I don't feel awkward often, but I feel odd when we go to a bar or pub and there is a live band playing. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate good live music. But I feel like I have to watch them play, and that's boring. But I feel rude and awkward if I turn my back to the band and attempt to have a conversation.

Oh man they took our sound cards out! :(

Oh boy... I have holes in my memory from a series of head injuries, which plays out in a number of ways. One problem I have is facial recognition. If I don't know someone well, I won't get any sense of familiarity upon meeting that person again.

In the not too distant past, I was at a sorority event. As I passed by a little group of people, a woman (not a member) yelled my name loudly and waved me over. I had no idea who she was. Because this is an ongoing problem, I've gotten to the point where I have no shame anymore. lol She reached out to hug me and I whispered in her ear, "I'm so sorry, I can't place your face" or something to that effect.

Turns out this was a person I should have known very well even though I hadn't been around her all that much, but I won't go into the gory details. It was a bad situation.

When people (friends) are talking about plans and they're not really including you...but you want to join or do whatever they're talking about and it is awkwardly unclear if they want you to come too or not. I'm trying to be better about asking, "Hey, can I tag along?" but still...it makes me feel like the odd man out and then it makes me feel uber paranoid that they're talking about me behind my back or figuring out a way to get rid of me.

Same here, I always awkwardly hover, feels weird to be standing around, but you don't just want to leave.

How coincidental that this thread was started today. I had workmen in my house all day installing a replacement central air system because my old system crapped out. It was kind of awkward having several male strangers traipsing around my house ... I pretty much stayed in my office as I had to work anyway.

When a service person comes to the house, I generally stay out of his/her way, but not too far away, for two reasons - I want to be available if s/he has any questions for me, and I want to be sure nothing walks away with the service person (for heaven's sake, you're letting a complete stranger into your home). It does feel awkward to be sitting down in the basement in a folding chair at a folding table with my laptop when I could be upstairs in my office at a proper desk - and I'm sure they know EXACTLY why I'm downstairs and not upstairs.

I completely agree. This happened to me last night with two friends of mine and it was mad awkward. Like "mommy and daddy are yelling and I don't know what to do". I told them that later though and they laughed. We're good friends, so it's not too bad if they have a tiff, but if it's an acquaintance or someone you just met it's excruciating. I also hate hate HATE it when people yell. Ever, for any reason. It makes me so anxious/upset.

Also awkward, when you're babysitting and the family gets back and you have to say goodbye. It's awkward because you don't want to just go "PEACE" but at the same time, once the parents are there, there is no reason to stay, but I don't want to seem overeager to leave. That feels rude. Also it's awkward because you've kind of been the parent/caretaker for several hours and now the real parent is back, so your role has been usurped too.

Even awkwarder-- when you're waiting around for them to pay you. You know that's why you're there, but honestly that's not why I do it (I do it because I love the kids) and it's just icky feeling. Also I hate it if they get the total wrong because I hate asking for more money, as I feel I get paid well already. Bleh.

I do some computer jobs on the side, usually for co-workers. I always feel awkward telling them how much they owe me. I did a big job for my department chair which involved two trips to her house (Sunday and Tuesday this week). She was out of town so I was working with her husband and not her. He said "Chris said I'm supposed to pay you so how much do I owe you?" I told him "I charge co-workers $25 an hour and I worked on this for 7 hours so $175" and he said "Oh come on now, tell me a fair price, that is not enough". I wasn't sure what to do so I said "Ok, $200 will cover my gas too" and he gladly wrote me a check for $200. It felt awkward though. Most co-workers, after I tell them the price, write the check for more anyway. They do realize I'm giving them a deal, especially if they've ever used the Geek Squad from Best Buy for similar work. If they were strangers, I don't think I'd feel awkward telling them what to pay me. It just feels weird because they are friends as well as co-workers.

Also awkward: I am horrible with placing faces and I have no excuse like preciousjeni's. I am simply bad at it. I feel horrible when I say "It's nice to meet you" when I've met them before. I had that happen tonight. I was at my cousin's graduation dinner and my other cousin had brought a girl friend. She and I talked quite a bit and at the end of the evening, I said it was nice to meet her. Honestly though, I think she was at my house for our family Christmas with this side of the family. In all fairness, my cousin is quite the charming young man and always has a beautiful and intelligent young woman at his side so it can be hard to keep them straight. I just don't remember if I'd met her ever before!

I can't maneuver the forum functions very well on my phone so I guess I'll just have to list them.

1. Ditto on the arguing but it's even worse when you can tell a couple is trying NOT to argue so things are just super tense and quiet instead.

2. when you have a mutual acquaintance with someone and that person wronged them in some way.
You: "How do you know Mike?"
Her: "He stood me up for a date once."
You: :(

3. Ditto on everyone excitedly talking about plans that do not include you.

4. When someone is telling you a story or sharing something personal but you're running late and reeeaallyyy have to go.

I hate when this happens:

Someone: What did you get in Prof. Smith's class?
Me: An A, how about you?
Someone: I got a C.
Me: Oh, that sucks, I'm sorry
Someone: Oh no, I'm happy about it!!

I always feel like SHIT when this happens, haha.

With the grades thing? When someone asks me how I did, I usually say something like "I did as well as I hoped, you?" The only exception was the guy who was in my last 4 grad classes with me because I knew he always did as well as I did or within a few points at least (which is why I did EVERY group project with him).

People who consistently talk bad about their spouse in front of me whether it is in public or private AND sometimes they will do this with the spouse right in front of them.

I'm not talking about the occassional frustration. I'm talking about they do this ALL of the time. Nothing their spouse does is good enough. Their spouse is so "stupid." They "hate" their spouse. They are always interrupting their spouse--just all around extreme disrespect.