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.

[GreyhoundG1rl]

@VerveClique

Unless you’re on the production line of a factory you may be asked to do this from time to time. Don’t sweat it.

Hi, I’m Sarah. I once saw Gary Barlow in Heathrow Airport.

Hi, I’m Sarah. I like to eat jam and Philadelphia on toast together.

Hi I’m Sarah. One of my feet is a whole size bigger than the other.

Hi I’m Sarah. When I was a kid we had a hamster that escaped in my mum’s car and we never found it.

Hi I’m Sarah. I don’t like any form of donuts.

There… take your pick!!

Imagine being stuck in a room listening to 20+ people rolling out that sort of shite? Who could even pretend to care?
I think I'd fake faint just to get the hell out of there.

[NumberTheory]

I find the "tell everyone an X fact about yourself" really tedious. I don't think you can get out of standing up to introduce yourself. That's a standard part of making connections and necessary to making teams and organizations run well. But they have no "right" to personal information.

You could email back to say "I'm not that sort of person. I'll just thank everyone for a warm welcome and tell them how much I've enjoyed working with them so far." or, since you've already made some up virtually, just repeat one of those. Alternatively, make up a "I have a birthmark in the shape of the eiffel tower" fact and if anyone asks you about it just say "Oh god, not really. I always feel put on the spot with those things and make something up." Which everyone will understand so long as your "fact" isn't too wacky or rude.

[YouTubeAddict]

Try being forced to stand in front of a department of 30, announce your have epilepsy and give a presentation on it. I was dying inside This was only about 8 years ago too. I would have much preferred to have given a fun fact about myself.

[BreadPita]

I usually lie and say something bland like "I once had a pet turtle".
The last one I had to do something like this, a member of senior management asked everyone to describe something "naughty" they'd done.
For some reason, he thought people working at an FS firm would find it fun to admit to crimes in front of their colleagues.

[Dancingonmoonlight]

I was terrified of this sort of shit when I was younger. I blush really easily and knowing beforehand that I would definitely blush meant I was a dark shade of red before I even spoke. People either stared or felt terribly sorry for me. It meant I never heard a word anyone said before it was my turn as I was so anxious at the thought of standing up myself.

Since having children, I don't care about this sort of thing (much). I find it more tiresome than anything else and I'm not interested in what others are saying.
As others have said, say something really banal or make something up.

[maddening]

Just think up something like a hobby you like, famous person you have met, fab holiday planned, Last gig you went to, it will be over in a minute, don't waste time worrying as you build it up to more than it is.

[BurntO]

I’d hate it too OP.

Do you need to do public speaking for work? As a PP said, I’d just say “my fun fact is that I am nervous in front of crowds so I am imagining you all naked” and then sit down.

[la709]

You don’t have to say a fun fact about yourself they will probably have forgotten about it by then or even if they say that at the meeting just tell them you are excited to be working there and end it or something really short and simple. I hate these icebreaker crap so I can sympathise with you. Worst case if you really absolutely can’t do it then call in sick- having anxiety is valid and can make you feel sick.

[stayathomegardener]

Hello I'm Thisisnotforme and I dislike the idea of standing up and giving everyone a fun fact about myself so much that I started a chat about this very scenario on an anonymous forum last Thursday that amounted to 375 posts (or whatever)

Hello I'm Thisisnotforme, I've been asked to tell you a fun fact about myself. Funnily enough I've already done this last Tuesday. How much fun do you need?

[UthredofBattenberg]

"Fun fact, standing up here doing
this is my worst nightmare"

[Starblind19]

I always wonder this!?! Who are the people who enjoy this. Why do we do these things. Is it to take up some of the meeting time to give the speaker a break.

Just say something like I met Prince William/Harry when I was younger at some outdoor music concert shit.

Or just say whoever the famous person you actually met was actually spilled the drink on you. And they were very apologetic but you were in awe.


If we all hate this Who is making this stuff happen!?!?

[GoingOutOutNEVER]

Fun fact: I have the right to say no. So no fun fact

[la709]

Why do management insist on icebreakers at meetings, what’s the point of it, why not just go through the agenda

[HappyDays101010]

I am suspecting that a lot of people on here don’t work if the idea of something so basic seems difficult. It’s literally one sentence.

[GoldenOmber]

I don't think anyone likes it (not most people anyway), but I do think most people think "it's a mildly awkward way to remember someone's name/be reminded that they're a person and not just a cog in the work machine", and it's only a minority who find it to be a rude demand for your personal information or your identity as an introvert.

"I have a dog named Peter", there, move on. It's really not worth that much drama! And surely to God it's better than "tell us something that inspires you" which appears to be in fashion at the moment

[meadowbleu]

@thisisnotforme I go with 'One fun fact about me is that I have a killer sense of humour, so I'd best sit down now while you're all ahead' Accompany with a knowing look.

[DadDadDad]

@la709

Why do management insist on icebreakers at meetings, what’s the point of it, why not just go through the agenda

I get that some icebreaking activities can be excruciating, but on the other hand do you literally think we should sit there in silence until everyone's ready to start, then go straight into "item 1 - action points from last meeting..."?

Is there no scope to chat about who's seen the latest Bond movie, anyone got any plans for weekend, the new recipe you tried cooking last night, ... ? anything just to humanise the gathering?

[XenoBitch]

I did something similar at uni, except we all had to write our interesting fact on a Post It note and put them in a hat. We then had to pick one out, and guess who that fact belonged to. It was actually quite fun.

It is understandable that you are nervous, but it will be over in less than 20 seconds.

[Cactus1982]

Why do work places do stupid stuff like this? I don’t know anyone who likes doing it, even confident outgoing people hate it. I’d be tempted to say I can fart the national anthem or something like that just to their reaction.

[Somuddled]

I always use the same made up fact -
'I have never watched Titanic'

[Username817391920384747]

Say something like, “fun fact about me, I absolutely hate ice breakers” 😂

[Caterinasballerinas]

Watch an episode of Only Connect and steal one of the contestants fun facts

[viques]

“Here’s my fun fart. Oh, just a minute, I seem to have misread the memo”

[earsup]

Oh..this is so 90's....didnt think anyone still did all that crap....we had to once face a chair and pretend it was our inner child or some similar crap....most of us just laughed and went out for ciggie...it was a teacher training event day....all of them were just awful...just big money for some slimey consultant type...!!

[Caterinasballerinas]

@BreadPita

I usually lie and say something bland like "I once had a pet turtle".
The last one I had to do something like this, a member of senior management asked everyone to describe something "naughty" they'd done.
For some reason, he thought people working at an FS firm would find it fun to admit to crimes in front of their colleagues.

I would like to think in this circumstance lots of people would say they ran through a field of maize or whatever Theresa May did