Anyone else have a paralyzing fear of embarrassment, even on behalf of others?

[aruan]

I have, like, archaic puppy footage that just arrived in the mail (with likewise dated stickers and, get this, a bag of microwaveable popcorn) and I'm staring at it from across the room, almost *afraid* to pop it in the VCR because of what could be on it. Nothing like the threat of humiliation to make me turtle.

Why can't I be in California so Angela can make it sweet? New York so Diana could make it amusing? Pennsylvania so Nia could make it endearing?

A pox on every single mile in between.

Or maybe, I need to relax, and not stare quite so warily at a video tape.

Comments

[crazybutsound]

Ah, yes, I feel for you. I spent half of "Reel *Nsync" with my hands over my eyes, going: "Oh, God, no! Lance! Chris! Both of you stop now! Eeek!"

Which is probably why I've only watched it once so far, even though it's slashtastic it's amazing. But if your footage is, you know, worse somehow... I dunno... I totally get why you'd be worried. On the other hand....

Puppies!

[giddyupnow.livejournal.com]

*blinks* How archaic is it, out of curiosity? And what's so terrible about watching it?

The way I figure it, if you don't have something in your past (and present. and future.) worth laughing at, whether it was funny at the time or not, then you're taking yourself far too seriously :-) You could tell they were having fun, in the case of Reel, and that was the best part. I don't remember a single horrendous thing in the tons of footage I've seen, because it all had the same exuberance. So watch away!

I'd maybe stare a bit more warily at that popcorn, though... ;-)