Social Anxiety poll

[Locut0s]

Social Anxiety is something I have struggled with for a long time. I've made progress in recent years but it's till a big problem for me. So I thought I'd poll the general ATOT community to get a sense of where you guys stand on this. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 based on the following criteria.

1 = No anxiety at all. If the hottest women in the world walked into the room with her boy friend I would still hit on her. Because... you know there's always that 1 in a million chance!


5 = average anxiety. I go to parties I meet new people, I ask girls out, but there's always that awkward moment I worry about.


10 = Maximum anxiety. I fear every encounter with any stranger. I purposefully avoid ANY event where I might need to socialize. I'm something of a shut in because of it. I fear small talk.

 

[theflyingpig]

10 in every situation, unless I have a gun, then it's 1. A gun makes me feel like a real man.

 

[miketheidiot]

i've never really had a problem going up and talking to people except that i think its kind of rude, but thats how i was raised. Having something that i want to talk to someone about is a completely different story, and normally not the case. Also if i'm really hungry or tired i have no desire to be around people, times like that i'm about a 9. Finally i can't remember the last time i saw a girl that i would consider a stunner.

 

[HannibalX]

1

No.

 

[iamwiz82]

I think your ratings are not properly scaled. The gap between 1 and 5 is much smaller than 5 and 10.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I think your ratings are not properly scaled. The gap between 1 and 5 is much smaller than 5 and 10.

agreed.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I think your ratings are not properly scaled. The gap between 1 and 5 is much smaller than 5 and 10.

I think it's fine as it is... 5 is average, 1 is no anxiety, 10 is as bad as it gets.

 

[BoomerD]

meh...the poll and related assumptions are fucked up.

I'm not so likely to hit on the beautiful girl...but I'm not likely to be afraid to talk to her.

In groups, I'm less likely to wander around and introduce myself...not because I'm afraid to, not because of any feelings of inadequacy...but because I generally don't fucking care...no anxiety over the possibility of having to make small talk, but rarely do. Why bother chatting up someone you don't know, don't care to know, and don't care if you ever see them again?
(I'm not good at the networking game...NOT a "people person")

I am pretty good at picking out the people in a group that I am interested in talking to...and doing so.

 

[blinky8225]

There actually are medications for this stuff?

I'd rate myself pretty high. Ordering pizza from Dominos scares the hell out of me. I've skipped meals to avoid talking to the person at a cash register before.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm wondering if all this anxiety has a correlation with this particular generation or just ATOT?

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
I'm wondering if all this anxiety has a correlation with this particular generation or just ATOT?

I doubt it. Humans are human. There's just more analysis of it now.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
I'm wondering if all this anxiety has a correlation with this particular generation or just ATOT?

I doubt it. Humans are human. There's just more analysis of it now.

Do you mean awareness or self absorption?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
I'm wondering if all this anxiety has a correlation with this particular generation or just ATOT?

I doubt it. Humans are human. There's just more analysis of it now.

I dunno...it seems like this generation has a higher percentage of people who never get out or their parents's basements than ever before...and thus, never learn any social skills.

 

[KeypoX]

I think if you could post something so personal and such a question you must be pretty confident in yourself.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
meh...the poll and related assumptions are fucked up.

I'm not so likely to hit on the beautiful girl...but I'm not likely to be afraid to talk to her.

In groups, I'm less likely to wander around and introduce myself...not because I'm afraid to, not because of any feelings of inadequacy...but because I generally don't fucking care...no anxiety over the possibility of having to make small talk, but rarely do. Why bother chatting up someone you don't know, don't care to know, and don't care if you ever see them again?
(I'm not good at the networking game...NOT a "people person")

I am pretty good at picking out the people in a group that I am interested in talking to...and doing so.

Then you should have voted 2. The upper end is for people who would rather get cancer and be cured than go on one date with a beautiful woman.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
I think if you could post something so personal and such a question you must be pretty confident in yourself.

There is more than one way to be confident in ones self. Being confident to a stranger or on the Internet doesn't mean you could say hi to a girl in real life.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

My big problem is talking points. All my life I have only cared about my interests. Can't exactly hit on a girl and bring up ice hockey or some other manly topic.

At 33, it is still a problem, but I am married. It's more of an issue when I go to parties. It doesn't dawn on me to say things like "watching the NCAA basketball games?" when there is a lull. The weather is a horrible topic I will not bring up ever. I don't mindlessly give compliments and don't like it when others compliment me since I view it as hallow.

It's not anxiety much. I don't care if I am not talking to anyone at a party. It jsut sucks that I don't know how to start a conversation out of thin air. I really think that is the issue that most people have.

 

[TallBill]

I'm at a 1 for anxiety. Having something to actually say, however, is something entirely different.

 

[Cyco]

I have no anxiety. I just know everybody I meet is a dick.

 

[lxskllr]

I voted 7, and no. I'm not a fan of meeting new people, and I highly dislike small talk. I can force myself to be social, but it's against my nature.

 

[I Saw OJ]

6 and no

I dont like to participate in small talk, but when its needed I'm pretty good at it and have really no qualms about talking to strangers.

 

[Cabages]

Do anti-depressants actually help with this?

I went on some for ~3 months and I got around to asking a girl out, which I never had before.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: BoomerD
meh...the poll and related assumptions are fucked up.

I'm not so likely to hit on the beautiful girl...but I'm not likely to be afraid to talk to her.

In groups, I'm less likely to wander around and introduce myself...not because I'm afraid to, not because of any feelings of inadequacy...but because I generally don't fucking care...no anxiety over the possibility of having to make small talk, but rarely do. Why bother chatting up someone you don't know, don't care to know, and don't care if you ever see them again?
(I'm not good at the networking game...NOT a "people person")

I am pretty good at picking out the people in a group that I am interested in talking to...and doing so.

Then you should have voted 2. The upper end is for people who would rather get cancer and be cured than go on one date with a beautiful woman.

Yeah, I think I voted 2 or 3...no anxiety, just don't like people too much.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I think your ratings are not properly scaled. The gap between 1 and 5 is much smaller than 5 and 10.

Maybe it's a logarithmic scale.

 

[rudeguy]

I have generalized anxiety disorder. Basically my anxiety kicks in for no reason. The weird part is the best way to get over an attack is to talk to someone. So I guess I have the opposite of social anxiety.