I am the type of person that needs more of a visualization, and this is what works for me: I picture the situation/person/embarrassing moment, etc., and then I imagine putting the whole thing into a wooden crate, putting the top on the crate, and then pushing said crate over a cliff, where I watch it fall until it…

To be fair, I think he was just sharing an interesting tidbit and I was being a headcase. But I agree about Tina -- so much better as a girl.

When I was younger, I was so afraid of accidentally having my own cake stealing moment, I basically never did anything unless expressly invited. When I started a new job, I didn’t go snooping around the office or use anything that wasn’t placed in my hand. I felt like that was how a responsible young adult did things…

Sometimes when people do silly dumb stuff like this (calling me by the wrong name, dropping a piece of food out of their mouth by accident, etc.) it makes me more comfortable around them because I feel like I have a free pass to do something weird around them without judgment.

I add my two cents to a group text, no one responds or even continues to post.

I am this person as well. But I don’t know if just being aware of this rule will result in a fundamental personality change. I’m a people pleaser to a fault and I care way too much of what others think about me. I know I shouldn’t allow it to bother me, but being aware of that hasn’t helped me turn my brain off on…

Today I dropped my kid off at animation camp with a guy who was lead animator on Bob’s Burgers. He asked my kid who his favorite character was (Louise) and I offered, unprompted, that mine was Tina. He replied that he wasn’t responsible for Tina, and he had originally drawn Tina as a boy. I THEN SPENT HALF AN HOUR…

I am enjoying your orange-based enthusiasm, and it kinda perked up my mood, if it helps to factor that in!

I think about this when I worry that I’ve worn the same outfit too many times within a short time span at work. I try and remember anyone else’s outfit for the past week and can’t.

When I was an intern at a job (like 16 years ago) there was a cake on a table - not like a birthday cake - just a sheet cake, unmarked. Or maybe it was an unopened box of donuts? I don’t know. Point is there was food and I was a starving college student so I cut into it or opened it. One of the staffers made a point…

I think it was just a weird awkward thing he said that makes no sense.

Letting these go:

17 (!) years ago, almost to the day, I was at new hire orientation for my straight-out-of-college job at a consulting firm. It was a break, I was in the bathroom, washing my hands and for some reason someone introduced themselves and offered a handshake. Which I accepted with soaking wet hands. I feel like this is 80%…

“When the masseuse came out to introduce herself, she said, “Hello, I’m Lorraine.” I stuck out my hand and confidently said, “I’m Lorraine.” Wrong.”

Here’s a tip that’s served me well: Try to think of any instance of another person saying/doing something embarrassing in a social situation that’s stuck with you. You basically can’t! Now can anyone remember what you did? Almost certainly not!

I so needed to read this today. I’m that person. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told a joke in the middle of a conversation that was not well received and I worried all day if those people were offended, or they didn’t like me anymore, etc. It’s exhausting picking at every little thing. I’ll try this.

Harder said than done for the anxiety wracked amongst us, but a good goal to work for. Another technique I’ve picked up over the years is to remind myself that people spend 99% of the time thinking of themselves and not thinking about a minor stupidity that an acquaintance said.

You do realize that’s not how Harvard works right? A quick google search will show you that Harvard is one of the greatest providers of non student loan financial aid. Basically, if you can get in to Harvard, you will not be refused for lack of funds.

The day the last person uses the word “memelord” is the day we all benefit. Fuck, but the 4Chanization of Facebook and other internet spaces is such a really annoying thing to deal with.

This is the type of thing that gets right-wing news outlets all riled up about “intolerant liberals.” I’m certain they will bankroll lawsuits to attempt to ensure the right to express truly horrible sentiments without any repercussions.