Shy? Fuss up now.

[Pirate_Lad]

Maybe, like me, you're planning on attending TAM II alone. Maybe, unlike me, you are shy and don't post here.

Well, this is your chance to change all that. If you confess your shyness in this thread, I will be your friend at TAM II. Even if small children begin to cry at your approach.

Those of you who are NOT shy, post in this thread to join the Anti-shy brigade. Our duties at TAM II will include random introductions, shaking of hands, invasion of personal space and giving me large sums of money. The last part is optional.

If you sit alone at TAM II, you risk facing my elite squad. You have been warned.

[Girl 6]

I'm not shy! :D

G6

[Electric Monk]

Girl 6 is not shy! :D

--James

[Pirate_Lad]

So far, the Anti-shy brigade consists of myself and Girl 6. Our kung-fu is strong. Fear us.

[kittynh]

Shy! I'm the one that attended TAM1 and everyone wondered afterward why I didn't make it!

Pool Boy can't afford to attend the conference, so I will hide in a dark corner and enjoy all the presentations.

Plus, I'm way old...

I plan to help Linda too, and hide behind a table as I help hand out name tags or something. That for me is really brave!

[Dinonychus]

I'd hang out with you, Kitty.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by kittynh

I plan to help Linda too, and hide behind a table as I help hand out name tags or something. That for me is really brave!
This common strategy for shy persons is known as "hide in plain sight".

[Chanileslie]

Well, I won't be coming alone, but I am very shy although most people don't realize it because as long as someone else is willing to take the first step and start talking to me first, I will talk your ear off. Of course as I am shy and am trying to hide it, I will also babble incoherently about everything ridiculous and nothing important at a high rate of speed and will look like the biggest ditz in the world. [sigh]. I am quite bright, really I am.

[kittynh]

Chan! You are my long lost twin! Once I get started you can't shut me up. :(

[Diezel]

Although I don't think I can make it again this year, I just wanted to chime in that I am shy - but you would never know it. I force myself to not be, but I am always nervous when meeting new people. When we had our first meeting here in MI, I was a nervous wreck, waiting for people to show. Once I have met someone and talked for a while, I get comfortable. But on this first initial introduction, I am very shy and nervous. But like I said, you may never know, because I try to fight it. ;)

[MoeFaux]

Me too, Diezel. I'm shy but no one would ever guess.
Kittynh, I'm going to have you dancing on top of tables with me by the end of Day 1, and you know it.

[jj]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin

This common strategy for shy persons is known as "hide in plain sight".

The most effective hiding strategy on the planet Earth, too.

Trust me on that one.

(I used to do a lot of theatre and concert work, some of which would require me to get up and do something to fix someting in front of an audience, etc, during intermissions, and very occasionally during a performance. If you carry a tool belt and you look like you belong there, nobody even notices you exist.)

But I'm told I'm not shy. I measure off the top on the old MMPI SI scale, but most people don't seem to regard me as shy...

Who knows?

----

(edited to add)

And, oh, you shy guys, watch out for those shy women. When they get over it, or make up their minds, you're toast. Buttered and with jam on top.

:D

[UnrepentantSinner]

I am tremendously shy and introverted. My attendance of TAM was relegated to legend status largely until Saturday afternoon. I really doubt anyone will even know I'm at TAM 2 at all.

One point of information. I'm not big on eye contact as I find it very intimate, so if I'm averting my eyes while talking to you I am neither ignoring you nor bored with what you have to say. I just don't like eye contact.

[MoeFaux]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
I am tremendously shy and introverted. My attendance of TAM was relegated to legend status largely until Saturday afternoon. I really doubt anyone will even know I'm at TAM 2 at all.

One point of information. I'm not big on eye contact as I find it very intimate, so if I'm averting my eyes while talking to you I am neither ignoring you nor bored with what you have to say. I just don't like eye contact.

There was an aricle I read a month or so ago about a man who was blind since he was a baby and had his sight restored. He said that he was so uncomfortable looking at people in the eyes because he found it terribly intimate.
I will somtimes shy away from looking directly into someone's eyes durning a conversation for that reason. And if it's some one I like, it's impossible for me to look in their eyes for more than a few seconds at a time - I blush profusely.
There's something wonderfully sexy about eye contact. It certainly is a very intimate thing.

I'll find you at TAM2, US.

[arcticpenguin]

Eye contact - do any of you ever listen to Prairie Home Companion on National Public Radio? That's pretty much the culture I'm from. I've told people that I'm just like a Norwegian bachelor farmer. Except I'm not Norwegian. And I'm not a farmer.

[clinttaylor]

Pirate Lad,

Whether I'm shy or not, I'll be meeting you anyway!! (For the record, I'm fairly shy around people at first). It took a few tries to even get me to talk on paltalk-now they wish I would just shaddap!

BTW, Pm me. I need to add your name to the room. It looks like you're going to be there a few hours ahead of me.

Clint

[Rose]

I am shy. I've just conditioned myself to overcome it, to the point I love travelling all over the place and meeting people. So when I'm blathering and running amok about the place(politely amok of course), just remember. be nice. I'm shy. really.

[Pirate_Lad]

I have a funny feeling that US and Moe will somehow overcome their shyness. Call it intuition.

For everybody else, have no fear. Feel free to introduce yourself to me. I'm nice and won't cut you or anything. I might give you a high-five though. I'm weird like that.

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by Pirate_Lad
I have a funny feeling that US and Moe will somehow overcome their shyness. Call it intuition.

For everybody else, have no fear. Feel free to introduce yourself to me. I'm nice and won't cut you or anything. I might give you a high-five though. I'm weird like that.

Oh, and since I'm also a Latina, I tend to hug people when I see them. UnrepentantSinner can testify to that! :D

G6

[Chaos]

I am also quite shy.

I hardly dare post here...

[kittynh]

I did hug Nova Land when I met him. He seemed a little taken aback at first, but I told him I just hug people. He was really amazed at what a strong hug I do have.

Sorry to say, he won't be attending TAM2. But I am going to pick him up a tshirt.

I would actually say one of the things I like most about Nova Land is that we were able to be together and just enjoy the beautiful day and the place we were at. He really respected my questions to him, and didnt "grill me" . It was like he didn't have to know everything about me to enjoy my company. He's a very relaxing person to be around, especially for a shy person. I wish he was attending TAM2, but I don't think his cats would let him.

[MoeFaux]

Originally posted by kittynh
He's a very relaxing person to be around, especially for a shy person. I wish he was attending TAM2, but I don't think his cats would let him.

And by that, you mean you're not letting him out of the basement....;)

[arcticpenguin]

I have to laugh at all these people who claim they are shy, but are able to talk to total strangers. It reminds me of the line, "I'm a skeptic, but..."

[Chaos]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
I have to laugh at all these people who claim they are shy, but are able to talk to total strangers. It reminds me of the line, "I'm a skeptic, but..."

I am shy and nervous when I talk to people in person, and somewhat less so on the phone. On the internet, I am a completely different person.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Girl 6
Oh, and since I'm also a Latina, I tend to hug people when I see them. UnrepentantSinner can testify to that!

And she can testify that I'm not as reciprocative at a first meeting. I do like to hug the ladies as a greeting though. If I grab your butt, please just push me away... don't slap me.

I also think you hug because you're a warm caring person with a heart of gold. You can't help yourself. :)

For the record, I did not hug Manfred von Richthoffen when we met recently.

I have a funny feeling that US and Moe will somehow overcome their shyness. Call it intuition.

You'll be able to recognize us as I'll be wearing her on my back. (see my sig line)

[kittynh]

actually, many shy people have trouble with the phone. I know that the phone is where I have the most problems. If I call you, you know I have something to say. I don't chat on the phone all day, I know a lot of people do though!

Oh, I may look like your older aunt, but I still take hugs....

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by kittynh
Chan! You are my long lost twin! Once I get started you can't shut me up. :(

Well, I knew I had a twin out there!! :-) For me, my shutting up is usually really annoying, silly diarriah of the mouth sort of thing. I say whatever comes to mind, and it is usually incomprehensible. :-)

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
I am tremendously shy and introverted. My attendance of TAM was relegated to legend status largely until Saturday afternoon. I really doubt anyone will even know I'm at TAM 2 at all.

One point of information. I'm not big on eye contact as I find it very intimate, so if I'm averting my eyes while talking to you I am neither ignoring you nor bored with what you have to say. I just don't like eye contact.

Hey, I am the same way. I usually do not make eye contact with people I don't know very well unless I force myself. So, I am sure most people with the not talking until talked to, and the not making eye contact, think that I am snubbing them or an haughty although I don't think I am. Arrogant, I am, haughty I am not. :-)

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by kittynh
actually, many shy people have trouble with the phone. I know that the phone is where I have the most problems. If I call you, you know I have something to say. I don't chat on the phone all day, I know a lot of people do though!

Oh, I may look like your older aunt, but I still take hugs....

I usually can not abide talking on the phone, and I hate when people who live within a few miles call and want to chat for hours. I would much rather they came over or I went over to their house and talk.

During my first marriage, my husband and I had a shop building that was situation perhaps 70 feet from our house. It would make me insane because the man would not talk to me until he went out to that darn shop, and then he would call me!! What an irritant!! I think he did it just to annoy me because he knew how much I don't like talking on the phone.

[deBergerac]

I do not know if I will be shy or not at TAMII because of two reasons. Lately I have been working on my shyness and more and more often I actually talk to people I do not know if I feel comfortable in the situation but I am also from Sweden and the common belief among Swedes about Swedes are that we are shy, reserved, and do not want to intrude. So maybe I will be more extrovert than ever before and you will still perceive me as a shy guy. What ever you think do not make it stop you from talking to me, at least you can have some fun listening to my Swedish accent. :)

[kittynh]

can you do the Swedish chef from the Muppets. He was always my favorite because my cooking always seems to end up like his. I too was once terrorized by rogue lobsters.

[deBergerac]

Never tried but I suppose I cannot do the Swedish chef since I actually know Swedish. It is much easier to imitate a language if you cannot speak it and only know what it sounds like. But I could probably imitate his cooking it is not too far off from my own style. :)

[Chaos]

Funny. I thought that chef was Danish. At least, I think Smorebrod (wrong spelling, I know, all those / and °) is a Danish specialty.
Didn´t he always sing "Smorebrod, Smorebrod, rom tom tom tom..."?

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by Chanileslie
Hey, I am the same way. I usually do not make eye contact with people I don't know very well unless I force myself. So, I am sure most people with the not talking until talked to, and the not making eye contact, think that I am snubbing them or an haughty although I don't think I am. Arrogant, I am, haughty I am not. :-)

Ugh. I got the arrogant crap back in high school. It used to drive me insane because I'd then tell them how shy I was and they'd deny it.

One of the worst socia dissonances is being dabilatively shy and outrageously outgoing at the same time but depending on circumstances and who you're interacting with.

The eye contact thing only exacerbates the haughty impression.

[deBergerac]

Originally posted by Chaos
Funny. I thought that chef was Danish. At least, I think Smorebrod (wrong spelling, I know, all those / and °) is a Danish specialty.
Didn´t he always sing "Smorebrod, Smorebrod, rom tom tom tom..."?
As far as I know he is called the Swedish chef and I never herd him utter any understandable word what so ever. So either they just had him make “Swedish” sounds or you are right that he spoke Danish, the result should be about the same. :)

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner


Ugh. I got the arrogant crap back in high school. It used to drive me insane because I'd then tell them how shy I was and they'd deny it.

One of the worst socia dissonances is being dabilatively shy and outrageously outgoing at the same time but depending on circumstances and who you're interacting with.

The eye contact thing only exacerbates the haughty impression.

Most people don't believe it when I say that I am shy. I am a very, um, uninhibited, honest person, and I will talk about everything and in graphic detail, and I think that trait confuses people into thinking that I am not shy. It isn't true. I find it very difficult to talk to people I don't know.

As for arrogant, I am when it comes to my intelligence. I am used to being the person who knows everything. :-) I was called a know-it-all in high school, but my answer to that was, "Yeah, and your point would be?"

[Pete]

I'm shy and I'm going to TAM2 alone.
But I'm working on my shyness. Hey, I've got my 10th post in a year.


...sorry, I'll go away now...

[thornhill]

I'm new to the forum and I saw this post and I assumed it was directed at me. Going to the meeting (alone), don't know anyone attending, shy and likely to be tongue-tied around people I don't know at parties. Help!!!

For the record, the Swedish Chef spoke mock Swedish which Jean Stapleton could understand. I vaguely recall that he was mock-Japanese but I don't remember the story behind it. :)

[UnrepentantSinner]

You have 3 months to get to know everyone. Check out the FAQ in my sig line, then head to the Community forum immediately!

[deBergerac]

Originally posted by thornhill

For the record, the Swedish Chef spoke mock Swedish which Jean Stapleton could understand. I vaguely recall that he was mock-Japanese but I don't remember the story behind it. :)

Well thornhill you certainly know how to make a good impression around sceptics. Offering facts is always good, almost as good as chocolate.;)
In time you probably learn to first search the Internet and than post a link to the show or to a site with the complete transcript of all that the Swedish chef ever said including sworn testimonies that non of it is real Swedish.;)
Anyway see you at TAMII!

[Pirate_Lad]

Thornhill,

I'm going alone too. We can drink beers and chase skirts together.

[kittynh]

Pirate Lad, be sure you bring your parrot for Mr.Mason....hope your parrot is a girl.

[thornhill]

Pirate Lad,

The beer sounds great but as for chasing skirts, I think I would be like the proverbial dog that chases cars. After twelve years of marriage, I'm not sure I would know what to do if I caught one.:D

[Pirate_Lad]

Originally posted by kittynh
Pirate Lad, be sure you bring your parrot for Mr.Mason....hope your parrot is a girl.

I don't have a parrot, but my cat Albert would love to meat, er..meet him.

[Jeff Wagg]

I'm pretty shy unless I'm playing Blackjack. However, I'll be happy to be Pirate_Lad's friend because he has such a cool flag.

[Tanja]

I am so shy I won't even be coming to TAM2.
I'm joking, I would love to come, and I am still thinking about it, although my workload probably won't let me (but I would really like to meet many people from the forum).

I don't come accross as too shy, but I find certain social habits relating to greeting people very stressful. In my culture it is quite usual for people to kiss on the cheek when they meet. I hate that because I am very bad at judging which way the kiss will go. Do you know what I'm talking about? Two heads approach and you have to decide whether to go left or right. I always get it wrong, and it results in confusion, much like when two people try to pass around each other on the street. I always fear I will end up kissing the person on the mouth or something.

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by Tanja
I am so shy I won't even be coming to TAM2.
I'm joking, I would love to come, and I am still thinking about it, although my workload probably won't let me (but I would really like to meet many people from the forum).

I don't come accross as too shy, but I find certain social habits relating to greeting people very stressful. In my culture it is quite usual for people to kiss on the cheek when they meet. I hate that because I am very bad at judging which way the kiss will go. Do you know what I'm talking about? Two heads approach and you have to decide whether to go left or right. I always get it wrong, and it results in confusion, much like when two people try to pass around each other on the street. I always fear I will end up kissing the person on the mouth or something.

Work load?

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

You have about 8 weeks to start delegating, woman! START NOW! :D

Come on! You cannot possible miss this if you can make it! It's well worth the trip! Plus, we are ALL COOL! :D

G6

[Jeff Wagg]

Originally posted by Tanja
I am so shy I won't even be coming to TAM2.
I'm joking, I would love to come, and I am still thinking about it, although my workload probably won't let me (but I would really like to meet many people from the forum).

I don't come accross as too shy, but I find certain social habits relating to greeting people very stressful. In my culture it is quite usual for people to kiss on the cheek when they meet. I hate that because I am very bad at judging which way the kiss will go. Do you know what I'm talking about? Two heads approach and you have to decide whether to go left or right. I always get it wrong, and it results in confusion, much like when two people try to pass around each other on the street. I always fear I will end up kissing the person on the mouth or something.

I can solve the kissing dilema. NO KISSING! I think a firm handshake is the best way to greet someone, and yes, I'm culturally biased. Kissing invades that "personal space zone" that is so large in most Americans, myself included.

[kittynh]

Jeff, I would serious thought to accepting kisses from some of the skepchicks....

sounds like you're just up the road! Hope you are joining your fellow Yankee skeptics at TAM2

[Jeff Wagg]

Yep, I will be there representing the People's Republic of Vermont.

Anyone need some maple syrup or cheese?

I've heard interesting things about these skepchicks, but judging from the DVDs, they're outnumbered about 100 to 1 by your typical male skepgeek, such as myself.

Besides, I've got the wife and kids and all that, so no kissing is definitely my preference...especially from the pretty ones.

[Chaos]

Hey, Kitty, if you have no-one else to kiss, I will gladly volunteer...especially for the pretty skepchicks...