Anyone else suck at public speaking?

[Guest]

I do

Giving a speech on Thursday.. already a little scared. Not to mention the topic sucks balls.

 

[Tarkus]

I am not that bad at it. My nervousness comes afterwards for some reason. I can go up and give the speech and be fine, but after I am done I start shaking. When I was in band, played the trumpet, and we did chair tests I would be fine. I would play it well and not be a bit flustered, but after I was done I would have horrible tremors. I get super nervous when I am done, and I have no clue why. It is not like I was worried if I did well, because I was damn good. But I always get the shakes afterward.

What is the topic?

Oh, and don't worry about it, I am sure you will be fine. It is all in your head. Fear is the mind killer.

 

[Guest]

I have to have an "open" discussion debate on why smoking should be banned in all public places. He didn't even clarify what he means by "all public places." I mean, well of course people shouldnt be smoking in hospitals, court house, libraries, etc.. and plus, it's already banned in those places. I *think* he meant private establishments such as restaurants, bars and bowling allies, etc..

I was assigned the topic, btw.. I did not get to choose

So I'm in this group with 3 other kids and we're debating against 5 other kids. We have to debate for over an hour!

I should be fine. I took public speaking this past summer and did ok. My first speech was horrible and I practically had a panic attack -- heart was racing, had the shakes, all red and sweaty, etc. But after I got through the first was I good. PLus, for that class, we had to just stand in front of the room with no podium or anything.. but this time we all sit down which is nice.

Any I apologize for making this thread.. I understand this is a cannabis forum and that all topics should be closely (or even remotely) related to cannabis -- just had to vent, sorry.

 

[Guest]

thoughts?

 

[Guest]

knowing and making sense of what you are going to say ahead of time is half the battle

 

[daisy jane]

I always have a goofy smile on my face when I have to speak in front of a crowd. I can't get rid of it! I can also feel my face twitching. Haha. Now you can see why I don't give presentations. The best thing to remember is that the audience can't really see the nervousness that you express. Unless your voice trembles. In that case, you seem to be SOL.

 

[NOKUY]

yeah I suck at public speaking.

In fact I wont speak to an audience of any size for any reason....you couldent even make me.

I'll reluctantly chat w/ 1 or 2 peeps at once, but if there are 3 or more people I wont say a word.

Even in stores and shit I dont say anything to anyone...not excuse me, not thank you, not hi, not hey, not whats up, ....I dont even respond if someone asks if they can help me.

yep most people think I'm quite the asshole...lol (and guess what...I DONT CARE)

...sorry that probably doesnt help ya much, but I thought I'd share since ya asked?

 

[Guest]

Well, this appears to be a debate and not a speech assignment.

Although, speech is a very important part of the whole thing. You must appear totally confident in what you say. Not meaning to make you nervous, but they all be watching you closely, judging your argument and most of winning is how you present your argument and counter your opponent's.

Don't fidget, act nervous, or speak fast (in order to end it as quickly as possible). Speak clear and loud enough so the person in the back of the room can hear you clearly. Speak with confidence, even when you're full of BS, present it well.

Take your debate topic and research it's pros completely - all of it. Choose the best arguments for your side and design the best way to present them. INtroduce you argument, explain it, back up those explainations with facts, and then sum up when you said concisely and clearly.

Research the argument against your side of the debate (your opponent's ammo) and find ways of countering it with hard data.

Luckily, your debate is a common one and you'll find truckloads of data for both sides. Really an easy one. It's up to you to convince your audience - so practice what you're going to say and take notes when the other side present's their side and make sure you counter argue each point they present. On each counter argument, make little 3x5 cards with the sum up of the counter data. So you can quickly have it ready - and know the material - read it and print a page of it, highlight the points.

If you know both sides of the argument well, take notes of the counter argument presented by the other side and counter it, present yourself with confidence and be clear and take your time. - You should be able to convince your audience and win the debate. Try not to repeat yourself in the counter argument with what you already said the first time.

 

[VictoryGardener]

scares the hell out of me..

 

[resinryder]

Used to do it all the time. Not a problem. here is a tip that helped me get over the first few times until I felt comfortable about it.
Look just over the tops of everyones head towards the back of the room without being obvious about what you're doing. Look around while speaking like you are talking to each person but never making eye contact. Pretty soon it will be a natural as breathing.
Good luck!

 

[Guest]

ya, only thing is the topic blows...

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I know. I've had to do a few debates where I had the supporting argument of a topic I was personally against! Having to go up there, for a grade, and convince everyone to support a topic I was personally totally against.

At least you don't have to make your skin crawl and have your topic as: why marijuana should be totally illegal.

 

[Yummybud]

haven't given one for a while but I have many times and a couple of times my voice was trembling and my face was also read so I think everyone kind of knew I was nervous lol.

I drank a little before presenting once, and I did alright except I was kind of yelling instead of talking lol

this guy in one of my classses fainted last year because he was too nervous lol. He just went up and got too nervous and said "fuck" and then fainted lol.

 

[Guest]

LMAO yummybud

that is too funny

 

[shadow]

thoughts?

You will do fine, just know your stuff before you go up there and be confident. Like someone said earlier, the fear is all in your head.

 

[foolintherain]

haha, do not faint

i got totally wigged out one time before giving a speech in high school and was trying to think of ways to calm myself down. the saturday before i watched chris rock on live at the apollo after saturday night live and remembered how there were thousands of people there and i was just about to speak to a couple hundred. made what i was about to do not a big deal at all, felt pretty calm.

debates can be fun, try to get into your topic, try to win

 

[ItsGrowTime]

Speak clear and loud enough so the person in the back of the room can hear you clearly. Speak with confidence, even when you're full of BS, present it well.

Works for the government, why not you?

 

[Yummybud]

look at George doubleya, he's no good at speeches and he is the president or as he thinks, the King of America.

 

[Tarkus]

look at George doubleya

Hahaha, doubleya....good stuff. Can not say I expected that, and damn did I laugh!

 

[Uncle Jesse]

Works for the government, why not you?

exelllent advice.......... quote from post # 17

i personally do not like speaking in large groups but what the hell.
it's good advice ......make sure people hear you and understand the point your trying to make !