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  1. - Top - End - #1
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    eek Public Speaking-not ITP

    So, tomorrow night I'm going to have to talk in front of a large number of people far older(and hopefully wiser) than me, in my first true public speaking event since that time I had to announce the raffle winners over the PA system in middle school.

    My speech(if I do say so myself) is terrible, and since I trust the playground more than my own family, I lay it out for y'alls criticism.
    If you could.
    Because I'm scarwd.

    Note: the subject matter of this speech is "How The Has Modern Media Affected Our Lives?", and contains some possibly strong opinions on the subject.
    If you have a problem with this, I would much rather you PM me than post it here, where it could possibly be considered infraction worthy.

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    My idea of media is not some horrible, soul stealing monster that waits for us when we wake up in the morning. My idea is more of a window, a computer screen if you will, that allows you to see what you want, and only when and where you want it.

    Of course there are bad places on the internet, of course there’s violence on television, of course popular culture venerates artists who degrade and deface the “old” style of living. This is life. This is what happens time and time and time again, in every single society on the face of the earth.

    There are plenty of places on the Cape where you wouldn’t go without a few friends; there are countless people in Massachusetts who are not allowed the same freedoms you and I take for granted because people are afraid of them; the United States of America has too many organizations and groups to count that make people cringe when spoke of. The only reason why some complain about modern media, is because it allows those unpleasant things to come forward, out of the darkness that is our culture, and into the light.

    In fact, the reason anyone talks about those unpleasant, dark things in the first place is a mixture of fascination and repulsion, which feeds “the beast” that is pop-culture and media. You could almost say that the media conglomerates (such as Microsoft, Fox, CBS, Apple, and others of the same ilk) view the entire situation like and old-fashioned bear baiting, except we are the bear. The hounds that are debauchery, sex appeal, free information, and loss of what seems “normal” takes chunks out of the lumbering, chained public, who can take on only one enemy at a time. Even if it were to do the impossible and defeat these dogs, it would still have to contend with the next batch, and with the hooks set in place by the crowd of spectators (who are also placing bets as I speak), there is no escape possible.

    If you look away from this sad picture for a moment, possibly into a history book, you’ll see that this new age of media hasn’t changed anything in society. Look at the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It started with a slight creeping, useful things taking gentle steps into the lives of the public. Steam engines, trains, canals, roads, improving manufacture. Then it seemed to completely overrun society as the people of then knew it, changing the cities, draining the towns of people, turning the air solid and water into fire.

    This time, it’s a bit more subtle.

    It’s taken the smog and changed it into light pollution; it’s made the city the same as the county-side, with instant messaging, emails and cellar phones making the world the same as the office. Media has just pulled those demons out from the closet, dusted them off and set them out into the parlor, and so many just want to shut it back up and forget about them.

    You see, media is simply a reflection of modern life.

    Lets look at it this way:

    Imagine your town from above.

    The buildings, houses, hangouts, anywhere people and information gather, are computers and television programs.

    The streets, roads, side-walks, cars, railways, are phones, books, newspapers, talk shows, all these things that tell you about or take you to, the information.

    And people you see, are ourselves, children of our own creation, living in a world we seemed determined to walk blithely through, caring nothing for the same dangers we learned to avoid as toddlers.

    We are babies in the knife drawer, reaching blindly for whatever we can grasp, then crying out to mommy when we cut ourselves.

    If you don’t accept that the world around you is dangerous, what right do you have to say that the digital world isn’t just as scary?
    Idiots give me indigestion.
    Don't give me indigestion.

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    Wadledo, you dislike EVERYONE. Therefore, you don't count.
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    Maybe this is the only true fix for spellcasting, making people scared of using it.
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    There's a concept called mercy. Are you familiar with it?
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  2. - Top - End - #2
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    A good, thought provoking speech.

    However, honestly, it's just as much about the way you present the speech as it is about the speech. Do it confidently, don't 'uhm', 'ahh', or the like, and speak sloooowly. Seriously on that last one, too, you'll feel like you're speaking at a snails pace, but everyone will think you're speaking normally. (At least, that's what I know, from my limited public speaking experience)

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    I've given a few speeches and briefings. Speak slowly, take breaths, let your pauses be natural silences, don't add in ums, ands, uhs, etc. Have someone you know listen to your speech, let them take a few notes. Remember to vary your voice, nothing's worse than a monotone. Project your voice so everyone can hear you. A good idea is to record yourself in private giving your speech, then you can see/hear if you do anything odd. Or, say your speech in front of a mirror.

    A few more things, don't just read from your paper, look at the audience, if you don't want to meet their eyes, then look right above their heads, they'll think you're looking at them.
    Last edited by wxdruid; 2008-11-04 at 09:10 PM.
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Sending you a PM, well two over time. I'm not critical of the central idea, which generally I agree with.
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    I'm going to guess people are going to have your speech itself covered, I'll mention stuff on delivery.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gray Jester View Post
    A good, thought provoking speech.

    However, honestly, it's just as much about the way you present the speech as it is about the speech. Do it confidently, don't 'uhm', 'ahh', or the like, and speak sloooowly. Seriously on that last one, too, you'll feel like you're speaking at a snails pace, but everyone will think you're speaking normally. (At least, that's what I know, from my limited public speaking experience)
    Actually saying "umm" is better than stopping. Having neither is even better, but "umm" gives the impression that you're collecting your thoughts, whereas silence makes it look like you lost your place/forgot your line.

    Drink water beforehand, and have some up with you. Avoid pop and milk, they coat your vocal chords and make you cough. If you do have to cough, turn into your shoulder, and not into a fist infront of the mic.

    Eye contact. This is easier if you're doing it from memory, but it's still important. When you're not looking down at what you're going to say next, glance around at the crowd.

    Practice your speech a few times with friends/family there, and/or infront of a mirror. Saying it out loud, infront of people (or your reflection) makes it easier to say when you get up there. Doing this also helps you find out any ticks you may have, such as shifting your weight back and forth, shaking your hands, etc. Try to fight these if you can.

    On Dress. Go with the occassion, but I wouldn't go any less than a button-down shirt (longsleeve) and pants. My preference is dark in color, but other people may vary. Try not to wear a tie if possible, but if you have to, leave it a little loose. Ask a friend/relative that is/was in the military to show you how to properly shine your shoes. If you can't, I may put up a tutorial...mine could use a coat soon anyways.

  6. - Top - End - #6
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Squat View Post
    Actually saying "umm" is better than stopping. Having neither is even better, but "umm" gives the impression that you're collecting your thoughts, whereas silence makes it look like you lost your place/forgot your line.
    My understanding is that it's actually better to flat out pause, if it's for the amount of time people mostly 'ummm', because it builds tension if you do it right, making your audience more interested in you. On the other hand, it'd be better to 'umm' then pause for enough time to actually gather your thoughts, it's more the small brainfarts that I was addressing, not the "ummmmm...........", just the short 'um', and 'ah'.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Gray Jester View Post
    My understanding is that it's actually better to flat out pause, if it's for the amount of time people mostly 'ummm', because it builds tension if you do it right, making your audience more interested in you. On the other hand, it'd be better to 'umm' then pause for enough time to actually gather your thoughts, it's more the small brainfarts that I was addressing, not the "ummmmm...........", just the short 'um', and 'ah'.
    True...I don't habitually do that, so it didn't really occur to me.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Squat View Post
    Actually saying "umm" is better than stopping. Having neither is even better, but "umm" gives the impression that you're collecting your thoughts, whereas silence makes it look like you lost your place/forgot your line.
    Having had a couple of speech courses, I can tell you its quite the opposite. Pauses seem intentional (especially if you do something during the pause like take a sip of water, walk across the room, or even stare at select people to drive your point home.)

    "Umms" and "Uhhs" on the other hand, are collectively called "thinking noises," and nothing reminds your audience that your are reciting a prepared speech more than a string of these. That's a bad thing, kids.

    http://www.sevenstepstofearlessspeak...ingNoises.html
    Last edited by Optimystik; 2008-11-05 at 01:59 AM.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Optimystik View Post
    Having had a couple of speech courses, I can tell you its quite the opposite. Pauses seem intentional (especially if you do something during the pause like take a sip of water, walk across the room, or even stare at select people to drive your point home.)

    "Umms" and "Uhhs" on the other hand, are collectively called "thinking noises," and nothing reminds your audience that your are reciting a prepared speech more than a string of these. That's a bad thing, kids.

    http://www.sevenstepstofearlessspeak...ingNoises.html
    My speech teacher, as well as my friend's says 'umms' are better. Just goes to show that everything about it is subjective.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Man, if you talk half as good as you write, this will be a thing to see. Good luck, man; I think you'll do great.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Squat View Post
    My speech teacher, as well as my friend's says 'umms' are better. Just goes to show that everything about it is subjective.
    Perhaps, but the link I posted supports my argument.

  12. - Top - End - #12
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Ok, I've spoilered an edit. I tried to keep your langauge and phrasing as much as possible. I left the last sentence alone here, although I'm not really sure exactly what it means and my personal inclination would be to cut it.

    Spoiler
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    Media is not some horrible, soul stealing monster that waits for us when we wake up in the morning. My idea is more of a window, a computer screen if you will, that allows you to see what you want, and only when and where you want it. It’s a medium.

    Of course there are bad places on the internet, of course there’s sex and violence on television, of course popular culture venerates artists who degrade and deface the “old” style of living. This is life and has been as long as there has been civilization. The Iliad has graphic violence caused by illicit extramarital sex. There are pornographic Grecian urns and The Millers Tale isn’t exactly high comedy. This is what happens time and time and time again, in every single society on the face of the earth and in whatever medium they have.

    There are plenty of places on the Cape where you wouldn’t go without a few friends; there are countless people in Massachusetts who are not allowed the same freedoms you and I take for granted because people are afraid of them; the United States of America has too many organizations and groups to count that make people cringe when spoken of. Real people do, and say, all sorts of unpleasant things. The only reason why some complain about modern media, is because it allows those unpleasant things to come forward, out of the darkness that is our culture, and into the light. Modern media simply does it faster, and shows it to more people than paintings on urns and epic poetry.

    Why do we care about these things? In fact, the reason is a mixture of fascination and repulsion, which feeds “the beast” that is pop-culture and media. This feature of the human psyche isn’t new and psychology has been keeping it self entertained with why for years.

    You could almost say that the media conglomerates (such as Microsoft, Fox, CBS, Apple, and others of the same ilk) view the entire situation like and old-fashioned bear baiting, except we are the bear. The hounds that are debauchery, sex appeal, free information, and loss of what seems “normal” takes chunks out of the lumbering, chained public, who can take on only one enemy at a time. Even if it were to do the impossible and defeat these dogs, it would still have to contend with the next batch, and with the hooks set in place by the crowd of spectators (who are also placing bets as I speak), there is no escape possible. Moreover, there never has been.

    As I said, if you look away from this sad picture for a moment, possibly into a history book, you’ll see that this new age of media hasn’t changed anything in society. Look at the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It started with a slight creeping, useful things taking gentle steps into the lives of the public. Steam engines, trains, canals, roads, moveable type, mass manufacture of goods. Then, as now, it seemed to completely overrun society as the people of then knew it, changing the cities, draining the towns of people, turning the air solid and water into fire.

    This time is not so different. It’s just a bit more subtle.

    It’s taken the smog and changed it into light pollution; it’s made the city the same as the county-side, with instant messaging, emails and cellar phones. It has made the world the same as the office. Media has just pulled those demons out from the closet, dusted them off and set them out into the parlor, and so many just want to shut it back up and forget about them. As if simply refusing to see the monster would make it cease to be.

    You see, media is simply a reflection of modern life.

    Lets look at it this way:

    Imagine your town from above.

    The buildings, houses, hangouts, anywhere people and information gather, are computers and television programs.

    The streets, roads, side-walks, cars, railways, are phones, books, newspapers, talk shows, all these things that tell you about or take you to, the information.

    And people you see, are ourselves, children of our own creation, living in a world we seemed determined to walk blithely through, caring nothing for the same dangers we learned to avoid as toddlers.

    We are babies in the knife drawer, reaching blindly for whatever we can grasp, thinking that just because something isn’t physical, it isn’t sharp. Then we cry out to mommy when we cut ourselves and blame the knives for our foolishness.

    The real world is dangerous. It’s reflection in media is too. Each must be handled with care and neither is going to go away when we close our eyes. If you don’t accept that the world around you is dangerous, what right do you have to say that the digital world isn’t just as scary?
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    a few of the tips I picked up in improv about your movement while holding your speech.

    1 Stand firm. Don't randomly walk around the podium/stage, and if you do have to move be sure to plant both your feet firmly on the ground. If you move to much, which goes from rocking on your feet to pacing everywhere frantically, everyone will tire quickly just by looking at you.

    2 Know how you're holding your hands. DON"T PUT THEM IN YOUR POCKETS. You can use those fine manipulators to emphasize a point, but don't go overboard, if you have a dais behind which you stand, you can just lay them on there.

    3 Enjoy it. These people are there to listen to you, and I assume interested in your subject. If you believe in what you say, and just have fun speeching, you'll do fantastic.

    Right, now I'm gonna read the speech itself

    Edit: Read it, think it's a good speech with some nice thought provoking moments. I don't completely agree with you but that's beside the point.

    There's just one thing that makes me cringe every time I see it. And that's me,myself and I as a first word in a sentence. As far as I learned it makes you seem egocentric and selfabsorbed. It's just my 2c but I really hate it
    Last edited by Pepz; 2008-11-05 at 10:49 AM.


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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    On monotone:
    This was actually brought up, and devolved into an argument of if I can show emotion through my voice or not.
    They decided yes, but only if I'm kicked in the stomach.

    On my hands:
    I wave them around a bit to much, actually, so I've taken to either holding them behind my back, or holding the podium.
    The girl I accidentally knocked a lamp on is thankful of that.
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    Wadledo, you dislike EVERYONE. Therefore, you don't count.
    Quote Originally Posted by Draken View Post
    Maybe this is the only true fix for spellcasting, making people scared of using it.
    Quote Originally Posted by dragonprime View Post
    There's a concept called mercy. Are you familiar with it?
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    On the topic of ummmms, I've listened to speeches where I felt like I wanted to write a little | on a piece of paper for each um, and, ah said in the speech. They distract me from what is being said and I prefer a little silence. It allows me to collect and process my own thoughts, rather than wondering if I should start counting instead.
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    I haven't read your speech. So my comments are just general ones about speaking in public. (Personally I don't speak from a set script, so can't really help you there anyways).

    Find your style.

    My professor at college, liked to move around while speaking and encouraged us to do so in our speeches; however I felt extremely awkward doing so, and didn't when I had to speak. I stood stock still behind a podium for my whole presentation - I was the only one that got a passing grade on the first speech. One of his tricks, is to introduce yourself as you approach the center of the room, i.e. while in motion - a noticeable entrance that grabs the attention of the audience.

    On 'um' and 'er' and 'ah', I'd go with try not to. Have a glass of water handy, if you have a brain fart, take a sip and collect your thoughts.

    Holding the podium is good, if you can't control your hands - but don't fidget, keep them still. Don't put them in your pockets either - not a profesional look.

    Do not apologise to our audience if you slip up; act like it was supposed to happen.

    Don't talk into your notes, practice the speech before hand (several times), so you can almost recite it, have the notes only for when you get stuck. If you can't bring yourself to make eye contact, look just over the audiences heads.

    Talk slowly. Slower. You'd be surprised how fast people talk when nervous and speaking. If you time yourself in front of the mirror and get 10 minutes, nerves can make you finish in 5 on the day. Actively control the speed that you talk, and pause after important points to help it sink in.

    Be confident. Even if you are a quiverring wreck inside, act like you know exactly what you are talking about, and that you believe every single word of it.

    Don't shout, or whisper. Finding the right volume takes a little practice, but something just a little above how you talk to your friends should do. (of course if theres a mic, or in a large room this may differ; but for a classroom sized audience in a classroom this should be enough).

    You didn't mention if there will be questions afterwards, so I won't address this.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    What everyone else said.

    Also, please remember that "media" is the plural of "medium".
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by AKA_Bait View Post
    Ok, I've spoilered an edit. I tried to keep your langauge and phrasing as much as possible. I left the last sentence alone here, although I'm not really sure exactly what it means and my personal inclination would be to cut it.

    Spoiler
    Show
    Media is not some horrible, soul stealing monster that waits for us when we wake up in the morning. My idea is more of a window, a computer screen if you will, that allows you to see what you want, and only when and where you want it. It’s a medium.

    Of course there are bad places on the internet, of course there’s sex and violence on television, of course popular culture venerates artists who degrade and deface the “old” style of living. This is life and has been as long as there has been civilization. The Iliad has graphic violence caused by illicit extramarital sex. There are pornographic Grecian urns and The Millers Tale isn’t exactly high comedy. This is what happens time and time and time again, in every single society on the face of the earth and in whatever medium they have.

    There are plenty of places on the Cape where you wouldn’t go without a few friends; there are countless people in Massachusetts who are not allowed the same freedoms you and I take for granted because people are afraid of them; the United States of America has too many organizations and groups to count that make people cringe when spoken of. Real people do, and say, all sorts of unpleasant things. The only reason why some complain about modern media, is because it allows those unpleasant things to come forward, out of the darkness that is our culture, and into the light. Modern media simply does it faster, and shows it to more people than paintings on urns and epic poetry.

    Why do we care about these things? In fact, the reason is a mixture of fascination and repulsion, which feeds “the beast” that is pop-culture and media. This feature of the human psyche isn’t new and psychology has been keeping it self entertained with why for years.

    You could almost say that the media conglomerates (such as Microsoft, Fox, CBS, Apple, and others of the same ilk) view the entire situation like and old-fashioned bear baiting, except we are the bear. The hounds that are debauchery, sex appeal, free information, and loss of what seems “normal” takes chunks out of the lumbering, chained public, who can take on only one enemy at a time. Even if it were to do the impossible and defeat these dogs, it would still have to contend with the next batch, and with the hooks set in place by the crowd of spectators (who are also placing bets as I speak), there is no escape possible. Moreover, there never has been.

    As I said, if you look away from this sad picture for a moment, possibly into a history book, you’ll see that this new age of media hasn’t changed anything in society. Look at the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It started with a slight creeping, useful things taking gentle steps into the lives of the public. Steam engines, trains, canals, roads, moveable type, mass manufacture of goods. Then, as now, it seemed to completely overrun society as the people of then knew it, changing the cities, draining the towns of people, turning the air solid and water into fire.

    This time is not so different. It’s just a bit more subtle.

    It’s taken the smog and changed it into light pollution; it’s made the city the same as the county-side, with instant messaging, emails and cellar phones. It has made the world the same as the office. Media has just pulled those demons out from the closet, dusted them off and set them out into the parlor, and so many just want to shut it back up and forget about them. As if simply refusing to see the monster would make it cease to be.

    You see, media is simply a reflection of modern life.

    Lets look at it this way:

    Imagine your town from above.

    The buildings, houses, hangouts, anywhere people and information gather, are computers and television programs.

    The streets, roads, side-walks, cars, railways, are phones, books, newspapers, talk shows, all these things that tell you about or take you to, the information.

    And people you see, are ourselves, children of our own creation, living in a world we seemed determined to walk blithely through, caring nothing for the same dangers we learned to avoid as toddlers.

    We are babies in the knife drawer, reaching blindly for whatever we can grasp, thinking that just because something isn’t physical, it isn’t sharp. Then we cry out to mommy when we cut ourselves and blame the knives for our foolishness.

    The real world is dangerous. It’s reflection in media is too. Each must be handled with care and neither is going to go away when we close our eyes. If you don’t accept that the world around you is dangerous, what right do you have to say that the digital world isn’t just as scary?
    I finally got to read this entirely.
    Wow.
    It expanded on a number of the points I wasn't sure what to do with, and while I think a few parts of it change the style a bit too much, it is brilliant, And I'm sooo going to steal a few things from it.

    @Pepz: But, I am egotistical and self absorbed.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dragonrider View Post
    Wadledo, you dislike EVERYONE. Therefore, you don't count.
    Quote Originally Posted by Draken View Post
    Maybe this is the only true fix for spellcasting, making people scared of using it.
    Quote Originally Posted by dragonprime View Post
    There's a concept called mercy. Are you familiar with it?
    Thank ya Dr.Bath for your avataring skills.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack Squat View Post
    *snip*
    On Dress. Go with the occassion, but I wouldn't go any less than a button-down shirt (longsleeve) and pants. My preference is dark in color, but other people may vary. Try not to wear a tie if possible, but if you have to, leave it a little loose. Ask a friend/relative that is/was in the military to show you how to properly shine your shoes. If you can't, I may put up a tutorial...mine could use a coat soon anyways.
    Agreed, For colors though, depends on your skin tone. If you are as pale as a ghost (like me) go with something lighter in color. If you are darker in skin pigment, go with darker clothing. The point is to not make it so your body contrasts with your clothes. By keeping them closer in shades (lights for lighter, darks for darks) you'll avoid that pitfall.

    And since most places of public speaking have a darker blue or red backdrop, sticking with neutral tones will make you pop out of the scenery more, which commands attention without even trying, and that will make it easier for your speech in general.
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    It wasn't that easy. Supagoof's just that good.
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Maybe you should webcam and host on youtube your speech.

    Yup, I just verbed a noun.

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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Quote Originally Posted by wadledo View Post
    The girl I accidentally knocked a lamp on is thankful of that.
    ...

    *bursts out laughing at the image*
    *hugs
    It's a great speach, Waldy. We are not smart like these guys, so we can't tell you what to do, but we are sure you'll do lovely.

    *clears throat and goes back to blandness*
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Odd.
    Moon_Called posted at the rough moment I made my speech.

    Well, here's the speech I ended up saying, taking a huge bit from AKA_Bait(thank you kindly):
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    Media is not some horrible, soul stealing monster that waits for us when we wake up in the morning. My idea of media is more of a window, a computer screen if you will, that allows you to see what you want, and only when and where you want it. It’s a medium.

    Of course there are bad places on the Internet, of course there’s sex and violence on television, of course popular culture venerates artists who degrade and deface the “old” style of living. This is life and has been as long as there has been civilization. The Iliad has graphic violence caused by illicit extramarital sex. There are pornographic Grecian urns and The Millers Tale isn’t exactly high comedy. This is what happens time and time and time again, in every single society on the face of the earth and in whatever medium they have.

    There are plenty of places on the Cape where you wouldn’t go without a few friends; there are countless people in Massachusetts who are not allowed the same freedoms you and I take for granted because people are afraid of them; the United States of America has too many organizations and groups to count that make people cringe when spoken of. Real people do, and say, all sorts of unpleasant things. The only reason why some complain about modern media, is because it allows those unpleasant things to come forward, out of the darkness that is our culture, and into the light. Modern media simply does it faster, and shows it to more people than paintings on urns and epic poetry.

    Why do we care about these things? In fact, the reason is a mixture of fascination and repulsion, which feeds “the beast” that is pop-culture and media. This feature of the human psyche isn’t new, and psychology has been keeping it-self entertained with why for years.

    You could almost say that the media conglomerates (such as Microsoft, Fox, CBS, Apple, and others of the same ilk) view the entire situation like and old-fashioned bear baiting, except we are the bear. The hounds that are debauchery, sex appeal, free information, and loss of what seems “normal” takes chunks out of the lumbering, chained public, who can take on only one enemy at a time. Even if it were to do the impossible and defeat these dogs, it would still have to contend with the next batch, and with the hooks set in place by the crowd of spectators (who are also placing bets as I speak), there is no escape possible. Moreover, there never has been.

    As I said, if you look away from this sad picture for a moment, possibly into a history book, you’ll see that this new age of media hasn’t changed anything in society. Look at the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It started with a slight creeping, useful things taking gentle steps into the lives of the public. Steam engines, trains, canals, roads, moveable type, mass manufacture of goods. Then, as now, it seemed to completely overrun society as the people of then knew it, changing the cities, draining the towns of people, turning the air solid and water into fire.

    This time is no different. It’s just a bit more subtle.

    It’s taken the smog and changed it into light pollution; it’s made the city the same as the county-side, with instant messaging, emails and cellar phones. It has made the world the same as the office. Media has just pulled those demons out from the closet, dusted them off and sent them out into the parlor, and so many just want to shut it back up and forget about them. As if simply refusing to see the monster would make it cease to be.

    You see, media is simply a reflection of modern life.

    Lets look at it this way:
    Imagine your town from above.
    The buildings, houses, hangouts, anywhere people and information gather, are computers and television programs.

    The streets, roads, side-walks, cars, railways, are phones, books, newspapers, talk shows, all these things that tell you about or take you to, the information, the modern media.

    And people you see, are ourselves, children of our own creation, living in a world we seemed determined to walk blithely through, caring nothing for the same dangers we learned to avoid as toddlers.

    We are babies in the knife drawer of modern culture, reaching blindly for whatever we can grasp. Thinking that just because something isn’t physical, it isn’t sharp. Then, we cry out to Mommy when we cut ourselves and blame the knives for our foolishness.

    The real world is dangerous. It’s reflection in media is too. Each must be handled with care and neither is going to go away when we close our eyes.

    In conclusion, this is how modern media has affected our lives, by creating a vast landscape to cultivate and harvest our ideas in.
    Sadly enough, I got 4th place out of five.


    And I'm going to have to deal with the guy who got 2nd on Friday, who's a total (insert swear of you choosing here).
    Though I did have 2 out of the 5 judges approach me afterwards, saying that even though it wasn't as polished(I only got to rehears the final version 2-3 times), they gave me the highest scores they could.
    And the kid who won both last year and this year() said that he would have picked mine and the girl who got 5th as 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

    So thanks for all the support, you made my night.
    Last edited by wadledo; 2008-11-05 at 10:04 PM.
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  23. - Top - End - #23
    Orc in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    shame you didn't end up first, but if the other people tell you you were good, it's usually just a question of, as you said, just being a bit unpolished. Practice a bit more and you'll beat "swear of my choice inserted" into a pulp, eloquently

    And arrogance is a powerful mechanism on stage, so use your powers of selfabsorbtion and egocentricity, Wadledo! AND TAKE OVER THE WORLD

    of speeches


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    Default Re: Public Speaking-not ITP

    Glad to hear it went well. Don't worry about how you placed (I didn't realize this was a competitive event). A few words of wisdom from my old HS Speech and Debate coach, who said the following every year, at the beginning of the year, to the entire team during the first team-wide meeting (the team was very large, over 100 members, so team-wide meetings were rare). He said:

    Quote Originally Posted by Richard Sodikow
    At the end of every tournament we go to you need to ask yourself three questions. First: did I try my best? Second: did I learn something? Third: did I have fun? If you are going to be on this team, you need to be able to answer "yes" to all three questions. Note that one of these questions is not: did I win?
    Last edited by AKA_Bait; 2008-11-06 at 10:41 AM.
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