I have social anxiety. I dread interacting with strangers in unfamiliar settings, and yet I love travel, exploring new places, and getting to know interesting people. One coping mechanism I use is being prepared ahead of time:
- Need to make a phone call? I probably have a script or at least an outline written.
- Driving somewhere I haven’t been? I’ve looked at a map and Google Street View.
- Trying a new business/restaurant? I’ve looked at a map, Google Street View, and any photos I can find on Yelp, their website, and anywhere else.
- A planned first meeting with someone? I’ve rehearsed a couple minutes of small talk.
My anxiety doesn’t last, but anyone who shares this condition knows the stomach-clenching I go through as I prepare for a new interaction. I’m as uncomfortable in virtual worlds and games as I am in the physical world.
This makes my volunteer role as a Host at the VWBPE Conference (starting today!) ironic, dontcha think? My job is to greet people, answer questions, help them find their way to events, and keep an eye out for trouble. If there was a behind-the-scenes role I was qualified for and had the time to do, I’d jump on that instead. In. A. Heartbeat.
I was struggling with jotting down a few greetings in preparation for my first shift. Though I will improvise and welcome people by name, having options at hand makes me less likely to freeze in panic.
ChatGPT to the rescue! I didn’t craft a particularly good prompt, but the AI came through with a list of options. Though they’re not all perfect, there’s enough for me to work with.
