I dont suppose any of you would like to join the socially awkward society I am going to start?

[MumofTrioTrioIwanaTrioIwant1NW]

free membership Or is it just me?

Am annoyed at myself for being socially awkward (several instances today in company),

I do try thats the annoying thing I just dont seem to be able to be anything else! pah!

Please come cheer me up somehow

disclaimer - spelling is crap too did I spell awkward wrong? I think I did!

Have you ever said to people, "I am horribly sociaally awkward, I find it all an enormous strain?" Then sometimes you find others agree and/or you get sympathy and a bit of help.

And really an awful lot of people struggle with this.

ha ha do people not run off if you say that

Thats the thing that I am trying to avoid he he

what happened today ?

I am quite shy in RL

I struggled a lot when I was younger

Funnily enough, I am better with strangers and as i get older (I am quite old)

It is family/friends groups I clam up with, like I don't have anything important to say

I chose a career I think, which forces me to know the right thing to say at the right time (and am extremely good at it...)

Then I run out of steam in my social life

Ooh I'll join please? I so wish to be the sort of person that can talk to new people and make new friends etc. But I do not have a clue about how to talk to people!

No Trio, they don't. Think about it, what most people love is to talk about themselves, if you reveal something like that, which makes you quite vulnerable, it is a compliment and it makes them relax and feel trusted, so then they get more chatty and talk about how they feel.

Give us an eg of your awkwardness.

And its not just RL either! Even here I'm either too overwhelmed by certain posters that i get all 'keyboard-tied' or i waffle endlessly and everyone ignores me.

i once read that you should tell someone that you're shy, so i did it - the person i told started singing 'i'm shy mary ellen, i'm shy' and it really put me off owning up to being shy again . am pushy now

MumofOscar. Change your name. You are identifying yourself via another person/role. Come on, woman! get a better name and shout louder. You can do it.

I find copious amounts of gin helps.

Can I just sit in the corner, smiling shyly at you all?

Erm....

Can I join please?

I am trying to be more confident in social situations but it is hard work.

At least I don't run away anymore much

waves back at

I wouldn't have any problem with someone telling me they were shy, or awkward. My DH is rather like this - he often says the 'wrong' thing because he kind of over compensates for his shyness by saying the first thing that comes into his head. So I can sympathise when other people struggle a bit.

I think there are all kinds of folk - some very chatty, talk to anyone types, and some quieter, listening types - everyone has their place, and one is not better than the other. Remember chances are when you feel you have been awkward, other people haven't noticed.

Come on, we need examples. And then we can begin the master classes.

< turns bright red >

thanks guys

today I have decided I am just an all round incompetant

for the following reasons.....

I'm feel confident meeting strangers and making conversation, but I am almost physically incapable of giving compliments, and also sympathy. I feel sympathy, but just cannot for the life of me vocalise it. It always sounds forced and meaningless every time I try (and I only ever try when I actually mean it).

Oddly enough, I also struggle to make conversation with children. Adults, I'm fine with, but children are a completely different kettle of fish. Always feel awkward chatting to children.

Agree with Hully, if you tell people that you sometimes struggle meeting strangers, it often will lead to them say, "oh I know, me too," and it sort of breaks the ice IYSWIM.
No one will ever say, "well I manage just fine, you must be weird."
It would make them look weirder, in fact.

(Lenin - thought you were on hols?)

Everyone finds it all difficult, just that some hide it better and have better strategies to manage it.

See, now I'm spendingh too much time thinking about my new name and i'm missing the masterclaass!! Thanks for the tiop though, Hully. I know that really, but feel quite safe with this name IYSWIM.

ok well

I twitter on

I hover back and LOOK socally awkward

chat thats meaningful does not come easy

what else, I think as I hover back I look rude

HOwever on the plus side, everyones kids love me as kids I can associate and play with no bother atall

I am much better one on one,

I find the school mum whole thing unbelievably hellish though

surely THATS not natural?

I am not veyr self confident in those circles as I guess I am not that conventional

In some ways