It's not THAT bad if you can't stop talking... Consider the other extreme, one of my friends is so antisocial he won't even play MMORPGs.
Have you ever watched the Office? Seems like you'd be a good match for Kelly
Don't even worry about it though, it's just a perk of your personality. Some girls like that actually; if you talk a lot the ladies can have a fun conversation without working too hard.
Alright..... I got a big problem with not knowing when to stop talking. I'm just referring to talking with friends not like a business interview. Just casual talk that means nothing. I don't even know why I do this to be honest. Like when I text i'll bring up a good topic to talk about and then get carried away and just won't stop talking. And the thing I don't realize I'm going overboard until its too late because the conversation will be going fine and then I say that 1 thing that really is unnecessary and my friend just wont respond. That's when I realize"crap, why the hell did I even say that..?". It's really getting embarrassing and I didn't talk to any of my friends for like 2 days because I was sick of myself. Then today my friend texts me and I do the same thing again....ugh! I also have the tendency to want to talk to people about things that really just aren't.....necessary (only thing I could think off). For example awhile back I was just feeling dumb so I descided to get up and dance to some random song. Anyway, I actually ended up telling my friend about this over text for some reason and it was um, an awkward conversation lol. I always feel so dumb after alot of conversations with my friends. Sometimes I'm fine and I don't go overboard with the talking, but its gradually getting worse.
Basically when I analyzed this, I realized that I need attention and am doing this stuff for attention. It makes sense because I never talk to my parents because I don't really like them.
Anyway, some questions:
1. General rules to know when to shut up
2. General rules to know when to text and if what your talking about is neccessary....
3. What is the best thing I can do? I don't get attention from my parents and I don't want to seem like an attention freak with my friends.
4. Just do double check, from what I posted, it seems like im not getting enough attention right?
5. What would you do in my situation?
All advice is welcome! Thanks guys so much! you guys are pretty much my last hope because I can't really ask for this type of advice from any of my friends lol
oh and im 15 if you guys dont know
Bob,
I'm not an expert in parent/child relationships, but many teens have trouble getting along with their parents. It is an awkward age because you are seeking independence but you are still not an adult yet.
When you talk with people, if their eyes start to drift, they are no longer paying attention. Try your best to do one thing...LISTEN. Then ask questions about what you've heard. This is a true conversation. When you do this, the person will likely be more interested in you because they sense that you care about what they have to say.
I do the same thing sometimes but here's a good trick:
When you're texting somebody, instead of sending the message right away save it as a draft and reread it.
Then think "Now would I want the hottest girl in school reading this?" or something like "What if I accidentally sent that to somebody with a mouth even bigger than mine and they started telling everyone about it?" or maybe even "What if my favorite teacher at school (if you have one) got a hold of this message?"
And if you begin to question your word choice upon evaluating your message then you probably don't want to say that.
Hope that helps
You have analysis paralysis! Women like men who can express their feelings in a nice way. Don't say "Nice rack" to a girl, but if you think a girl looks nice say "You look great tonight" or "I really like that perfume". Women spend a lot of time trying to look good for us, so compliments to them rarely get you in trouble. On a side note, never answer the question "Do I look fat?". That is a woman with PMS who will start a fight no matter what the answer!
How is the vacation in Cali?
Sorry to hear about the stressful trip home. Do you ever sit down with your Mom and talk? Just wondering why there is a disconnect. Again, I'm not an expert in this subject. I've been very fortunate that all my family relationships have been good so far in my life. You have a good heart Bob, these next few years might be a little tough, but you are on the right track my man.
anyway, so basically you guys think I'm overthinking this? Maybe its just part of my personality and not really an attention getting thing? Or maybe both.... I have no clue. Sometimes I end up being really funny when I talk alot and other times not. I guess it backfires though sometimes for ppl who talk alot
Alright..... I got a big problem with not knowing when to stop talking. I'm just referring to talking with friends not like a business interview. Just casual talk that means nothing. I don't even know why I do this to be honest. Like when I text i'll bring up a good topic to talk about and then get carried away and just won't stop talking. And the thing I don't realize I'm going overboard until its too late because the conversation will be going fine and then I say that 1 thing that really is unnecessary and my friend just wont respond. That's when I realize"crap, why the hell did I even say that..?". It's really getting embarrassing and I didn't talk to any of my friends for like 2 days because I was sick of myself. Then today my friend texts me and I do the same thing again....ugh! I also have the tendency to want to talk to people about things that really just aren't.....necessary (only thing I could think off). For example awhile back I was just feeling dumb so I descided to get up and dance to some random song. Anyway, I actually ended up telling my friend about this over text for some reason and it was um, an awkward conversation lol. I always feel so dumb after alot of conversations with my friends. Sometimes I'm fine and I don't go overboard with the talking, but its gradually getting worse.
Basically when I analyzed this, I realized that I need attention and am doing this stuff for attention. It makes sense because I never talk to my parents because I don't really like them.
Anyway, some questions:
1. General rules to know when to shut up
2. General rules to know when to text and if what your talking about is neccessary....
3. What is the best thing I can do? I don't get attention from my parents and I don't want to seem like an attention freak with my friends.
4. Just do double check, from what I posted, it seems like im not getting enough attention right?
5. What would you do in my situation?
All advice is welcome! Thanks guys so much! you guys are pretty much my last hope because I can't really ask for this type of advice from any of my friends lol
oh and im 15 if you guys dont know
i can talk a lot too, and sometimes I have the epic fail moment where my jokes backfire. But just wait for another opportunity
I can see how this is a problem: looky here you already wrote an essay for us! This problem of yours might actually be a nonproblem, heh heh. I nor anyone cares if someone talks as long as they are interesting. Maybe youre the guy who has the crowd of people gathered around him at lunch while he relays in vivid detail the previous nights adventure.
On the other hand though if youre talking about your pet cats all the time then you really ought to shut up and re assess your conversation skills.
This may sound trite but, part of a solution is being able to identify the problem. You have done that. Keep the faith. The problem might eventually just go away. Could be a phase of your life. Don't give up trying, though. And good luck. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Small talk is for small intellects. If you don't have something interesting to contribute to a convo then wait until you do or just listen and keep your mouth shut. Nobody likes a rambler.
Simple, make timely exits. No matter what the situation is if you make someone laugh or make a good comment get the hell out of there. This makes everyone think you are the funniest person on the planet and social king. If it worked for George Costanza it can work for you.
You can thank me later.
Bob - I have a friend who's great at listening. He remembers what I say, and asks me later how it went. Try to remember each conversation, and refer back to what people said later. I think you're on a great path. There aren't too many people who question their own behavior at any age. I read "How to win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and it helped me to become a better friend. I wish you the best luck with your friends and your family. - Brad
In all sincerity, I think this is one of the dumbest threads I've ever seen in my life.
Simple, make timely exits. No matter what the situation is if you make someone laugh or make a good comment get the hell out of there. This makes everyone think you are the funniest person on the planet and social king. If it worked for George Costanza it can work for you.
You can thank me later.
Ballinbob-
I really get the sense that you are a little insecure and unsure of yourself. It is normal especially for teenagers because your character and personality are starting to really develop and form. It's also the time when what other people think of you matter the most (ie peer pressure). Even people in late 20s are insecure and can be unsure of them, so there is nothing to worry about.
First of all, let me start out by saying "Everyone is different". I have met people who will just say most random stuff that doesn't make sense at all, even to people that they just met.
A couple of my friends are a bit like you, they will say somethings that people have no idea how they should respond. He doesn't say anything obscene or rude. But he is a very nice guy. I met him for the first time in 5 years and he had not changed a bit.
On the other hand, I am very reserved to new people and I tend to face moments of silence when I am left alone with a new person. I also don't feel very comfortable at large parties, so I usually feel awkward in those situation.
Although there is so-called "norm", but everyone is different from each other to a varying degree. And, as long as you are different in a respectful and unharmful way, you will be fine and will make friends who will accept you for who you are.
Also, as you engage in more social interactions with your friends and new people, see how they react. If you keep finding yourself in a awkward moment after certain types of subjects, then it's a sign that it's not a very good topic to discuss. So don't be afraid of talking to people and be who you are. Just make note of their reactions, and try to make small adjustments.
You can't really change who you are and your nature. So if you try to change yourself completely, you will only get frustrated. Instead, just trying to make a minor adjustment.
It is a phase that every people go through. Although it's most apparent during the adolescence, people still experience even in late 20s.
As you get older, you learn from your experience, books, and social interactions, and you develop your own values and principles. Once you have these as your backbone, you will become less insecure.
You can't avoid going through the adolescence. Try to read a lot of books in different areas (history, essays, novels, or whatever), and try to engage in different healthy social activities (community service). Don't limit your interest to just track and tennis, but explore other areas. Try to surround yourself with good people and learn from them.
Sometimes, overthinking does really mean that you are thinking too much, but it could also mean that you are unable to determine what is more important and less important. About your track meet, it is natural to worry about how you looked while you were running; there is nothing wrong with it. But in the big picture, you ran your personal best, which I think is far more important (and you know it, too). So the best thing would be forget about how you looked while running and focus on more important stuff.
Bob,
15 is just a tough age. You'll learn many things about life in the next 10 years. As you grow older, you will get more confident. You'll make mistakes and learn from them along the way. Just try not to make really big mistakes! Taking calculated risks is OK but don't race your buddy at 120 MPH on a crowded highway! Be patient, life will get better and things will become clearer to you as you get older. In the meantime, work on your tennis game.
Glad I could be some type of help to you..
But, mind you, these instances of enlightenment don't really last long, which means you may forget about all these in matter of days or weeks...I am not discouraging you.
It may not hurt to put up a reminder by your bathroom mirror or something so you can look at it everyday until it becomes your nature.
If you think you are doing something right, believe in it even though other people make fun of you about it. Eventually, they will accept you for who you are. And when you look back it was really stupid, then be confident enough to admit that it was stupid and laugh about it.
Bob, start lifting weights. You'll find that the stronger you get and look, the more confident you'll feel, and you'll stop jabbering all over the place.