Arrr, "our third class may seem late in the game t' discuss dealin' with shyness," Cap'n Conroy Knifenose - or Nathan, if you wanted to be traditional - said as he passed around the day's handouts, "but I wanted you t' get your feet wet on the basics before we started on fine-tunin'."


Cap'n Conroy paused. He felt almost certain that hadn't come out the way he'd wanted it to. Oh well, nothing for it but to keep going.

"Shyness is often due t' fear o' rejection. Unfortunately this can be a self-fulfillin' prophecy. Shyness can make you act like you're someone not worth knowin' - e'en if that isn't true - and that's exactly how people treat you. After all, you know yourself better than anyone. If you don't think you're worth my time who am Me t' argue with you?"

"How do you get o'er it?" Cap'n Conroy indicated the second handout. "Thar's a sayin': 'fake it 'til you make it.' That means e'en if you don't feel confident, act like you are.

"Use the tips in the handout t' project confident body language," Cap'n Conroy Knifenose said. "Pretend we're at a party and you're tryin' t' meet new people. This would be a great time t'pretend t' introduce yourself t' members o' the king's men you ha'en't talked t' pre'iously. Act confident, gi'e your name, and start a con'ersation. When in doubt you can always get the other person t' talk about themsel'es." Cap'n Conroy Knifenose grinned. "Folks at networkin' situations tend t' lo'e that. Usually the problem is gettin' them t' shut up.

"I'm har if you have questions."

[ooc: Ahoy, OCD be up! Gar.]