When you get up in front of people to talk or make a speech, how nervous do you get?

Public speaking is the nation's number one fear. Over death, over the supernatural, over fire, over earthquake, over the dark, over anything else. Public speaking is what Americans fear the largest.

Luckily I'm not one of them.

Last Thursday I was walking to class when I spotted an old high school crush sitting on a bench. She's a freshman and me a sophomore. So anyhow I go up to her and we go through the standard "nice to see you again." (in my mind I go, "yeah, REAL niiiice to see you again.")

She told me "Public Speaking" was one of her classes. I told her I took that class last year. She asked me what grade I got. "A-," I said as modest as I could.

"A-!? That's great... I hate public speaking. I get really nervous up there."

I told her the more you work at it the better you will get. Don't deny that you are nervous. In fact, try to turn the nervous energy into positive energy. Don't be scared to make eye contact. Talk loud... and forget about how you might appear to everyone, since you can't please everyone. It was great to see her again.

So how do you guys view public speaking? Scary event, or nothing to it?

i have a.d.h.d. attention defecit hyperactive disorder. and i'm always standing up infront of people i don't know and yelling at them. public speaking/acting is nothing. now cockroaches scare the shit outta me.

I got up in front of my highschool class and "motherfucked" 50 people.

Love it, good fun. Just remember they are there to listen to you, you are in charge.

Though in school its different.

BTW, I been in a public speaking class once where these girls, the first couple times they went up there to talk, they literally broke down! It was one of the saddest things I ever seen inside a classroom.

Worst thing about it was I was directly sitting in front of her, and as she broke down she squares her focus solely on me, which made me damn uncomfortable.

It was sad to see so many 18 year old and 20 year old kids break down when they have 60 eyes staring at them for 3 minutes.

well, I don't have a problem speaking in front of people. Yes, before I do it, I get a lot of butterflies and I'm nervous, but once I get going and I feel the energy of the audience it's something I actually enjoy doing. With the energy i get, it gives me insight as to what they want to hear, and how to approuch them.

don't get me wrong, everyone gets nervous at some point. We just do a better job of hiding it.

Are you serious?!

Public Speaking is one of the best things I've ever done! You're in SOOOOOOOOOOO much control when you're standing up in front of a bunch of people, and you're the master of your own Fate because you get to make the rules!

It's so great because NO ONE knows what you're going to say, and you can virtually say ANYTHING YOU WANT so long as it relates to your subject! Say things that get people excited and they'll pay attention really quickly! <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" />

The MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL PUBLIC SPEECHES is to KEEP EYE CONTACT with your audience and DON'T show them that you're nervous. If you're nervous, they'll see it a mile-away and expect your speech to suck...proving them wrong is your real mission when you get up there and speak.

A great way to make a good speech is to call out to the audience (by name; such as your friends or people who look like they're bored) and make them think about what you're saying so that they LEARN something from it; that's the true goal of public speaking.

Public Speaking is fun, but don't let it get to your head because then you'll loose sense of your audience and act like your talking to yourself, which is BAD.

But all-in-all, Public Speaking is a great thing that people SHOULD NOT be scared of!

Hell, I'd do it in a heart-beat if I could... <img src="graemlins/mrt2.gif" border="0" alt="[Mr T]" />

Ever since I took drama at my High School, public speaking was child's play. I just got up there, said something, and wasn't even scared about embarrassing myself. It was great, and I could really crack up an audience too.

Pity that doesn't work on a BBS that well (cracking up people, that is, not speaking.) I enjoy posting for some reason.

Interesting how so far that the only people replying are the ones who find public speaking harmless.

I guess it wouldn't look so good if one came in and said, "I pee my pants when I'm making a class presentation." :o

Anyhow, The True Warrior, good tips! Yes, have fun up there, but do not sacrifice at the expense of going overboard or off-topic. Good points man.

I hated speech class in high school. Of course, many of my classmates were assholes. As soon as college started, giving speeches was suddenly no big deal. I even looked forward to it.

I use to hate speaking up in front of people but the more you do it the fear of it doesn't bother you that much. It's still there but you can easily shake it off <img src="graemlins/smirk.gif" border="0" alt="[Smirk]" />

I like speaking in front of people, doing speeches and stuff. Never get nervous or anything, I'm such a confident bastard.

I might get a little bit nervouse before the speech but once I start talking it goes away and I just feel comfortable talking spontaneously.

I despise puclic speaking. I've had to do several in school and they didn't go very well. I wasn't really nervous, but they just weren't about things I cared about, so I ended up doing them really fast and very monotone.

I have to give a speech for my Comm 265 class that I'm really not looking foward to. Fortunately for me I'm probably going to do it on unsuccessful console systems

I do it 5 days a week, so it's become second nature to me.

Try defending your research in front of a panel of doctors.....

They only way not to feel nervous is to know yur shit. Always know what yur speaking about, or make up some damn good lies

Dudes, I hate public speaking. It scares the shit out of me and the funny part is I'm not the least bit nervous until I get up there. I could be like all cool and shit, so cool in fact that I feel I don't need to prepare anything, until it is my turn to speak. I get up there and I start stuttering like a damn mofo. Happens every time. Then after I step down and take my seat again I'm all nervous and shit until I finally get to leave the classroom. I think the only part that gets me is the fact that I have to stand up at the podium thing, I would be cool if I could speak to a class sitting amongst them or whatever.

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I have a speech impediment, and I stutter all the time, regardless of whether I'm talking in front of people or not. I could be alone in a room with just my dog. BUT, luckily for me, it kicks into overdrive when I'm talking on the phone or giving speeches, and it takes me an eternity to say my own fucking name. I HHHHHAAAAATTTTTEEEE IIITTTTT! It's my least favorite thing I've ever had to do. I'd rather shove pencils in my

I also took Public Speaking, & got A--I think just about everyone in my class did. I found that if you don't take yourself too seriously, & think less, while focused on what your doing, you are less nervous.

it all depends on the topic, circumstances, poeple, information, defense, purpose, effects, risks, right, wrong, motivation.

i'm ok with it if i think its something imortant people or missing or i am right in what i'm representing.