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?

100% agree!

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest but I am pretty old and I know it would have made me very anxious in my 20s. The menopause gets a lot of bad press but since going through it I couldn't care less what people think of me and feel no need to impress or please anyone. I have seen a thread on here where many women say the same. It's been a very positive side effect.

I'm not bothered. I'm happy making small talk, I'm happy keeping myself to myself. Depends on my mood but neither make me anxious nor nervous.

Doesn't bother me at all, I'd probably prefer it to a room full of people I know but don't particularly like! I don't feel the need to make small talk so it wouldn't bother me

Those who say it doesn’t make you nervous - do you not worry that you’ll be judged by people, or that you’ll be left on your own with no one to talk to?

Strangely enough I do T have much fear of strangers. I'm pretty good at making small talk with its people I don't know. I seem to be able to get on fabulously at first.

People I know on the other hand make me so nervous. Once people get to know me I believe they don't like me much and I hate that feeling.

I enjoy it because I love meeting other people and find people fascinating. When I am with other interesting people I forget about myself and am totally focused on them.

Do you spend more time thinking about yourself and worrying about how you appear to others ?

Neither of these things worry me. A stranger doesn't know me, so their judgement is meaningless. And if I end up on my own I will not die, and it is no reflection on me.

@elprup no i don’t care if they judge me. Their perception of me has no bearing on who I am as I person! I know who I am and their thought (because that’s all it is) means nothing to me!

if I’m left with no one to talk to then that’s also fine, I like my own company too…

I'm not sure what I would be afraid of? Judgement , if they're people I don't know why would I give much weight to a snap judgement they might make about me? Standing on my own not having anyone to talk to, for one that's fine I'm perfectly happy in my own company, for two I wouldn't I'd find someone to approach and strike up a conversation.
I love meeting new people and have had to travel a lot for work alone. It would've been miserable if I couldn't initiate a social interaction.

Those who say it doesn’t make you nervous - do you not worry that you’ll be judged by people, or that you’ll be left on your own with no one to talk to?

What would they judge me for? And if they were that kind of person, why would I have any respect for them to care enough what they think?
If I'm left on my own, I'm happy with that too. But if I was at a party, I probably would speak to someone because it would make the host anxious if I was on my own.

Nope, couldn't give a flying fuck.

Better a room of strangers than a room of people you ought to recognise but can't quite remember - most of my work events these days! Even worse trying to connect people in real life with what they look like on Zoom.

People judge you, that's not in your control. Honestly, I'm quite happy to be left alone. I don't enjoy making small talk, so I'd be happy to be left on my own if there was no one to have a proper deep conversation with.

I feel no fear at all. I get far more anxious seeing people I know such as weddings or parties etc

None of those things will kill me so no :)

That said I don't find "mingling" (especially not when part of a set itinerary) particularly enjoyable. But, had to do it again today and the first guy I talked to was there on his own and desperate for a chat so that was a nice reminder you're never the only one who feels out of place at these occasions.

This is literally my job. I don’t get paid enough 😬

i deliver training for a living so it doesn’t bother me at all.

Yes and there is the fear they’ll like others more than me. The thought of being left out amongst people I know fills me with dread. Whereas when I meet people for the first time I doing really care what they think.

Ugh. Hate this sort of thing. I’d just want to leave!

last night at Yoga class, the leader kept prattling on about not worrying what other people are doing or think of you. It was like an obsession. Even DH when I told him what happened said : "Well if there's one way to make you start worrying what other people think about you..." Anyway, I don't have that angst. I mean, if they don't like me then I can't change their minds and mostly people only think about themselves, aren't actually interested in others, anyway.

I hate awkward silences & will babble to fill them, but otherwise, just sitting & people watching can be entertaining. If no one is friendly & my phone is dull... I can just leave, right?

Doesn't bother me at all. But I can't drive as am too scared to!

This. We are all just human beings.

If it was some sort of party, and people were drinking, I wouldn't like it at all. That's experiences in my past that mean I'm nervous and on edge around people drinking.

Phoning strangers, going on courses with people I don't know, singing in public - all absolutely fine. I also will chat to people in queues/waiting staff/shop assistants.

If it's work related and I have a role (I include volunteering as I am retired) no problem. If its a party no, I hate it.