically. Then when you’ve decided not to get up but loads have and you feel like a dick but you’ve made your decision and you’re sticking with it. Peer pressure won’t get me. I think standing ovations have become a wee bit competitive.

Picking up a dog poo.

That’s reminded me of another. I hate passing someone who’s car I know. I never wave to anyone unless it’s one of my parents because it’s a big commitment to have to wave every time you pass them. So if I see a car I recognise driving towards me I pointedly avoid glancing at it.

I finally found a hairdresser I feel comfortable at and it's so nice!
Every other place just felt awkward, the whole thing
My new one sits next to you to do the consultation, you can face away from the mirror and when I was having a bad day he made me a gingerbread latte and plonked a puppy in my lap

A lot of these, meeting up with friends/family inside a pub or somewhere in case I walk right past them especially as my lot would crease up!
I have a weird thing of meeting someone then forgetting what they look like the next time I see them and totally blanking them. It takes me a while to get used to their faces!
Oh gosh, names! If you're introduced to me as say Andrew, I'll call you that. I have a hard time shortening names or using nicknames even when I'm the only one calling them that!
I'm so happy to be amongst all you weird people!!

So so many of these I relate to!

In the back of a taxi when I can see the driver's eyes in the rear view mirror.

Putting washing out on the line, and the walk back to the house after - we're not even particularly overlooked, but I feel like every single house must be watching me from their bedroom windows. Feel the same wheeling the bins out to the end of the drive.

I'm not a dog person as such (nothing against them, I've just never had one) but if someone is walking towards me on the street with a dog I feel I should I have a half-smile, like, "Aah isn't she lovely?"

I avoid making or receiving phone calls. It's a relatively new aversion.

I'm getting hairdresser envy now! What a lovely hairdresser you have!

Using other people's names except as a means to get their attention. I will never use their name in a regular sentence in speech or writing (but DH does this all the time).

Going into a shop that sells clothes wearing something that I bought from that brand, especially if it is still available in the store. I have been known to need to go into a shop but not go in because of what I am wearing. I'm most likely to do this if it is something distinctive rather a pair of standard jeans or a plain t shirt.

Finding out that you have the same item of clothing as one of your colleagues - this means I will not wear that item to work ever again, even if I bought it specifically for work and haven't even worn it yet. We have a formal dress code.

I can possibly beat everyone on the hairdresser awkwardness.

I have not been to a hairdresser since before Covid. I found it so stressful beforehand but now it’s gone past the point of no return. I cut my own hair. This is utterly ridiculous and all because I know my hair is a mess I’m too embarrassed to go the first time.

I’ve actually considered going to a different city to get it cut and never return but then find a new hairdresser near me afterwards.

Im a confident, professional woman who has no anxiety issues. This is utter madness.

I’m so glad others turn off when there is the ‘chat’ on the radio. Gaarrrrrrr nooooo!!!

Also ‘cute’ children on TV. No no no!!!

I work with a lovely woman, mostly we WFH but in the office a couple of times a month. When we happen to be in the office together she hugs me.

Every time I have to repeat in my head ‘don’t punch her she’s being nice, don’t punch her, don’t punch her’.

I just want to scream at her ‘don’t fucking touch me we are British for Gods sake we do not touch!’

I don’t. I hug her and say ‘oh so lovely to see you’. 🤮🤮🤮🤮

Answering the door to trick or treaters pre children. Would the parents think I’m weird if I show too much enthusiasm to their costumes, or if I say nothing at all and just thrust a bowl of sweets at them.
Light on in the hallway or off?!

Thankfully now I have my own children I’m slightly less socially awkward when it comes to other people’s children! And now my children can answer the door instead 🤣