New job is making me stand in front of the entire department and say a 'fun fact' about myself - AIBU?

[thisisnotforme]

I started a new job recently, I've mainly been working remotely so have only met a handful of colleagues.

There is a big departmental in-person meeting next week, I am already dreading going to it because I'm really nervous to meet people in real life, even though I have been speaking to them on Teams I'm still nervous.

Today I got an email that they are going to use that meeting to introduce me to the team and they want to stand up in front of everyone and say a fun fact about myself.

I'm really shy and this is literally my worst nightmare.

[Sunnysideup999]

Hi I’m x and My fun fact is that I’d rather be on a beach in the Bahamas.
Someone actually said this one once and I instantly thought they were a total legend

[Dancingbugbadge]

This is literally my worst nightmare but at least you have some time to prepare. Like other posters have said think of something / anything to say. I love the idea of “I hate icebreakers” it doesn’t have to be anything mind blowing. You’ll get through it.

[listsandbudgets]

Hello good to meet you all. My name is thisisnotforme. A fun fact is that I hate public speaking so I will sit down now

[JoBrodie]

It sounds like you're the only person who's being asked to do this? I think if you're shy that does sound pretty horrible. How confident (or 'empowered', I hate that word) do you feel to write back and say that you would find that deeply unrelaxing and intend just to participate normally in the meeting, and could they not do this please.

I don't think anyone is going to sack you or make things difficult for you for refusing but it would probably be better to disentangle yourself from this via back channels rather than refusing on the day.

For example I no longer do the "let's all go round the room and introduce ourselves" - I'm not shy, I just hate doing them. But I do participate fully in meetings (and give relevant background where necessary).

The alternative is to think up, or ask your pals to suggest, a suitable fun fact and then write and learn a phrase about it. Repeat it so many times that you're word-perfect and when you're 'on' you'll just be able to say it, like a performance.

While this particular task wouldn't bother me personally I suppose an equivalent thing that I would spend days worrying about is if I had to go on live television and say a fun fact about myself (or emit any kind of audible speech!). If anyone is snippy about it perhaps you could say that for you this might be the equivalent of them going on live TV...

Good luck with whatever you decide :)
Jo

[ballsdeep]

Shy oh why do people still do this ?! O don't understand it. I hate even introducing myself in situations like this and I am confident speaking in front of people. This is up there with the two truths and a lie! I don't understand why companies want you do all introduce yourself in a huge setting. You'll probably forget who half are by the break

[dustofneptune]

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

“I have crabs and two of them just escaped..”

Oh my god i'm PMSL

Seriously this made me laugh really loudly so much hahahaha

[ballsdeep]

@marly11

Give them one 'fun' fact and two 'fun' lies and tell them their fun will be they can work out the true fact. Then the challenge can be on them rather than you.

The op has said she's shy. Why would she want more attention on her? That game is awful anyway and has been done to death

[friendlycat]

“My mother’s dog can growl The National Anthem”

“I was once asked to be a taster for Go Cat”

“I’ve done a scientific experiment that shows my favourite snack twiglets have got shorter in length”

[EmKayEm]

"I can ass-clap 'God Save The Queen' with farts for the fanfare"

"Every November I become possessed by a wolf-spirit and feed on the living"

"I can fit the HR department into the boot of my car with the aid of a chainsaw"

[SamMil]

@listsandbudgets

Hello good to meet you all. My name is thisisnotforme. A fun fact is that I hate public speaking so I will sit down now

I would do something like this. That way you're going along with their thing, whilst being honest and also getting it over & done with as soon as possible!

[flowersmakeitbetter]

@WorraLiberty

"I have vaginal warts in the shape of Elvis Presley's quiff"

🤣🤣

That is the bloody best laugh I've had in ages!

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I hate this too, I'm bloody dull and even if I wasn't I keep my interesting bit for friends and family.

A colleague once announced she had previously been a nun. Nothing will ever beat that.

[Nitgel]

I'd just go on about my pet rabbits. Fun and a fact

[HenriettaVioletta]

"I killed a man using only three fingers."

"At the weekend I'm Dave."

"I once crapped in a neighbour's wheelie bin."

"I've got a gun."

[HollowTalk]

"I like to steal people's lunches" is all you need to say.

[JudgeJ]

@TheFnozwhowasmirage

Oh I recently took a job and they wanted me to have my photo taken and posted on SM with a 'fun fact'. I agreed to the photo reluctantly,but 'forgot' the fun fact bit. I hate all that team building malarky,and it's one of the perks of being self employed,that you don't have to participate in such nonsense.

Many years ago my school decided that there was going to be a board in the entrance hall of all the staff's photos and refused as I never, ever do photos.

[BasiliskStare]

@thisisnotforme - if it helps you could say you have a friend who was bitten by a shark ( I was ) - use it & I will back you up. To be fair the shark was on a cart after being caught and only bit my little finger - but I reckon it counts. Think that would do as well as anyone else's anecdotes.

I have had to this kind of stuff & once said I said anecdote above & once I surfed standing up . It does not have to be overly glamorous - just something.

[MrsFin]

It took me years of doing crap like that at the start of courses, meetings etc, and not being able to think of any "fun facts", before I realised I could just make one up

[Crunchymum]

@thisisnotforme

I started a new job recently, I've mainly been working remotely so have only met a handful of colleagues.

There is a big departmental in-person meeting next week, I am already dreading going to it because I'm really nervous to meet people in real life, even though I have been speaking to them on Teams I'm still nervous.

Today I got an email that they are going to use that meeting to introduce me to the team and they want to stand up in front of everyone and say a fun fact about myself.

I'm really shy and this is literally my worst nightmare.

Is everyone doing the "fun fact" or just you?

[Angrynellie]

Have you ever met anyone famous, however fleeting? I usually use this. Or just make some random stuff up.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

@GoWalkabout

'hi I'm Sarah, Fun fact, I am really scared of standing up here in front of everyone' you'll get a laugh and can scurry back to your seat, or maybe everyone will be doing it as its a team building. This is a job skill, you have to do things that make you feel uncomfortable to get better at them. Good luck.

This sort of thing is perfect.

Or hello my name is thisisnotforme and I have visited x or never been to y, my favourite place ever is z etc.

The Bahamas is also a brilliant answer.

[Wallywobbles]

Random shit time.

[Crunchymum]

"I am thisisnotforme and I am an alcoholic

Oh shit wrong meeting"

[catwithflowers]

Try not to read too much into it or stress too much about it. It's boring and a daft and predictable thing to have to do. But at least you can prepare for it. Often these things are off the cuff which I hate. Going to a training session and having to do these silly 'team building exercises' is such a waste of time IMO

[FudgeOff]

Have mine:

My name is FudgeOff and I once stuffed my entire arm up a cow's arse.