Social confidence

[Razor Leaf]

How confident are you in social situations? Why? How do you think others interpret you in social situations? Why? How does this change depending on what exactly the situation is? Are you confident around people you've not met before? If, in the past, you don't feel you were confident but you are now, how did you become more confident?

[Sweets Witch]

I'm confident in most situations, although my friends see me as more confident than I feel. When I was younger I was really introverted and I disliked talking to people, but then one day I decided that I wouldn't get far with that and I forced myself to be more confident. Kind of went overboard, though, so I see why my friends think I'm some kind of interaction wizard.

It's not as good as I hoped it'd be sometimes because some people are a pain to talk to.

[⊗Slenderman⊗]

Pfft what is this social confidence you speak of?

Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration. But not much.
Short of close friends and family- I'm not good in social situations. Even being around other people, whether I speak to them or not, bothers me. I tend to be very conscious of what I say and do when around other humans, and it often isn't worth the trouble. That's one of the main reasons why my social life is mostly online.

[Caelus]

Not as confident around as I would like, but I've gotten much more confident in the last few years. Sometimes it's hard for me to interact with people because I've only recently (past 3 years) started socializing with people, but I can keep a conversation going if they're willing.

Most people have viewed me as being shy, but people that have known me for years have told me I've come a long way since middle school. It's something I'd like to work on improving.

[Toujours]

I've gotten pretty good at chatty small talk I think. But when I'm around a new person for an extended period of time, they'll note that I'm unusually quiet, without fail. I'm just a quiet person around people I don't know well, but when I get to know people I'm...pretty average. So I do end up getting a lot of social anxiety, which makes me quieter, then people talk about it, then I get more anxious about it, then I get quieter. It's a vicious circle.

[Sassy Milkshake]

I've found that when I actually put myself out there, confidence came naturally. Whether I'm talking to a stranger or people I know, I've been a lot more confident as of late. I'm not sure how others see me, but I feel like I can act silly and be confident. Trying too hard or being too serious makes me more self-conscious.

[Curtis talli]

I just can't pull myself in to these things even if it is someone I have know for like since high school.

[Captain Fabio]

Completely fine.
I can handle myself in social situations just fine, if I know the people or not.

[outfox]

Last week I was partially diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder, which initially worried me but means little to me now. In fact, while it's an accurate description of my tendencies and behavior, I think it's a flawed diagnosis, one based on cultural bias- as psychologist Nancy McWilliams puts it: "People in majorities tend to assume that their own psychology is normative and to equate difference with inferiority." Thank you, Wikipedia.

The ability to socialize certainly doesn't come naturally, but I'm able to work through my tendencies, especially from all the practice I've had in the customer service industry.

[Shining Raichu]

I've been meeting a whole lot of new people lately and as such I'm getting more confident doing it. I still have a bit of trouble coming up with things to say which leads to awkward silences, but I'm not nearly as bad as I used to be. I like that I'm getting more confident, it makes socialising a lot easier.

[Insomniac]

I actually think I seem cooler around newer people than my friends. I'm okay with meeting new people, and I love to set a first impression.

But if there are lots and LOTS of people I don't know, I can't handle it and I just go in my room with my baby cousin and play cars with him. :(

[SNOR(es)LAX]

I rarely could, I would normally repeat words a few times if I am very nervous, but I still try to go into this things.

Also, I have more confidence talking to someone I don't know compared to someone that I know but haven't really talk to.

[Kura]

Depends on how many people there are, how many of those people I know, and where I am. I don't mind a party with loads of people I don't know if there are friends I know too, but in situations like a club where it is really cluttered and loud, I tend to feel really awkward and out of place, even if friends are around.

[Evanlyn]

When I'm around people I know, I can be loud, but also a lot of the time I'm quiet, and I listen.
When I'm around people I don't know, I'm quiet.

But I'm getting more confident in my social skills, because I'm pushing myself and making myself become so. Just by making comments that I would make around friends.
If they don't like me, then they don't have to be friends with me. That's it. :)

[Aerilyn]

I used to be really shy and quiet around people I didn't know. While I still can be at times, I'm more comfortable and confident socializing around people now, new and old. Although, I might not seem as open or as free spirited around new people as I might with people I'm more comfortable around.

Except, if you want me to call you over the phone... Uh uh! No way! Just stop it! I hate talking over the phone so much. I never know what to say half of the time. Even if I might know you really well, I might still be pretty quiet on my end of the line.

[pikakitten]

I won't normally start a conversation, but I can, just a little difficult for me.
If someone else starts the conversation, I can jump right in and talk with them xD
I'll also be an occasional flirt, sometimes xD