Does anyone genuinely walk into a room of strangers and feel no fear?

[elprup]

Anyone? I wouldn’t say I have social anxiety, but the thought of walking into a room full of strangers and having to make small talk would make me nervous. Curious to know whether this is normal or if it does mean I have some sort of anxiety around people?

I don’t mind it, I’m reasonably good at small talk and don’t mind just striding up to a stranger and introducing myself. I’ve had to do it a lot over the years so I just do. It does take a lot out of me though and I’m not naturally extroverted so after I’ve circulated around 3-5 different people / conversations and done my social duty I’d probably head for the exit.

It doesn't bother me but I hate public speaking

Same for me too! Also if it's strangers I'm unlikely to see again it doesn't bother me, whereas I can get anxiety more so with people I know as they could remember mishaps / form judgements etc!

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. At all. I have to do it frequently as part of my job and take control of / lead the room.

I really enjoy it and am good at it (socially too, because I’ve been paid to talk to strangers for years). I’m good at starting conversations that involve everyone and creating environments where I step back and strangers start talking to strangers.

Doesn't bother me at all, nor does public speaking. I've never found anyone to be intimidating, so that's probably part of it. Every single person in the room is just a person, as flawed as everyone else. I also have never felt embarrassed. If I have, I can't recall it. Fucking up and having witnesses to my little disasters has never bothered me.

Done it plenty of times. It doesn't bother me. As long as I don't have to stand up and speak whilst they're all the audience.

I'm the same. Strangers that I don't have to see again, I'm grand. People that I know on a superficial basis and have to interact with regularly, no thanks.

I’m also really good at small talk in the shopping queue (those moment where we laugh at life!)

I wouldn’t mind but feel anxious in other situations like a doctors/hospital waiting room.

Doesn't bother me. But it's probably because they don't know me that I'm not bothered. I'm not close to them so don't care if they think anything bad of me. I'll chat and be friendly but if we don't click, I never have to see them again.

I’m a lot better at 58 than I was at 28.

Same.
I will happily approach people in social situations and talk to them. It doesn’t make me anxious at all.

For many years, my job was literally this - I used to chair contentious meetings of people I had never met before (kind of like a foreign policy Jackie weaver!). I think a lot of my lack of fear has to do with moving schools nine times as a child - I just got used to the idea that I needed to quickly take the temperature of a new group and work out where I fitted in. As chair, it helped that everyone was looking to me for a solution and leadership but I was I think the youngest person to do the job (started at 32) so I needed to act the part even though the first couple of times I was not fully across it all. I’m a teacher now and the performance aspect has always come naturally to me in the classroom. Much easier to control 30 children than 60 rebellious diplomats!

I'll happily walk into a room of 60 strangers and teach them something. If I had to go and make small talk, I could do it but I wouldn't want to. I hate small talk.

I wouldn't say I have no fear - I do get a little bit nervous sometimes. If I have to do something I don't do often, like make a speech or perform something, I'll be quite nervous about that.

It's natural to feel fearful about things you don't have much experience with. But the more you do them, the more confidence you build. Feel the fear and do it anyway!

I like meeting new people so this is no issue for me.

It doesn’t bother me because I probably won’t need to see them again if I don’t want to.

Well, the dictionary disagrees with you…

Nervous (adjective)

(of a feeling or reaction) resulting from anxiety or anticipation.
"nervous energy"

So I suggest you’re the one who needs to work on your vocabulary!

It’s interesting how some posters say that meeting acquaintances they already know is more intimidating than a group of total strangers. I can relate to that actually.

It really doesn't bother me, frogs on the other hand!

Not bothered in the slightest

For work purposes, no fear at all - it’s part of my ‘act’. For social purposes, I hate it.

No, it wouldn't bother me, I enjoy it. But most of my colleagues (I'm a barrister) don't like this kind of situation so I've always thought I was the weird one!

Gosh, I thought the majority of people would feel a bit nervous of this to be honest. I’m surprised at the number of posters who say they feel no fear or even relish it!

I always remember a work meeting I had to go to at 8 months (very obviously) pregnant. Once we were told to mingle, there was practically a stampede to get to me because there was a a rather obvious conversation starter sticking out of my front

I wouldn't enjoy it but I wouldn't be scared. Small talk is tedious.

It’s interesting how some posters say that meeting acquaintances they already know is more intimidating than a group of total strangers. I can relate to that actually.
ah, basically what I said above.