I could write an essay re: why the invitation hit me in the wrong way from Amy's fist shake at authority to introversion to basic logistics to feeling like talented people in public-pleasing genres reap benefits at occasions like this. WTF am I supposed to do? Write an academic paper for public fun?

Anyway. Tom you actually have a public-pleasing talent so if you can muster the courage I think you should do it.

Also -- cross-fit is HARD CORE

Lots of derby people do cross-fit. Not me, because I'm too lazy. But I take a TRX class twice a week and the occasional Body Pump class.

I could write an essay re: why the invitation hit me in the wrong way from Amy's fist shake at authority to introversion to basic logistics to feeling like talented people in public-pleasing genres reap benefits at occasions like this.

I am right there with you. I'm sure they meant well, but -- I would eat glass before I'd go to a party where I was REQUIRED to perform like a goddamn trained poodle. (I have in fact skipped a wedding because of shit like this. [Also because I didn't really want to shell out plane fare to San Diego.])

As it is, I'd be tempted to show up and say something like, "My talent is staring at people until they feel really uncomfortable," and do that for five minutes. But YMMV.

Ah ha ha! That's fantastic.

If I were Tom, I would make a little slideshow and just show it -- no talking, etc.

LeN, I would totally suggest my sister write an academic paper or deconstruct some shit for public fun.

Since my talent is beating people up, it's at least more people-pleasing than I'm gonna be. And I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do.

An invite like that is pretty clear about you not having to please the public, if you can satisfy the letter of the law (and perhaps amuse the fuck out of yourself). It's way better than a lot I've seen.

NO was my answer too. Unless it was among really close friends. That party is not an introverts friend.

A world of agreement here. It sounds like some extroverted busybody's bright idea of how to "fix" introverts by forcing them into the spotlight, which hasn't been run by anyone who's actually introverted.

Tom, if you're looking upon it as an opportunity to get exposure for your photography and network for a freelancing business to base on it, putting up with it might be worthwhile. Otherwise I'd recommend treating it as if it were a Twister party for people with contagious skin conditions.

With invites like that, it always strikes me that not everyone will get a turn, because a) no one's that organized, and b) alcohol. It would annoy me, too -- if I had a performance talent, I wouldn't be a writer. But I guess one of the outs is also to bring something, or grill something?

This week started with the brake line on the truck failing. I want to go back to bed.

Backseat passenger bounces out of car on MN highway . . . and the drive and frontseat passenger didn't notice right away AND the backseat passenger was okay.

It explicitly says you don't have to perform -- I would totally cook something.

NO was my answer too. Unless it was among really close friends. That party is not an introverts friend.

Although I wouldn't jump for joy at the chance, after thinking about it, I think it would be OK if they let you set up a table showcasing your talent that you could either stand by or not, as a choice instead of performing.

It actually makes me think of my Theatre Honor Fraternity induction, which to this day makes me seethe with rage. I actually walked out on it. The idea was to be poking fun at regular fraternities/honor societies and hazing, I think. So you had a bif brother/sister, and they prepared you by making you memorize all this stuff, and get ready, and then it was ALL A JOKE. They made you take a test where the answers were impossible, while distracting you, called you up on stage and made fun of you, made you recite a Shakespeare monologue while they heckled you, and it culminated in an improv where they thought it would be funny to have me, who was not an actor, and hated improv, be the lead character.

So I literally had a breakdown and left in the middle of the improv. The professor advisor had to come get me and try to convince me to come back.

What was really good about it was that the professor actually understood that I was angry and not sad, and the next year we let the inductees in on the "joke". We also made in nicer for non-actors.