I parsed that as “ask to go, first” and then spent a pleasant moment contemplating how that would make it less terrifying. What Frazz actually said is much smarter. Because fear not only builds up over time, but the fact that the folks in front did well makes your own effort seem worse.
I used to teach public speaking to non-profits for fundraising. Public speaking is one of the biggest fears people have. With practice and coaching most people can get pretty good at it. Others will go from wringing wet with fear sweat to uncomfortable, but doable.
I learned that lesson very early on when I minored in speech. Plus, if you go first, no one is really listening because they are all terrified in anticipation of giving their speech!!! =^_^=. That might be why I could have such a high GPA in my minor. Well, maybe someone is listening besides the teacher, but it is sure easy to pretend they are all so terrified they’re practically ignoring the first speaker.
I would tell my public speaking students to go first because everybody would be so absorbed in worrying about what they would say that no one will really be listening.
I make a similar distinction when it comes to The Shining, which I refer to as the best terror movie of all time (not the best horror movie), because it’s all about the anticipation.
That said, the amount of lead time before you’re due up in class is measured in minutes, whereas the lead time from when the assignment is handed out until when it’s due is measured in days, so I’m not sure that this advice is all that helpful.
I always liked to go second. You get one data point on is your work going to be viable, but then you’re early enough that you get it over with, and set the bar for everyone else.
There’s this notion that some of the unconventional things I like to do — swim in cold water, get up early in the morning, provide entertainment on a daily basis, to name a few — are easy or natural or automatic. In fact, they’re all on the extreme high ends of either the fear scale or difficulty scale or both. But they’re also on an even more extreme high end of the rewarding scale, so you do what you have to do.
So it was a great delight a couple years ago when I listened to the Invisibilia podcast and caught one of the hosts offering the equation for fear. And I thought, I am so remembering that, because it had great potential for helping me through my frequent and copious jitters. Spoiler alert: The host was on to something. That formula seems to be not only accurate, but quite controllable.
I still hate getting into cold water. Everybody does. But at least now I have the reputation for the guy who doesn’t mind it. It’s totally false, but I’ll take it. And we can all take it as a sign that the formula is valid. Furthermore, it provides answers to those two all-too-common questions from different angles: “What are you waiting for?”, and “What were you thinking?”
DangerBunny over 4 years ago
Nothing is less common than good sense.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
I parsed that as “ask to go, first” and then spent a pleasant moment contemplating how that would make it less terrifying. What Frazz actually said is much smarter. Because fear not only builds up over time, but the fact that the folks in front did well makes your own effort seem worse.
jpsomebody over 4 years ago
I thought Frazz was suggesting that she should request a bathroom break.
Bilan over 4 years ago
Thinking + Thinking = Overthinking.
Overthinking: aka Fear.
Ceeg22 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Get it over with
rlaker22j over 4 years ago
if it’s common why is it so rare
sandpiper over 4 years ago
Philosopher: thought before action. Warrior: If there’s time.
Bruce1253 over 4 years ago
I used to teach public speaking to non-profits for fundraising. Public speaking is one of the biggest fears people have. With practice and coaching most people can get pretty good at it. Others will go from wringing wet with fear sweat to uncomfortable, but doable.
ArtisticArtemis over 4 years ago
I learned that lesson very early on when I minored in speech. Plus, if you go first, no one is really listening because they are all terrified in anticipation of giving their speech!!! =^_^=. That might be why I could have such a high GPA in my minor. Well, maybe someone is listening besides the teacher, but it is sure easy to pretend they are all so terrified they’re practically ignoring the first speaker.
erik9hendrick over 4 years ago
Brilliant! As usual.
Judy Saint Premium Member over 4 years ago
I would tell my public speaking students to go first because everybody would be so absorbed in worrying about what they would say that no one will really be listening.
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
Kinda like the difference between wading and plunging into cold water.
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
I make a similar distinction when it comes to The Shining, which I refer to as the best terror movie of all time (not the best horror movie), because it’s all about the anticipation.
That said, the amount of lead time before you’re due up in class is measured in minutes, whereas the lead time from when the assignment is handed out until when it’s due is measured in days, so I’m not sure that this advice is all that helpful.
Mad Sci over 4 years ago
The difference is knowing when the fear is rational
tghllama over 4 years ago
I always liked to go second. You get one data point on is your work going to be viable, but then you’re early enough that you get it over with, and set the bar for everyone else.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 4 years ago
Blog PostsFrazz19 hrs ·
There’s this notion that some of the unconventional things I like to do — swim in cold water, get up early in the morning, provide entertainment on a daily basis, to name a few — are easy or natural or automatic. In fact, they’re all on the extreme high ends of either the fear scale or difficulty scale or both. But they’re also on an even more extreme high end of the rewarding scale, so you do what you have to do.
So it was a great delight a couple years ago when I listened to the Invisibilia podcast and caught one of the hosts offering the equation for fear. And I thought, I am so remembering that, because it had great potential for helping me through my frequent and copious jitters. Spoiler alert: The host was on to something. That formula seems to be not only accurate, but quite controllable.
I still hate getting into cold water. Everybody does. But at least now I have the reputation for the guy who doesn’t mind it. It’s totally false, but I’ll take it. And we can all take it as a sign that the formula is valid. Furthermore, it provides answers to those two all-too-common questions from different angles: “What are you waiting for?”, and “What were you thinking?”