Drawing the line

Can anything be funny, or are some things off limits?

I was short-tempered when it comes to jokes, but as they say 'you are a loser if you give in'. At some point, I passed through that stage of resisting jokes thrown at me. I learned to become submissive; I now can laugh about it and go with it. I even know how to joke back.

In fact, being able to handle a joke makes you a teamplayer. People will eventually skip making jokes about you when they see that it doesn’t have an effect on you. They see it as boring, and they don't want it to end at some point like that. Sometimes, being with a group of  people who jokes a lot wouldn't  stop without, at least, putting that someone into the limelight of embarrassment. If that someone is lucky enough, he wouldn't leave teary-eyed, just a hammered ego. And I pretty much know how that feels.

So, how will you emerge as winner in a joke battle?

Be cool. Don't show any signs that it is getting into you. They will probably throw more if they haven’t seen it affect you. But as they repeatedly do it, they'll get tired of it.

Always learn how to fight back, once they see that your joke is more powerful than theirs, they'll surrender.

Lastly, show them that you are not vulnerable, that whatever joke it is - you know how to handle it.

Standout

When was the last time you really stood out in a crowd? Are

you comfortable in that position, or do you wish you could

fade into the woodwork?

I was about 8 when I first stood out in front of a large crowd, it wasn't simple.The poem I practiced for days seemed to have vanished when I opened my mouth. It took me a moment to recover, and recite the first stanza of the poem. I went on in pauses until I heard the noise of the claps signaling the end of my recital.

I was even more shy back in high school. As a teenager, I became more conscious  about myself that I felt anxious being in front of the crowd, except for the things where I had to do it  for the sake of grades. I remember liking the feeling of being at the backstage for , atleast, when I make a mistake it wouldn't create such a big fuss. Being at the backstage, kept me away from backstabbers, and made me do things efficiently without having people's attention. It was a sense of relief.

College though was more difficult for me. I can no longer be at the back anymore. I had to practice being confident most of the time as we are always dealing with people. The experience I had with all the school activities, somehow, improved my social skills, much more when I graduated. I realize the benefit of having lots of exposure - because I know it'll help me grow as person.