Current Events > Probably meeting coworkers for the first time irl soon. How to not be terrified?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I was hired about a year ago just after my office started working remote, so I haven't met anyone irl. I guess they want to get everyone together for a lunch thing on Friday

I have social anxiety and am awful with talking to people, and thinking about going to a social event with people that all know each other except for me freaks me out. I'd like to just not go, but I figure it would make me look bad.

Honestly part of the reason i'm freaking out is because nobody knows i use a wheelchair and im afraid I will stick out/make things awkward. I already feel kinda out of place (Everyone on the team is guys, most are significantly older). Any advice?? Am I allowed to just not go??

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Talk to everyone about gamefaqs.com and find out who uses it
the moment you find one make sure to yell out 'wow what a fucking nerd and I literally program 2d pillow waifu games'
You'll be the life of the party.

But for real yes you don't have to go but you should and if your direct line manager is there then ask if you can talk in advance and explain you're anxious and might leave early. Maybe ask if you can bring the guy who owes me $50

if anyone gives you shit for being in a wheelchair then theyre just an asshole. I doubt anyone would do that tho, thats an HR complaint right there

honestly tho it could be nice to meet your peeps. I assume youve communicated with them even tho youre not in the office right? like via MS teams or something? so its not like they dont actually know you. just be yourself and have a good time

one thing Ive learned in life is that no one actually gives a shit about the things you think theyd give a shit about. everyone is just there to do their jobs and go home after

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Show them the Bea gif topic

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Talk about their coat if that fails panic

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If it helps, most likely no one cares at all and doesn't give a shit about you or your wheelchair. Theyre all in the same boat as you. It's a work thing that they have to attend.

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One of the dudes will be DTF. Just offer him and another dude a double header.

nothanks1 posted...

Talk to everyone about gamefaqs.com and find out who uses it
the moment you find one make sure to yell out 'wow what a fucking nerd and I literally program 2d pillow waifu games'
You'll be the life of the party.

But for real yes you don't have to go but you should and if your direct line manager is there then ask if you can talk in advance and explain you're anxious and might leave early. Maybe ask if you can bring the guy who owes me $50

Theres one coworker I talked to about video games once he probably has a gamefaqs account tbh. Most of my coworkers are like middle aged Indian men though

Ok I might try talking to my manager ahead of time. Actually thought about having cornman go secretly (its an outdoor thing so he could hide in bushes) BUT my manager met him briefly when he had to drop something off. So it would be weird if he recognized him

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TeaMilk posted...

Actually thought about having cornman go secretly (its an outdoor thing so he could hide in bushes)

As someone that works in a high school...
we've had kids hide in the fields to get out of classes
Middle aged Indian men? Explain how China and India have a lot in common. Both places have an I, an A and an N.

Weezy_Tha_Don posted...

if anyone gives you shit for being in a wheelchair then theyre just an asshole. I doubt anyone would do that tho, thats an HR complaint right there

honestly tho it could be nice to meet your peeps. I assume youve communicated with them even tho youre not in the office right? like via MS teams or something? so its not like they dont actually know you. just be yourself and have a good time

one thing Ive learned in life is that no one actually gives a shit about the things you think theyd give a shit about. everyone is just there to do their jobs and go home after

Yeah I dont think anyone would be outwardly mean to me bc of the wheelchair. But its just inevitable that people treat me oddly and I stick out because of it. I gotta just get over it really

And yeah we've communicated online, but its been very little outside of anything work related. Small talk/socializing makes me nervous lol

Turbam posted...

Show them the Bea gif topic

Crap i dont have that archived but I could bring my custom handpainted Gordie itabag as a conversation starter

GreatGoomba posted...

Talk about their coat if that fails panic

Its gonna be like 90F out so gonna panic

DDirtyDastard posted...

One of the dudes will be DTF. Just offer him and another dude a double header.

What's a double header?? I think only 1 or 2 guys in the team aren't married

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TeaMilk posted...

Its gonna be like 90F out so gonna panic

Well then you wear a coat and talk about how unusual it is they're not wearing coats

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wear a facemask

it's great for hiding your facial expressions

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Just take Cornman. He's huge no one would mess with you with him there.
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It's always good to make at least one coworker friend so that they have your back if shit goes down, even better to network. It's worth going. Have a drink or two if you're really tense about it. And you can always leave whenever you want.

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Just go.

Don't take anything personally, and just enjoy your time.

If you have been working together a year, how do they not know you use a wheelchair? I understand it has been remote, but my teammates and I talk about our lives. Everyone has a different level of how much they say about their lives, but certain basics are always communicated.

That said, how could anyone judge you being in a wheelchair? That would make them dicks.

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Duncanwii posted...

Just take Cornman. He's huge no one would mess with you with him there.

Yea I think he's gonna go in disguise

bsp77 posted...

If you have been working together a year, how do they not know you use a wheelchair? I understand it has been remote, but my teammates and I talk about our lives. Everyone has a different level of how much they say about their lives, but certain basics are always communicated.

That said, how could anyone judge you being in a wheelchair? That would make them dicks.

I guess we hardly ever discuss anything besides work, and I haven't had a good reason to bring it up. And yeah I'm not worried about anyone being MEAN about it, but people treat you weird even if they have good intentions

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Suppositories

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