I have just done a lacklustre presentation. You?

[BlueFolly]

Oh god I am cringing. I normally love doing presentations but this time a fatal combination of overconfidence and laziness got the better of me and I went in underprepared, and just... faltered. Sounded a bit nervous and meandered a bit.

What makes it worse is that I was so cocky before hand, dispensing tips on 'presentation skills' to the others in the group and generally being a nob. As is my want .

I think it's the whole pride coming before a fall thing that's getting to me, and although it's unlikely, there is the slightest change this one could impact my career.

Aaaaaaargh!

Cheer me up with stories of presentation horrors pleeeeease

I involuntarily blush when giving presentations so it doesn't matter how good or bad they are, I just look like a stupid red fucker.

Footinmouthasusual thanks!

I wish I'd signed off as Angela Hernandez. That would've cheered me up!

I'm a teacher approaching burnout. I give 4-7 lacklustre presentations every day.

Oh god, I've just remembered - someone looked at me afterwards and said 'Oh I thought you were going to be great' [head tilt]

Aaaaaaaaaargh!

And someone else afterwards said 'you must have done a lot of reading around [insert some obscure topic I didn't even recognise] and I didn't want to let on about my lack of prep so I just said yes, and then he asked me if I could send him any papers on it and I just kind of said no. I mean WTF?!

Aaaaaaaaaaagh!

It's all revealing itself to me in layers. Like a bad hangover.

Here's one to make you feel better.

Nobody knows this except fifteen odd witnesses and now MN but I proper full bladder wet myself while giving a presentation (due to raging cystitis). I talked very animatedly and waved my arms frantically to distract attention and stood behind the podium. I tried gently rubbing my legs together to avoid splash and very luckily was wearing a longish skirt but then had to keep talking for another 15 minutes.

Really curious about Angela Hernandez now......🤓

Ahaha at refusing to send him papers! He probably thinks you want to keep all of your expertise to yourself!

The first time I met my then-manager who had flown over from the US to introduce herself, I fell down the office stairs 5 minutes before my introductory presentation was due, smashing my laptop to pieces. I gave what I could remember of my presentation sat on an ice pack, with another ice pack on my ankle and mascara streaked down my face

Ager its from a thread in classics about 'tell me about a time you've made a tit of yourself' or some such.

OK, wetting myself would be worse [Shock].

Thanks Blue I'll check it out.