this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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That must be the road behind her.

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[–] davel@lemmy.ml 51 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.

[–] pemptago@lemmy.ml 17 points 2 months ago

I think about this often-- followed by Homer Simpson's voice saying, "Better say something or they'll think you're stupid."

[–] ultrahamster64@lemmy.world 17 points 2 months ago

Embrace the cringe. Be free.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Awkwardly attempt to join the conversation, only to be talked over mid-sentence by someone else, and so you wait for another lull. Attempt to start again, only to be interrupted again by someone else. Watch helplessly as the subject of the conversation drifts far from the point you were going to make. Minutes pass, and everyone is glad to be talking about something else. You let go of the moment, and resign yourself to remain quiet. Then someone says to you, "Oh, what were you going to say?"

[–] TheDoozer@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That one person is a gem and we should appreciate them. They noticed you got talked over, and made sure to circle back, noticeably so the others don't do it again, to make sure you weren't silenced. It shows they not only noticed, but were bothered by it.

Treasure those people, and be those people.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Agreed, those people are the best. But also, that's a bit of a nightmare scenario, because now you have to decide if you're going to risk saying something from five minutes ago, or decline the kindness and feel bad for rejecting the gesture.

[–] helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

the 3rd road; Be awkward by making random noises.

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 months ago

Mastering the awkward silence is a very powerful tool. I am not kidding. If done right, people become uncomfortable and start to talk in order to fill the awkward silence. In those anxiety filled moments, people tend to overshare.

Long silence combined with providing minimal information is also an amazing negotiation tool. You'd be shocked how often and by how much people will give up ground when confronted with awkward silence.

[–] IMNOTCRAZYINSTITUTION@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

3rd: stutter badly and accidentally say something interpreted as offensive and then dig yourself even deeper trying to explain yourself

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

This is the way.

[–] mEEGal@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

"it's better to risk and make a fool of yourself by not saying a word rather than speaking and leaving no doubt whatsoever"

  • probably an arab philosopher
[–] KeenFlame@feddit.nu 1 points 2 months ago

But no

That was a more recent philosophical advance

[–] ViscloReader@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

Quick, shit on the floor!

[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I prefer the left road. The right one leads to a perception of being awkward AND stupid.

[–] dumbass@leminal.space 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Be awkward by not talking, they can't hold your words against you if you don't say any words.

[–] Sabre363@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

I find simply existing to be awkward enough

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 months ago

Be awkward by having a right hand but no right arm...

[–] zqwzzle@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago

Be awkward by sharing a weird hyper specific fact

[–] pepperjacques@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

BAH GOD! IT'S THE SHADOW PUPPETS ON THE TOP ROPE!

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

Be awkward by singing

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Be awkward by opening your mouth to speak but instead ripping wet ass.

[–] chautalees@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Tap on Someone's shoulder, pretend to start speaking but raising a finger weakly and opening the mouth a bit, then nod head in disbelief, turn around and walk away

[–] lemmylemonade@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

be awkward by sitting next to a dude you've never sat with in your class. don't speak a word. just stay silent for the whole class.

[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Quantum awkwardness. I for one am in a permanent state of possibly awkward.