I consider myself to be quite fun. I make people laugh, I like to go out dancing etc. Basically what I am saying here is that I know how to enjoy myself and am not some joyless freakshow staying at home polishing his anime figures (this is not a euphemism!).
But what I hate is when I am told to have fun or backed into a corner and told that ‘Yes I will have a good time!’
Let me give you a for instance. Recently I went to a panto. I say recently but it was actually about a month ago and it has taken that long to be able to talk about it without giving myself flashbacks.
Anyway, I went because friends were involved and I have no memory of going to a panto. I suspected that I would hate it, but I have been wrong before.
Turns out I was right, it made me want to die. Not because it was bad, in fact I could see that a lot of time and attention had been spent on it. My problem went deeper, it was the audience participation! I had been told beforehand that I would be expected to join in and had shuddered.
After a couple of pre show drinks I thought I could handle it. I was wrong. I sat there cringing and the more that everyone was encouraged to participate, the less inclined I was. Being very English though, I saw it through to the end. And nearly died.
I am the same with things like Karaoke, I am quite happy to go and watch but as soon as anyone suggests that I sing because ‘It’s Karaoke, you’ve got to’ then they are likely to see my middle finger and my retreating back.
I once nearly slapped someone at a party once as they tried to drag me onto the dancefloor and I have been known to lock myself in the bathroom to avoid sitting on Santa’s knee (partly because this was a party for gays and Santa was a 40 year old bear!).
The moral of the story, leave me alone to have fun, I promise I will but with each ‘You’ve got to’ the likelihood decreases exponentially.
