Did you not like getting on stage as a child?

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I've never really had an issue with stage fright. I've had nerves before going up in front of people, but it never had anything to do with the people watching.

I hate having to make conversation, though. Any kind of one-on-one interaction, it feels like I'm playing high stakes poker with no freaking idea how to play. And everyone else can see my hand. And I get nothing but bad hands. I guess in this metaphor, public speaking is like blackjack and I'm the dealer.

Alright, no more bad metaphors.

I simply LOVED acting and being onstage when I was a little girl. Nevertheless, as I grew up, I began feeling really nervous... even when I have to do a speech in front of my class! Is this normal?

What could be better for an aspie than getting in front of a bunch of people who are forced to listen silently

Plays.... meh. Presentations of a topic of my choice... Hell Ya!

LOL! Some topics I could choose others I couldn't the speeches for me were as follows 1) Icebreaker/introduce yourself 2) Famous dead person Eulogy (I chose Hans Asperger there was like NO INFO. on him AT ALL!! !! 3) informing people about a year (I chose 1962 BORING AS HELL!! !!) 4) rant (I ranted on thinking my sister spends too much money!) 5) Persuasive (Had to persuade people) I chose Extreme Parenting (BORING!) 6) Personal Eulogy (as if I'm dead! KICK ASS! giving that last speech Wed.)

Didn't/don't care.

Used to have to do a lot of stuff for the Catholic church at school, and I didn't think anything of it; just read stuff. Had to do it for college too, and that didn't bother me.

Doesn't and didn't bother me.
I did acting as a child and loved it, and public speaking is far easier than conversing for me.

I hear you there. I can get up and talk to a group of people on a set subject fine, but put me one on one, and...blah (even on a set subject, I'll suddenly forget how to speak).

Didn't like it them don't like it now. However, I had to...I tried to avoid it but I wasn't able to. First time it was horrible, I just read a paper I prepared, and it was fast and monotonous and I presume students were bored as hell but professor said it was great.
Afterwards, it was easier, I prepared myself, and it wasn't so hard. After all, it was all scripted and I even put in some jokes that audience, however, didn't find funny. I simply had to learn not to care. It was a task to be done and that's it. People already found me odd so I didn't care.
And I remember last presentation - I read, and it was very stiff. And professor accused me of not being respectful towards others (because, no one else was reading). I am very proud of my response:

''Professor, I respect your commentary, but others are others and I am myself. I am sorry if this presentation isn't what it is expected to be but it is the only way I can do it properly. Otherwise, I get lost, confused and it's far worse then this boring reading.'' I was on a verge of tears while saying that.

Professor was stunned and audience applauded me and afterwards, they congratulated me. So, I felt proud for being able to stand up. It also made me happy because I realized that there are many supportive people out there and that, as long as there are such people there, I can just ignore a**holes.

well, seeing that i was already acting my way trough normal life, stages didn't really harm me; if anything, it was a little relaxing; on the street you might feel/expect others to look at you, causing anxiety; if you are on stage, you *know* that they are, but you also know that you are acting, so they are not judging you on your ability, so that anxiety falls away

I was a drama geek in high school, and I loved it. It was one of the few places where it was easier to be myself, and I actually liked going on stage (although my line delivery kept me relegated to minor roles. Ah, well). I love the idea of performing.

I hate giving speeches, though. I've had two public speaking classes in college and never again.

I would rather have surgery on my (private area) without anesthetic than get on any stage and/or in front of any audience.

Charles

When I was at Junior School they used to give out certificates in assembly, and I always hated having my name called out in front of everyone and getting up and collecting my certificate (when I had one, which was not very often).

But when I was at Infant's school I didn't seem to mind getting up in front of the assembly to collect any certificate. Goes to show how much we develop self-awareness in so very little time.

Yesh, this a lot like me. I guess I have more stage fright with speeches and monologues than drama presentations, and even though I still have very little it's been getting worse.

Take it from someone that's been on stage since he was five - this is BS! It really depends on the type of public speaking you are doing. For example:

1. Acting - this is the most comfortable for me, since my words, mannerisms, and actions are all pre-planned.
2. Public Speaking - completely different feel, as you aren't playing a character. You are aware of the audience a lot more, which causes an increase in personal pressure to not screw up or be boring.
3. Improv/Impromptu Speeches - these are the most difficult, because not only do you have to come up with something to say on the fly, you have to fight the urge to worry about looking stupid.

What your professor should have said is that "you should improve and gain confidence over time and exposure to speaking environments". If you ever stop caring about what people think of you, begin to worry that your public speaking is becoming boring.

I love getting on stage, I just completely ignore the audience is there and just pretend I'm in a completely different world. That's why I love acting.

I didn't like it as a small child. I didn't like being in the center of attention and in front of people when my class was going to perform. I didn't even like getting my picture taken with my class. Then when I was four, I somehow got over it and started to participate in school programs and school class pictures. But I didn't start singing with my school mates until I was seven.