should probably preface by saying that comedy is one of my special interests, improv and stand-up comedy being my favorite flavors
I saw a thing in the paper today about a local comedy collective offering classes.
From the snooping I've done online, it seems like it's led by a guy who did comedy elsewhere but now lives here in rural shit-hole Ohio and is trying to create a community for it. It's a PoC leading it, which instantly gives me more faith in the endeavor.
The pictures they've posted from previous improv workshops give me the impression that these are my favorite flavors of weirdos.
But - presumably like most of you? - I am a very specific flavor of strange that most people don't like, and tbqh, I'm going through an particularly difficult period in which a strong dose of negative feedback could be extremely harmful.
but I'm also desperately lonely and struggling to figure out if there's anywhere I fit in at all anywhere in the world
Engaging with this opportunity seems like a big risk - maybe I could meet some people with similar interests with whom I could get along, but maybe also I could feel terribly rejected in a way that might be horrifically harmful for me right now
I tried to bring it up with my husband in the hope that I could get him to do it with me, but before I even got that far in the conversation, he was scoffing at the very existence of the class, so I feel like a real dumbass for even being interested
is this stupid?
^ This.
I've read what you wrote in its entirety and, honestly, I think you're over-thinking things and are just not that used to company, as I was, back in the day, @the_itsb@hexbear.net
I am definitely not used to company
considering I have been feigning it for other people so long, idk what actual good company for me would look or feel like
idk how to adequately express how lost and alone I feel, but baby do I ever
I feel you.
I'm probably stranger than you. You have to take a "leap of faith," if you will, and just go through with it.
If it fails, you gain or lose nothing. But if you succeed once, then it will change your life for the better.
Idk dude, I read you all the time on here and I think we're they're same level of strange ❤️
if it fails, I do unfortunately stand to lose things — I'm pretty fragile right now, a lot of negative feedback could be profoundly detrimental due to some pre-existing issues with familial support etc.
As much as I relate to all the things you say about your neurodivergence, one of the differences I've sensed between us is that you seem to derive your sense of self from somewhere other than how everyone else sees you, but this is not a skill I have developed.
And I genuinely do not understand where anyone gets it from.
This should probably be it's own post, but I just don't understand how people get diagnosed with ADHD/autism and then immediately forgive themselves for all their "deficits" and for being unlike neurotypicals.
I spent decades feeling like I was a bad person for not being this way, and apparently everyone else finds out there's a reason and that makes them feel like less of a failure of a human, but that hasn't happened for me even a little bit. I just see how I didn't measure up to the NT expectations and feel like that makes me a bad person. How does anyone say, "well, it was because of this thing I couldn't help," and then feel okay about it?
Probably this isn't a question you can answer
Really this is a question for ReadFanon@hexbear.net and their team
Isn't one of the great things about improv is that it is extremely positive? People try things, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but it should always be positive if the leader is good.
Do it.
The supportive positivity is one of my favorite things about it! It makes it so fun to watch and listen to.
I submitted the registration form!
You should do it. Either you'll find your tribe, or you won't. Don't feel too bad if it doesn't work out. You just have to try different things until you find one that gels with you. When you do find that thing, it's totally worth the feeling of rejection from past "failures"
I look up to you a lot, and this means a lot coming from you, so thank you very much ❤️
really can't adequately express how much I appreciate you just replying, thank you very very much.
I don't think it's stupid to want to try something new that you might enjoy doing. You should do the thing!
I get the anxiety about getting feedback, though. Sometimes when I get super anxious about being in a social situation that's unfamiliar I have to pre-forgive myself that it's okay if I back out or run away or be awkward. I would hope that since it's technically a learning experience it will be more forgiving and constructive and not a personal attack on the people there. If you do decide to go I hope you have a good time!
If you do decide to go I hope you have a good time!
the gentle encouragement I desperately need ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank you
Yes you definitely should. Even if you suck even if you feel humiliated, improv is awesome and fun and going for the things you want in life is always a good thing. You should definitely absolutely do it. Even if you don't get out of it what you're looking for, you'll definitely get something out of the challenge of doing it and pushing yourself to do something outside your comfort zone.
You got this comrade you're gonna have a great time.
I am so incredibly scared, but I so desperately want to believe this ❤️ thank you
It's okay to be scared! If anything even going at all means you accomplished something; pushing through the fear of rejection and putting yourself out there is ultra hard. It gets easier with practice though! I hope in a few weeks we get a fun follow-up post about how it was hard but you did it anyway and how accomplished you feel for doing it. I'll look forward to that
Improv is fun. Do it.
You do have to come out of your shell to make it fun, but if its a good group you all get quite comfortable with each other quickly. Sometimes things don't land, but you are constantly moving on to the next bit anyway so you just forget about it.
I did it all through high school and it was honestly the only time I felt comfortable with people during that hellish time of my life. I've always wanted to do it again.
That the conclusions arrived at in this work are daily more and more becoming the fundamental principles of the great improv class movement, not only in Germany and Switzerland, but in France, in Holland and Belgium, in America, and even in Italy and Spain, that everywhere the improv class more and more recognizes, in these conclusions, the most adequate expression of its condition and of its aspirations, nobody acquainted with that movement will deny.
Just want to say that I'm sorry that your husband was so dismissive of your interests that way, that was absolutely not cool of him.
I'm just gonna echo everyone here and say give it a try. I should hope that a class environment would be productive and minimally negative if your weird humour (mood) doesn't go over. I also feel terror at just imagining doing this, but a local workshop/class thingy for your special interest? That sounds like it should be awesome yo.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even if it doesn't work out, you can be proud of yourself for trying, and look for more things to try :)
You should take the class! I find all acting/drama/creative writing/etc classes very fun, if for no other reason than it gives you a reason to do that thing in a structured environment.
