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

One grapefruit juice and lemonade for BessieBoots, and a cup of tea for HotSprocket, coming up

As it happens I don't like the taste of alcohol much either BB (and I know how it can feel awkward when everyone else seems to be drinking).

Now trying to think of something interesting to say next.....!

I think im generallo ok when meeting a totally new bunch of people. But when im meeting friends of friends or such is when i struggle.
I feel like im intruding somehow and they have the social advantage. Especially if they talk about someone i don't know.

Do you want to know why people don't introduce each other at parties / in the street? It's because they realise they've forgotten someone's name, and they are desperately cringing with embarassment, and all they can do is to keep talking and hope that people will introduce themselves. Honestly. I have done this countless times.

I find it difficult aswell if I see someone randomly say in Tescos and the shock of not expecting to see them in a different setting (say than at work) makes me feel anxious like I should automatically know what to say. I usually go red as a beetroot.
I also get socially awkward with people on the checkout, like I should know the rules of small talk and i don't!

Talking of social awkwardness, think this is why i love the IT crowd, can't wait for the next serier to start

I feel comfortable. But no one understands me. I have been told a few times that I am abbrasive. But I don't think I am. But I guess I must be. Is that the same thing as being awkward ?

HairyMelons, that is very kind of you

Bored/aloof...yep that was me...except I wasn't < sob >

Oooh good - glad to see that we're not all so socially awkward that this thread has dried up.

I totally get the whole over analysing social events thing as well - when I've had a few drinks I always worry the next morning that I have done / said something really twattish, though my DH assures me I haven't.

Hairymelons - my defining memory of you from the meetup was that you were the sort of person I would like to have as a friend. Couldn't put my finger on why, you just seemed, well, really nice.

Oh, I can't wait for the new series of The IT Crowd either !!! one of my faves

Hello HairyMelons! You didn't seem at all shy either.
I left that meet-up thinking, "shit, I think I talked way too much. Everyone must think I'm a nob."

When I first met my DH's parents, his mum said that I was "an ignorant" because I didn't make eye contact. I hardly ever make eye contact, and until that point I hadn't noticed. Now I get all paranoid about making eye contact and people thinking I'm rude.

It took me a long time to like MIL after that comment.

LOL MissMarjoribanks, no it hasn't dried up, but how many of us posting above have thought "I bet I've killed the thread"?

Oblomov, perhaps not everyone finds you "abrasive"? Personally I like people to say what they mean in a direct way, as long as they're not being rude or unkind. It's much easier to understand than small talk, nuances and people dropping hints.

you mean you like her even now, MrsC ??

At that meeting I smiled too much.

Although everyone was great, I did get a lovely feeling with BelleDameSansMerci

She wouldn't stop touching me up under the table

Seriously, some people you connect with and that is nice when it isn't such an awful effort

If she comes on here and says she is shy too though, I will eat my hat

MissMarjoribanks, that has put a huge smile on my face, thank you. And, likewise

Yikes, couldn't say that in RL without a few drinks!

I was thinking that socialising was much easier with alcohol but I get a bit verbose when I'm pissed and always spend my hangover mortified about it. So maybe it's easier to not drink, leave early and not have the shame the next day...an unexpected advantage of pregnancy, I spose.

Hello, just found this thread.

Can I come and stand slightly awkwardly to one side and wonder how to shoehorn my way into your conversation please?

Yeah, she's nice to me now, she was just struggling seeing her perfect little boy growing up and picking a completely unsuitable woman

We should do another meet-up, perhaps without the childebeest and with alcohol as a social lubricant

hairymelons - the thing about talking shite when your drunk is that everyone else is (usually) drunk as well, and also talking shite.
I can't say I've ever been in a pissed conversation with anyone and thought "they are talking utter crap." Usually I'm agreeing voraciously with whatever is being said.
Then the singing starts

yes, the singing...and the falling over

welcome, piprabbit

Jeez, MrsC, she sounds bloody ignorant- did she say this to you? Nothing like putting your sons new gf at ease now, is there?

You were very smiley, AF. But I thought that was because you were happy and confident and at peace with the world.

What was that someone said earlier about outsides and insides? Well it was clever & true.

See - I have no desire to meet any of you. Scares the bejeezuz out of me

(it was me who said the outside/inside thing)

God I type soooo slowly, I can't keep up.

Hello piprabbit (am trying desperately to follow the advice above and ask you questions about yourself so the heat is taken off me and I seem socially adept and at ease)...what is your favourite pasta shape? And, you look great, didn't you used to be morbidly obese?

Was that ok?

I don't mean scared of you - more scared of me disappointing

See hairymelons - that's the wonder of the internet. Neither of us would have told the other that to their face but we're both feeling that little bit brighter this evening now.

Smiling at the top

Paddling like fuck under the table

Can't do booze atm, MrsC. Would be up for another meet up though. Go on, start a thread, puh-lease. Am too chicken myself in case it goes unanswered.

Nah, she said it to him. He was in a foul mood at school, so I asked him what was up, and he told me. As you can imagine, the next time I met them it was quite strained.

Hello piprabbit! Welcome to the thread. Here there are many corners in which many people are standing, shuffling their feet nervously, wondering if it would be rude to take another biscuit from the plate in the centre.

sorry