I'm not a public speaker... - Democratic Underground

deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:21 PM
Original message

I'm not a public speaker...

and I have to go give a nice long presentation for my political science class in an hour.

Logically, I know no one is listening, but I still have a tendency to blank when I look up and see all those faces staring at me. :scared:

Good vibes, please. :(

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reyd reid reed

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:21 PM
Response to Original message

1. You got 'em....

you'll be fine. You'll see.

:hug:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:30 PM
Response to Reply #1

7. Thanks.

:hug:

By 3PM, I'll be a very happy camper.

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terrya

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:22 PM
Response to Original message

2. Good vibes headed your way.

Public speaking is one of my very worst fears. You're braver than I am.

Good luck. You'll do fine. :-)

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:31 PM
Response to Reply #2

8. Thank you...

:)

I wouldn't say I'm brave...if I didn't have to do it, I certainly wouldn't. But I do, so I guess I've gotta suck it up and stumble though. :pals:

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SPKrazy

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:24 PM
Response to Original message

3. Good Vibes

I was terrified of public speaking, then I got a job in grad school teaching a DUI class on Saturday mornings and afternoons.

70+ people sitting at a table who are pissed as hell, want to be anywhere but there, and might just as soon cut ya as look at ya, helped me get over it.

I wouldn't recommend that approach, but practice makes something.

:hi:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:32 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. I've been rehearsing since last Wednesday...

not sure how much good it'll do, though, once I get up there. x(

Thanks for the positive thoughts. :hi:

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SPKrazy

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #9

21. Just Relax

make eye contact with a few people that are responding and go for it!

You'll do great

once you get the rhythm of the audience, you can play to how they are responding. It's really kind of fun.

:hi:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #21

23. The audience, I'm pretty sure, isn't listening too hard.

My project is just one of many dry, boring presentations. Lots of dry numbers, etc.

But I'm trying my best. Once I start, I think I'll be okay. The waiting is just the worst. Thanks again for all the good vibes. :)

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miss_american_pie

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:25 PM
Response to Original message

4. You got it

:hugs:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:33 PM
Response to Reply #4

11. Thank you.

:hug:

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Oeditpus Rex

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:27 PM
Response to Original message

5. Don't look at the faces

Look just over their heads — like a coupla inches. They won't know the difference and you won't get freaked out.

Just before you start, say to yourself, "One... two... FIVE!"

:hug:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #5

12. That's what my strategy is...

we'll see how it works out. *gulp*

:hi:

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YankeyMCC

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:29 PM
Response to Original message

6. Just remember

everyone in the audience feels just like you when they have to speak in public.

Know your topic, prepare and there's nothing to fear.

Easier to say than do I know, but you can do it.

;)

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:35 PM
Response to Reply #6

13. I've been practicing for over a week now,

and the presentation isn't a huge chunk of our grade, but it still spooks me out.

Thanks for the encouragement...it just feels good to vent a bit. :)

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Hosnon

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #6

15. Exactly...Know your topic in and out and it will go well. If you go on autopilot at least

the shit that comes out of your mouth will be accurate:)

Good luck!

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:40 PM
Response to Reply #15

18. Thanks! I seem to be going on autopilot when I practice,

as I've been practicing this speech for over a week and working on this project for over a semester. Hopefully that holds with 20 students and the professor in the room. :)

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YankeyMCC

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #15

27. lol

that's exactly the way to put it "the shit that comes out of your mouth"

Like most people I had a strong fear of public speaking but after having to give many, many talks, I learned to go on autopilot. I usually sit down after the fact and think "I hope I didn't say anything stupid that time."

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BarenakedLady

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:33 PM
Response to Original message

10. Oh goodness, my worst nightmare.

:scared:

I'm sure you will do great though. I admire anyone who is able to speak in public. :yourock:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:36 PM
Response to Reply #10

14. Will I get up there and do it? Yeah.

Because I have to...but do I have any actual skill? Nahhh, not so much. :)

I'm volunteering to go first...get it over with. ;)

Thanks for the vibes! :toast:

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Oeditpus Rex

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #10

22. Almost anyone can learn

to be a good — okay, reasonably comfortable orator.

In my seventh-grade English class, I was so freaked out about reading a stupid poem in front of the class that I had my dad write a note to get me out of it. Now, I virtually jump at the chance to speak in public, and I even had a bit of a reputation for it a few years back.

It helps a lot if you're a ham, I guess.

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BarenakedLady

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #22

24. Not me

Not with the social anxiety crap. Hell, I struggle to speak to one or two people and can't even look you in the eye when I do. Perhaps if I were drunk and/or heavily medicated at the time I could do it, but then I would make even less sense than usual. LoL.

Are you a ham? I pictured you more as a T-bone...

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Oeditpus Rex

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #24

28. That's coming from where you are now

It takes practice. :thumbsup:

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BarenakedLady

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:00 PM
Response to Reply #28

30. But I don't wanna practice!

Edited on Thu Dec-07-06 02:00 PM by BarenakedLady

*said whilst whining in an annoying teenage girlie voice*

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Oeditpus Rex

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:02 PM
Response to Reply #30

32. Depends on how you kill me

:shrug:

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BarenakedLady

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:05 PM
Response to Reply #32

34. Hehe

You are too quick. I edited that part out. I'm pretty sure pork is never kosher and didn't want to offend.

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SPKrazy

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #10

25. There Was A Study

that showed that people fear public speaking more than death!

That's pretty wild!

:pals:

How ya doin' BNL?

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BarenakedLady

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #25

29. I'm doing pretty good

Thanks for asking :pals:

How about yourself?

Oh and yes, I'd rather jump out of an airplane than speak in public. hehehe

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SPKrazy

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Thu Dec-07-06 07:51 PM
Response to Reply #29

39. Glad To Hear It!

Myself, ehhh, I've been better, I've been worse.

All in all, all things being equal, I'd rather be on a tropical island trying to figure my life out instead of stuck in Arkansas trying to figure it out!

As for public speaking, amazingly I used to be so phobic about it. I taught "DUI School" in Little Rock in grad school and it sort of cured me. I'm still nervous about speaking, but not phobic. Jumping out of an airplane sounds kind of fun to me actually. I'd have to have a shove probably but, man, it just sounds like a rush.

Should we go jump out of a plane? (preferably with parachutes)

:crazy:

:pals:

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Ariana Celeste

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #10

36. Me too!

OMG part of the reason I had a lot of trouble in school (despite knowing the subjects) was because of my not being able to stand up in front of people and speak!

I only partially got over it my last year in school- because I was acting prosecutor in a mock trial. :scared: My passion for the class helped immensely but I still wanted to puke all over the place when it was over.

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Hosnon

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:39 PM
Response to Original message

16. Remember that it is normal to be freaked out. It makes you prepare more. You'd be

crazy not to be nervous about it.

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LaraMN

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:40 PM
Response to Original message

17. Before I have to give a speech, I always say in my head ( to the audience,)

"I am the boss of you."

It amuses me, and helps me get into "presentation" mode. I invoke humor in my speeches (if the occasion suits) whenever I can, because it makes me SO much more comfortable when people are laughing *with* me.

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #17

20. I might have to try that "I am the boss of you" thing.

Unfortunately, this paper is really analytical (lots of dry statistics and numbers), so it's hard to bring a lot of color into it. I originally thought of bringing a bag of candy to pass around to keep them occupied and amused. :)

Thanks, Lara. :hi:

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Oeditpus Rex

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #17

35. I'm more wordy in my psyching-up

I think, "You guys are gonna love what I'm gonna tell ya."

And, yeah — humor is near-vital. For my first "big" speech (about 100 people in the audience), I, then a Rams fan in 49er Country, had the good fortune of the Rams' QB having lost his footing while dropping back to pass against the 49ers the previous Sunday. I worked that into the prelude to the actual speech, like, "So if I just sorta fall down without anybody touching me, it's just my impersonation of Jim Everett." The room broke up, and it broke the ice. :7

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Broken_Hero

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:42 PM
Response to Original message

19. Good luck

just be sure to not cuss! That was always the hardest thing for me...one of my catch phrases was "and all that shit"...I still struggle with it from time to time...:D

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 01:48 PM
Response to Reply #19

26. LOL.

I have cursed a lot over the course of the project, believe me. The presentation is just so dull and analytical, though, that there's not much of an opportunity for it. :)

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buddhamama

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:02 PM
Response to Original message

31. Good Luck,

you're going to do fine. :hi:

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:04 PM
Response to Reply #31

33. Thank you!

At this point, I'm beyond caring how well I do. I just want it to be over. :hug:

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Hosnon

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Thu Dec-07-06 02:45 PM
Response to Original message

37. Ok I finally put two and two together...do you go to UGA (my alma mater)? nt.

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deadparrot

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Thu Dec-07-06 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #37

38. Nope. :)

I go to a state liberal arts university in NE Missouri.

It's over now, thank god. It went pretty well--DU vibes work yet again! :)

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Hosnon

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Thu Dec-07-06 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #38

40. Oh ok...I thought perhaps so since you started the UGA thread. Good job! nt.

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