“I would like to thank my fourth 2D for not divorcing me yet…” And there’s my end-of- work- week laugh Regraded Being, your snark is decidedly sick and I do love it.
He must be dreaming that he is giving that speech, because there is no way that he could ever say such a thing at a real cult event.
In real life his microphone and the stage lights would go dead after the eight word, and exit music would start playing as he was led offstage.
I gave a technical presentation to a group collaborating on a high profile project. There were people from the UK government and senior personnel from other companies. Afterwards my boss turned to me and said ” have you been on that public speaking course yet” I said “no not yet”, he replied “Well, I don’t think you need to”, kudos!
Changing the subject’s a standard tactic that’s taught at Toastmasters. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Toastmasters International, it’s a group that teaches the techniques of public speaking, which in practice means teaching dull and boring people to be even more tedious, dull, and boring. How do I know this? Well, my participation in Toastmasters was strongly recommended by the Chairman and the Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Minnesota during my brief involvement with them. To make a long story short (too late), I was called upon to speak for two minutes on a subject that I knew nothing about. The usual technique for dealing with this situation was to either change the subject or make up something to say. This to me was the height of rudeness, Instead I stood up and said this:
Mr. President, fellow Toastmasters, and honored guest, I have absolutely nothing to say on this subject. Thank you.
And then I sat down. The Chairman and the Treasurer of the LP-MN continued to pester me about attending Toastmasters until I found and ran off copies of a short story, in Starlog magazine of all places, that mocked the organization. I never heard a word from either of them on the subject after that.
I’ve never been to Toastmasters; I thought it was a good organization and basically helped you get up in front of people. Asking someone to get up and talk about a topic they know nothing about is dishonest and manipulative. Thanks for the heads up.
Regarding Toastmaster clubs around the world, I can offer that one’s experience depends on the club. The basic exercises and experience for many is extremely positive. Toastmasters is helpful, not just to conquer stage fright and learn how to organize your ideas into a coherent speech, but also to learn how to run a meeting. (That is the role of the Toastmaster each time—set the tone, run the meeting, and keep things on time. Most clubs meet weekly, and members rotate into the various roles for each session.)
Of course, if you find yourself in a club with a bunch of quirksters, it is going to be an odd experience.
The only “black & white” thinking that I encountered in Toastmasters, which I found not very useful, was an idea our club president enforced* of “A speaker never thanks his audience! Your audience should be delighted to hear you speak!”
(LOL) I found that, err… Come on, who cares. Many speakers, when they get up, will thank the host for the nice introduction or similar. I hardly characterize that as a massive speaker faux pau. Too, seems an egotistical view that you can 100 percent be assured that your audience is grateful to have you there and hear what you have to say. In my opinion, that is earned.
*which he claimed is an ironclad Toastmasters International principle
Weirdly, or perhaps not so weirdly, toastmasters was very popular amongst Scientologist business “elites”. I know for a fact that they did seminars at the Hubbard College Administration in the late 1990s. …I know because I was there (not taking LRH admin courses though) and someone invited me to sit in on a Toastmaster’s meeting.
That sums up the bridge to total freedumb. I can testify to that.
“I would like to thank my fourth 2D for not divorcing me yet…” And there’s my end-of- work- week laugh Regraded Being, your snark is decidedly sick and I do love it.
He must be dreaming that he is giving that speech, because there is no way that he could ever say such a thing at a real cult event.
In real life his microphone and the stage lights would go dead after the eight word, and exit music would start playing as he was led offstage.
I gave a technical presentation to a group collaborating on a high profile project. There were people from the UK government and senior personnel from other companies. Afterwards my boss turned to me and said ” have you been on that public speaking course yet” I said “no not yet”, he replied “Well, I don’t think you need to”, kudos!
This fellow must be a distant relative of mine. Our family motto is; “If you can’t bedazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with b*llsh*t!”
:)))) But RB
You forgot to mention the hundreds of times he did Lowers and finally after being accepted back into the group, realizing all of those amazing gains.
End Product: Hypnotization = Donation.
And then….
“Let’s give a hand to LRH!! Hip hip……. Hooray!!! Hip hip….. Hooray!!! ….
Just waiting till there will be the addendum: “…and Ceee Ooh Beeee!!!”
Changing the subject’s a standard tactic that’s taught at Toastmasters. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Toastmasters International, it’s a group that teaches the techniques of public speaking, which in practice means teaching dull and boring people to be even more tedious, dull, and boring. How do I know this? Well, my participation in Toastmasters was strongly recommended by the Chairman and the Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Minnesota during my brief involvement with them. To make a long story short (too late), I was called upon to speak for two minutes on a subject that I knew nothing about. The usual technique for dealing with this situation was to either change the subject or make up something to say. This to me was the height of rudeness, Instead I stood up and said this:
Mr. President, fellow Toastmasters, and honored guest, I have absolutely nothing to say on this subject. Thank you.
And then I sat down. The Chairman and the Treasurer of the LP-MN continued to pester me about attending Toastmasters until I found and ran off copies of a short story, in Starlog magazine of all places, that mocked the organization. I never heard a word from either of them on the subject after that.
Today’s blog, and your comments, made for great reads!
I’ve never been to Toastmasters; I thought it was a good organization and basically helped you get up in front of people. Asking someone to get up and talk about a topic they know nothing about is dishonest and manipulative. Thanks for the heads up.
Regarding Toastmaster clubs around the world, I can offer that one’s experience depends on the club. The basic exercises and experience for many is extremely positive. Toastmasters is helpful, not just to conquer stage fright and learn how to organize your ideas into a coherent speech, but also to learn how to run a meeting. (That is the role of the Toastmaster each time—set the tone, run the meeting, and keep things on time. Most clubs meet weekly, and members rotate into the various roles for each session.)
Of course, if you find yourself in a club with a bunch of quirksters, it is going to be an odd experience.
The only “black & white” thinking that I encountered in Toastmasters, which I found not very useful, was an idea our club president enforced* of “A speaker never thanks his audience! Your audience should be delighted to hear you speak!”
(LOL) I found that, err… Come on, who cares. Many speakers, when they get up, will thank the host for the nice introduction or similar. I hardly characterize that as a massive speaker faux pau. Too, seems an egotistical view that you can 100 percent be assured that your audience is grateful to have you there and hear what you have to say. In my opinion, that is earned.
*which he claimed is an ironclad Toastmasters International principle
Apparently the rules are different inside the bubble.
Weirdly, or perhaps not so weirdly, toastmasters was very popular amongst Scientologist business “elites”. I know for a fact that they did seminars at the Hubbard College Administration in the late 1990s. …I know because I was there (not taking LRH admin courses though) and someone invited me to sit in on a Toastmaster’s meeting.