One could say it’s healthy for a growing child to occasionally be put in awkward situations where they have to define themselves. It’s not fun but it helps shape personality.
Comment on Anon introduces himself
Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 20 hours ago
I absolutely hate those “let’s go around the circle and introduce ourselves” exercises. Making children do them seems especially cruel.
x00z@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
Patrikvo@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
I’m 44 and I used to hate those too. But there is one fun fact about these. If you go first, you can fill it in as you want and every one will follow your format. Quite funny once you notice this.
Anyway next time I have one of those, I’ll make sure to add “favorite dinosaur” to it.
ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
Introducing yourself to others is like the basis of all socialization. 🤔
frog@feddit.uk 19 hours ago
Introducing yourself to others is normal. Speaking infront of a group is not. Both can bring out social anxiety but public speaking is different than socializing with a small group.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Both can bring out social anxiety
Generally speaking, socialization is like a muscle. You have to use it to build it.
“Nobody should ever have to interact with more than a handful of other people at a time” is a recipe for building a population of socially anxious people.
Fizz@lemmy.nz 17 hours ago
Speaking a few sentences in front a classroom sized group is pretty normal and kids should be exposed to it. Uncomfortable experiences are a part of growing up.
Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 hours ago
Of course. But as the first thing overall with no prior training about it at all? No coaching about examples on what to say, no advice about your choices before the real thing?
filcuk@lemmy.zip 16 hours ago
Both are very important. Not being able to speak in front of a group can change the trajectory of your entire life. Children especially should have as many paths open as possible for when they’re ready to decide which one to take.
taxon@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
Yes, but some people, myself included, find forcibly requiring individuals to introduce themselves in succession to be disingenuous.
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 32 minutes ago
Yes, and a lot of shit you have to do socially in life is going to be disingenuous. I hated it, I still hate it, but I’ve also seen it used well as a way to at least ensure everyone has spoken before a discussion group. It’s an icebreaker, it’s not supposed to be deep talk, it’s supposed to mean there’s a chance that everyone has at least heard each other’s name once before
other_cat@piefed.zip 7 hours ago
I have had to participate in a “Everyone introduce themselves” like five times at a job I’ve worked at less than a year. I don’t enjoy it, and I don’t think anyone does, but it’s also important to know who the people you are working with are. Would I ever do it if I didn’t have to? No way. But I do. And practice has made it easier at least.
Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 19 hours ago
Yeah, but there’s something about forcing people to do it that just removes the fun from it all.
Jax@sh.itjust.works 19 hours ago
Is it cruel?
I don’t agree, I think if you force a crying child to say their name — that’s obviously going too far. But it is important to get kids used to socializing, human beings need other human beings ultimately.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
I think if you force a crying child to say their name — that’s obviously going too far.
i’m sorry you experienced that. if it’s any consolation, the only times anyone gets forced to do anything at my wife’s program is for safety reasons. like, get out of the burning building! don’t elope from the classroom to the street with busy traffic or the shooting range just o’er yonder! life and death stuff. i want to say teachers have learned better, but i also want to say teachers have seen just that specific bullshit and been appalled by it. y’know, because they’re human like you and most of me have empathy.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
i do too. I have 3 believable truths 3 unbelievable truths, 3 believable lies, 3 unbelievable lies, 7 “interesting facts” about me (i used to have 8 but one of them, uh it required me to tell a joke and that does not work at 8 AM so now it’s gone. I don’t function 8 AM well before.) and i can pick and choose between my pre-prepped bullshit based on my audience and how awake and healthy i feel.
worst part is i used to do improv so for the longest time i would just wing it and did fine. then they started doing them before coffee. now i gotta copy my bullshit offa my phone onto cue cards if i have one of those things
oce@jlai.lu 19 hours ago
Don’t you think it’s good to train children to be able to talk to strangers and introduce themselves? I know it’s stressful but I think it is useful.
Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 19 hours ago
That’s just not how people introduce themselves out in the real world though.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
work is the real world and i have some news
slaacaa@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
The problem is the lack of structure.
I organize a lot of workshops involving people from experts to executives, where always need an introduction round, and I always give them a structure to follow. Makes the task it easier, but it’ll also be much more useful for the group, as we’ll focus in the aspects of a person that matter for the context of the workshop.
For a class intro in primary school, it could be:
I just made this up, but a teacher could probably come up with something even more fitting.
The point is, always give people structure or guidance, you’ll get much more out of similar introduction rounds.
oce@jlai.lu 18 hours ago
What do you think is different compared to when you join some new company, training or club and you are asked to present yourself?
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
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Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 14 hours ago
That happens a lot less than you think. And I try to avoid clubs etc that do that nonsense.
Azzu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 hours ago
It’s not training though, you get thrown into the real thing immediately that decides the rest of your social time at school.
If you were encouraged and made to practice in private before, then I would agree with you.
oce@jlai.lu 9 hours ago
Aren’t you exaggerating a little? Kids get to know each other better with time too.
Agreed with doing it with guidance and feedback.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 13 hours ago
It’d just be a lot less horrible if you don’t have to come up with something to say about yourself. Kids are RUTHLESS and if you’re not quick on your feet, or even if you are, but the thing you say can be taken wrong, you will be bullied for the rest of your time in school over it. Unless you luck out and someone else’s thing is even worse.