Theocratic School Talks, they were the worst ! hated doing them, did you ? (page 2)

drwtsn32

I absolutely *hated* giving talks. I dropped out of the TMS a few years before I left the organization though. What a relief not to have to worry about giving those stupid talks.

badolputtytat

Yep ... hated it.

age 10 and up...my dad always wrote it for me:

1. mumble jargon for 25 seconds(gesture)

2. read first 9 verses of any given bible chapter

3. mumble jargon.....(gesture)... mumble mumble

4. read 3 more verses.... (eye contact)

5. (gesture) mumble jargon

6. read final 4 verses.. .(gesture)....mumble mumble

7. look at feet as I scamper back to my seat, to be "graded" like a side of beef

Hhmmmph haaaaaaated it.

A dear kind older brother was appointed misnisterial servant the same time I was about 1980. We both gave instruction talks and parts on the service meeting. The elders were always telling me I wasn't enthusiastic enough. The older brother spoke from his heart and gave talks everyone enjoyed. The elders criticized him even more than me because they didn't like his style. In fact, they criticized him so much he resigned as a MS. There was no pleasing those elders.

onacruse

I loved giving talks. I remember one Instruction Talk I gave, when I was a teenager, and my Dad was the School Servant. I got so wound up that as the clock went 12min-13min-14min-15min, I didn't even notice. Well, he put the little red flashing light up on his table (since the IT wasn't supposed to be "stopped," poor old Dad just had to sit there ). 20min-21min-22min...he's pounding on the tabletop with his pencil...I'm oblivious...man, I was really into that talk!!! 23min-24min-25min...I finally walk off the stage, wondering why so many of the brothers and sisters have a strange look on their faces.

Dad had to cancel 3 of the next 4 talks LOLOLOL

Craig (of the "gift for gab" class)

primitivegenius

well i hated service except for the social part lol. youknow breaks ruled but talks werent so bad once i got over the inital horror. i was good at them......... well compared to a decent number in my small cong. if i took the time to get it ready ahead of time it was easy and if i didnt i could always bs them as i went along. then i gave a real good talk on cleanlyness............ and some of my friends didnt want to have me over after that.............. and my friends wife said it was cause i gave such a good talk she didnt think she could measure up to it........................ and then i laughed and said that she was gonna get the rare ivitation to look into my piled up horror of a room next time they came over lol. i just took the borgs nanotechnological information virus and made it fun to listen to. after that she was ok with me visiting them again lol. my cong had publishers right around 40 so i was only nervous when new people were there. go figure lol

CaptainSchmideo

I'm going to put myself in the plus column for enrolling in the school.

It is a great way, for the males in particular, to get used to speaking before large groups of people. This can be used to your advantage later in life, especially if your job requires you to make a presentation to clients, as mine does.

As far as restrictive outlines or emphasis on things like gestures, proper enunciation, etc., Toastmasters requires the same thing, and they come down harder on you. As a matter of opinion, I think the Ministry School Guidebook is a lift from the Toastmasters anyway.

My boys have enrolled in the School already (both are younger than 10) and they really love it. They are so enthusiastic about showing their skills at reading, and I think this is a positive experience for them. And now that there is no longer an intro/conclusion for the number 2 talk, my life is a little easier in helping them prepare and yes, I am the hardest drill sergeant there is. After several practices, they get "gonged" for missing sentences, losing volume, run-ons, etc. And its amazing how well they do when they get up in front of the group! Very enthusiastic and excited! I am so glad that at least this one thing is something they can take part in.

A little self improvement never hurts anyone....

yxl1

I enjoyed it. I would even volenteer to do them when people were sick! I always tried to make them funny or interesting. I would use props or real life examples and sometimes use references from TV and popular music. Everyone would congratulate me on such an inspiring talk and many brothers and sisters would recall these talks for many weeks afterwards. When I reached my late teens, I was told by the elders to "stick to the program" and to "stop looking for attention". After that, I refused to do them anymore.

My younger brother hated them. When he was 8 he gave the bible reading, made a mistake and the whole congregation laughed. He ran off the stage crying....

greven

How about you, did you enjoy doing them?

Yes! I could put my own words and thoughts about a bible part in that little talk. I taught me to speak for an audience of about a hundred people, which was very handy: Talks at school and university are quite easy now.

Did you even prepare for them?

Uhm, barely. I usually made them the day before, sometimes on the day itself in about half an hour. I did not do much research but used reason and daily life examples. Because my focus was not like the standard my talks were welcomed as refreshing and funny. Got a lot of compliments for half an hour work.

or just happen to be sick the night you had to give a talk.

Nope, not nervous at all save the first two, three times.

The new system is some much more tight that there is no more room for creativity or improvision. Now you either just read a bible part with no commentary, or do a talk with an outline based on a specific WT. Took all the fun out. I am inactive but they still assign me for talks and give the slips to my parents or sister. I give them back now, I've learned enough. This new system is patronizing and braindead. I give 45 minute talks at university I do not need talks that let you read a chapter from the bible and then get off stage...

Ok, vented enough I guess.

Greven

smurfette

When I was a kid (I think I started at 9) I used to shake violently while giving talks even though I got to sit down & do the weird woman skit thing. I'm glad they kept making me do it because it did help me with public speaking a great deal. I remember one unlucky young brother got the privlege of giving a talk on masturbation and although normally he was very composed he was super quavery. I tried to stifle my giggles, couldn't & exploded in laughter during the middle of his talk. I still feel kinda bad about it yet still find it funny at the same time.

heather_66350

oh man, i absolutely hate giving talks. i still am made to do so, since i still live with my mother. but to me they are the worst things, i stress over them sooo much and dont get them done till the very last minute. out of all the things in life that i have to do in life giving talks is the worst. i'm kind of a quiet person normally so i'm really bad at getting up in front of so many people and giving talks. i think the last talk i had i even tryed to convince a couple of my friends to write it for me if i payed them. didnt work though, none of them wanted to do it either. and my mom thinks its such a 'privilege' to give them.

Theocratic School Talks, they were the worst ! hated doing them, did you ?