Eeep.

[baratron]

Help! What's the etiquette for meeting someone at a professional event that you last saw when you were running a workshop about polyamory together? Especially if you didn't previously know you were in the same professional field?

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Comments

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Either we're talking entirely at cross-purposes or we're using different words for the same basic idea, because it *wasn't* normal. "Normal" to me means mundane, ordinary, something you expect to happen all the time. This was one of those amazing coincidences that was exactly what I needed considering I was exhausted, over-peopled & close to tears. It was awesome to see someone who I could be 100% me with rather than always having to filter myself.

[pir.livejournal.com]

I didn't say it was normal. I said treat it as normal.

The easiest way to keep someone at ease who may be a little uncomfortable in a situation is to just act normal. Normal for you, not mundane normal. If you're acting comfortable and everyday it's simpler for other people to relax and be as out as they want to be.

Sure it's a great thing to see people like that but I really don't see the difference in how you behave with emphasis on in that professional environment. You're meeting someone in a professional environment, that's the context, not the fact of where you happened to see them last. You behave as you normally would for a professional environment.

You can argue this is because I'm used to it and sure it's happened to me a few times (though not as much as you seem to think) but it happened to me the first time at some point and almost never happens these days... I had to deal with it as a rare thing at first too.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

And that's just it. My "normal" for a professional environment is terrified, over-awed, feeling like the stupidest person in the room, barely able to say anything to anyone. When I find a friendly student I babble like an idiot, and when I find a friendly academic I congratulate myself if I'm able to ask a coherent question. People who know me would be amazed that I have what is becoming severe social phobia in certain situations because I'm very extroverted and bubbly around my friends. I'm discovering that being shy to the point where you can scarcely manage words is a particularly serious disability when your supervisor is the exact same way and can't introduce you to friendly people who'll help you find a topic of conversation.

Yes, I'm aware that I need to Talk to Someone About This. I'm sure my Disability Mentor tomorrow won't know what's hit her.