Postaday for May 9th: Cringe-Worthy. Do you feel uncomfortable when you see someone else being embarrassed? What’s most likely to make you squirm?
I’m not a big fan of cringe TV. Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office. There’s a scene in Rachel Getting Married where Anne Hathaway’s character gives a seriously cringe-worthy speech at the rehearsal dinner. I remember shrinking into my seat at the theater and lityerally scrunching my body up. This, despite the fact that it’s one of the best films of 2008.
And Curb Your Enthusiasm is well written, too, and The Office is excellent. But I just can’t stand to see people embarrassed. Or do embarrassing things. Even if they’re not embarrassed, I feel a big pit of dread opening up in my stomach. Suffice it to say, I’m super-bashful when it comes to interacting with strangers.
Which is probably for the best, probably keeps me safe. I’m fairly opinionated, and not a little arrogant at times. I’ve I opened up my mouth every time I saw someone doing something I didn’t like, I’m sure I’d have wound up in the hospital by now. Yesterday, at a stop light, I saw two different people texting on cell phones. Oh the things I wanted to say! But I was too afraid of embarrassing myself, not just in front of the texters, but other folks as well.
It shouldn’t be that way, of course. I mean, I should refrain from embarrassing people because it’s just rude, and not merely because I’m a coward. I’ve met a few people in my life who seem to have no fear whatsoever, and always speak their minds. Always call others out on their nonsense. It takes some getting used to, I guess, but they seem to have as many friends as anyone else.
You know what makes me squirm? When people sing in public. I don’t mean a concert or recital, but spontaneously, for whatever reason. Not just someone walking down the street, but when, for whatever reason, someone decides to sing to the people there with. I’m trying to think of an example. A bunch of people at dinner, and the conversation turns to music, and one person says “My favorite these days is ‘Call Me Maybe,’” and then she proceeds to deliver a few lines. Man does my cell phone come out for some distraction, fast.
Probably some innate fear in myself. They say that fear of public speaking is the number on fear in the world. Not for me— I can talk to crowds of any size, no problem. But ask me sing in front of people? Not going to happen. I’d rather die.