How do you feel about speaking in public?

@sbeauty (5865)
United States
October 22, 2006 5:42pm CST
I get sick at the thought of having to get up and speak in front of an audience. I think that's funny, because I'm a teacher and have no trouble getting up in front of a class.
3 people like this
29 responses
@nanhegujral (4632)
• India
4 Nov 06
I can't speak in front of public because i usually get nervous and i still lack in confidence to speak in front of public.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
4 Nov 06
I have that same problem. Thanks for your answer.
@usmcsgtwife (4997)
• United States
4 Nov 06
I cannot do it either, I get way to nervous. In school I had to take a speech class and I hated every minute of it
2 people like this
@rockbaby (805)
• Lebanon
4 Nov 06
i dont have problem with that .. i mean if i can do that infront of people i know.. i can do that infront of people i dono.. i used to be shy and not able to talk.. but i dont care now.. i cant see those people so why would i care..anyways.. i still shake alot and feel like im in a shaker or osmething.. (like ifeel that but ppl cant see that..) my voice may do that as well sometimes.. but i dont have problem with talking if i got the speech.. but if i have to talk from my own THAT IS SCARY lol..
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
I'd much rather speak in front of people I don't know. I figure that probably I'll never see them again, so it doesn't really matter what they think of me. Speaking in front of colleagues is harder though, because no matter what happens, I have to work with them again the next day.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
6 Nov 06
Thank you for giving me incite into your culture. I wish everyone were as nice in the US as you say your people are.
@rockbaby (805)
• Lebanon
5 Nov 06
i actually dont have problem speaking infront of people i know either.. i dont have to face.. them they r my friends.. u probably have those problems because u go from class to clas.s. but in lebanon u meet everyone and almost everyone becomes a friend and u wont FACE them .. because they have the same problem as u.. and they laugh bout it as well.. anyways thats wat it is here..
1 person likes this
• Pakistan
5 Nov 06
confident
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
6 Nov 06
Good for you! That's a great skill to have. I love your avatar picture, by the way. Thanks for your response.
@sadaff (328)
• Pakistan
5 Nov 06
i love public speaking.....it gives me energy n pleasure!
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
And I love listening to a really dynamic speaker. It's good to have people like you areund. Thanks for taking time to respond.
@suzieque (2334)
• Canada
5 Nov 06
I'm surprised that you would be scared since you do it everyday in front of your students. Maybe it's because the students are younger and you feel more comfortable because you are educating them and you are more knowledgable. I get very nervous speaking in front of an audience, young or old.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
6 Nov 06
I think you're right about my classes. I'm there to teach them, and since they are just little people, I don't feel intimidated by them. If I make a mistake, I admit it and go on. I'd die of humiliation if that happened in front of an adult audience. Of course, I've also subbed in high school which is a bit more challenging, but I've had no problem with that, either.
@rosebug23 (1906)
• Australia
5 Nov 06
falling  - falling down stairs animated
Public speaking is something that i have trouble with but am starting to get used to.I am President of my club so have had to do a bit but i dint like it i am too nervous.The first time i had to speak in public i was told about half an hour before so i got so nervous i couldn't even think what to say then some councilors spoke The Mayor,a couple of politicians all without any written speech. My turn came and i had 6 people to thank and make a presentation all written on a serviette. I got through it without any mishaps until the mayor stood to thank me and the embarrassment hit and i fell down the stairs,how embarrassed did i feel after that it made my speech pale . now i remember that and think i would rather speak in front of people than fall down the stairs in front of them.
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Falling in front of everyone is what I think about every time I have to get up in front of an audience. It's never happened, but I always expect disaster. Have you ever noticed how if someone falls in public they get up quickly and look around furtively to see who saw them fall. They're more worried about being seen than about possible injuries.
@kokopelli (4842)
• United States
5 Nov 06
i guess i got used to it so i got no prob with it. i've been joining poem, declamation, and the-like contests since i was a kid, that must have trained me. now i conduct forums and seminars and get thru them without peeing my pants, hehe. but i tell you, no matter how you do it often or how prepared you are, being nervous speaking infront of a large crowd is normal, as well as having the butterflies in your tummy and the cold hands, hehe.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
I'm sure all that experience has helped give you poise and confidence in spite of the tummy and hand problems! Thanks for your incite.
@AmrutaB (26)
• United States
4 Nov 06
i dont really mind it so much now. But I used to be really scared of public speaking a few years back. I used to stammer and forget my lines when on stage. But Im much better now!:)
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
It sounds like you might do some acting? I've always found it easier to be on stage if I'm play-acting than if I'm just standing there giving a speech.
@J_peso (2430)
• United States
4 Nov 06
USuallythe heartbeats harder the last few minutes before im about to start speaking ..and then i remind myself " im a fool .......SO it wont do no harm to my reputation if others in the audience knew this open secret as well" And then the words seem to come out right .And i realise th audience is buying it ....the jitters die offf:)
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
You're lucky that everything turns out well for you. Thanks for answering.
• Netherlands
5 Nov 06
Public Speaking - podium
It depends on what I am speaking about and whos there. If it is speaking in front of all my co-workers I get a bit nervous as I have to see them everyday. If it is a group of strangers than I am very comfortable speaking in front of them. If I have a topic that I am well experienced in than it is evern better.
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Lucky you! I'd have trouble getting up and speaking about my own mother. :O) Thanks for your response.
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
4 Nov 06
nervous,very nervous
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Yes, and my voice shakes, and my hands holding my notes shake... Thanks for answering!
• United States
4 Nov 06
I don't like to, I get nervous with everyone looking at you.
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Yes, there are too many eyes. Thanks for responding.
@isasice (2015)
• Iceland
4 Nov 06
I used to hate it, couldn't do it. If you are between the ages of 18 and 40, check out www.jci.com or look up the nearest chapter of Junior Chambers International. They have great seminars to train you in public speaking and many other areas.
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, I'm not between 18 and 40, but I'm sure other people who read your post will benefit from the information.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
5 Nov 06
I'm not a good public speaker...it makes me feel ill and my voice shakes. I can't stand the thought of having many eyes on me and knowing that people are gonna pick out errors in what I'm saying and maybbe be judgemental over my opinions or whatever I'm speaking about.
1 person likes this
@vicele (328)
• Kenya
4 Nov 06
I'd rather drink my pee than speak in public
1 person likes this
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
4 Nov 06
Point made loud and clear! Thanks...
@compumom (738)
• United States
4 Nov 06
If I have to do it, I will, but I'd rather not.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
4 Nov 06
It's hard to believe that some people enjoy speaking. At least you know you can do it! Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@aprilsue00 (1991)
• United States
4 Nov 06
i absolutely hate speaking in public. I am a quite person and do not like confrontation of any kind. I'm working on being a more outgoing person though. I'm not sure if that will help with my public speaking.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Nov 06
I agree with you completely. I've tried and tried. Like I said in my original post, everyone assumes that a teacher feels comfortable in front of an audience, but although I'm fine in class, I panic in other situations. Thanks for your response.
@yukmizzee (329)
• United States
5 Nov 06
Honestly I hate it.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
27 Nov 12
I think everybody has the same feeling when facing a big crowd. Even seasoned speakers feel that way. I like speaking in public although I often make a lot of mistakes from too much excitement. LOL