| > I might stand in a corner by myself staring awkwardly at my phone Word of advice to anyone who might be anxious going out alone: don't bring your phone. If you're just going to distract yourself with it because you feel less awkward, you might as well stay home, because you're depriving yourself of the opportunity to notice what's going on. If you just go and actually pay attention, there will be opportunities to participate. --- I want to amend this because I feel like it might come across as a little hostile, but that's not the intention. A few points on the reasoning: * A party will have a host, and it's his job to integrate you. You shouldn't really have to work that hard. Find the host and he'll try to get you involved. * There are guests that will do the same. If I'm out with a group, I'll happily involve a newcomer. * Both of these fall apart if you walk in and immediately look disinterested. I'm not going to approach a person on his phone. In my head, he's either temporarily busy or doesn't want to be there, and I'm not going to risk being an ass and interrupting on the off chance that you're just shy. (I've got better ways of looking like an ass.) If you can't resist the temptation to delve into your phone, you're not genuinely putting yourself out there. |