How do you handle awkward?

[BrightEyes1082]

I suck at awkward. I always have. I used to just kind of... suffer through it.
The more the years go by, the less tolerance I have for it. Now I'm at the
point where if things start looking super awkward, I can only hold out for
a few minutes before I simply turn and walk away. I'm referring mainly to
awkward attempts at mingling, awkward encounters in the store, and things
like that. I find first dates to be super awkward, but that's not really something
where you can get up and walk away.

How do you handle awkward? Do you engage and try to entertain the awkward
away? Do you bail? Curious me would like to know. ;D

 

[desdemona]

Bring a book... But seriously, I try for humor (and usually fail) and beat as fast a retreat as possible.

 

[chicago]

There are so many levels of awkward!

There's the endearing awkward like when someone gets nervous and fumbles over their words around someone they're really attracted to.

There's the on-purpose awkward. Rhino likes to dance in the weirdest, creepiest, most inelegant way imaginable, but it's kind of hilarious.

Lastly, there's the all kinds of painful social awkward. The worst being The Trying Too Hard - someone that rather than relax and be their own person, they are this horribly obvious and insincere character because they think that's what people want to hear/be around, when actually, most people can see right through it and just want you to not be some kind of caricature. I don't fuck with fake people.

 

[duderino84]

I suck at awkward. I always have. I used to just kind of... suffer through it.
The more the years go by, the less tolerance I have for it. Now I'm at the
point where if things start looking super awkward, I can only hold out for
a few minutes before I simply turn and walk away. I'm referring mainly to
awkward attempts at mingling, awkward encounters in the store, and things
like that. I find first dates to be super awkward, but that's not really something
where you can get up and walk away.

How do you handle awkward? Do you engage and try to entertain the awkward
away? Do you bail? Curious me would like to know. ;D

Socializing out in the open (if your intent is to date it's "cold approaching"?) to me just feels designed to feel awkward.

I've heard guys just "go with the flow" or "fake it till you make it"......well the fact my flow of attraction is focused in a girl's face/hair rather than her breasts/buttock.....I feel already because of the impending arousal my "flow" is different.....and I'm not good about not .....being me. It's taken me time to deal with the fact that things (as I know and enjoy, despite hating) will remain the same....FOREVER, and well, I have to imagine ways other than magic I can make some sort of woman get me. But for now....:.I need to figure out how to break this shell I've put between myself and ppl (because I've heard dozens of times I was "stupid" for what I liked, years ago.).

 

[milagros317]

I handle awkward situations badly. I usually lapse into an awkward silence.

 

[Bugman]

and beat as fast a retreat as possible.

This.

 

[WorkInProgress]

You know how, when you lie down for sleep, the worst thing you can do is feel pressure to go to sleep? You know how, when you tell yourself that it really doesn't matter whether you're asleep or awake, you're most likely to drift off to sleep? The same is true with being successful in a social interaction, successful at making connections with people and being seen as a positive contributor to the scene. If you worry about how bad it is to be awkward, you'll feel more awkward. Embrace the awkwardness and it will more likely go away. Awkward silence is okay. It may even look to others as if you're so confident of yourself that you don't feel the need to talk, or you're so intelligent that you're deep in thought about something even now. Remember, saying "I must must must not be awkward" is like saying "I must must must fall asleep in five minutes."

 

[TheComedian]

I usually point out how awkward it is, and that breaking of tension usually gets a laugh. Cause if you feel something is awkward, usually everyone else feels that way, so when it's been pointed out, the situation can move forward... I've kind of learned to laugh at awkward situations, since I seem to go through so many in my life.

 

[Bohemianne]

Bring a book...

I do have one with me all the time. It saves situations.

 

[DontAskJusTckle]

I make a joke about the situation and then change the subject. That usually works, but it's a one-shot deal. If it doesn't work, I don't waste my time trying to "fix" it. I move on.

 

[C.A.B.]

I wait until the speaker reaches the end of their blather, smile broadly and chuckle "Ahhhh, Bach!" and politely laugh as I walk away to freshen my drink.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

I am far too smooth & debonair to associate myself w/the likes of awkward situations.

 

[Dussicar]

I tend to giggle uncontrollably. If somebody else has caused the situation.

I am usually callous towards akward situations that I create, not because I'm a vicious bastard, but because I created them for a reason. Not for fun but due to the fact that I can't stand it when people bullshit as if it is their daily routine of life.
I'm not taking the soapbox or white knight dating service questionaire filler-outer exams. I do it because clarity is paramount to me. Even if I can't see it at the time. It is simply because I hate being dragged into other people's self-lies!

I tend to become stern at that time...And then, occasionally, giggle uncontrollably.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I don't know...............awkward question.



Drew

 

[C.A.B.]

I am far too smooth & debonair to associate myself w/the likes of awkward situations.

heh heh "Ahhhh, Bach!" heh heh heh *walks away to freshen drink*