Falloy wrote:
I usually know when I've said something really dumb in a conversation and I feel awful about it. I remember it for years and decades afterwards - even things I said at school over thirty years ago! Such incidents flash back in my memory all the time with white-hot, toe-curling embarassment.
I don't often say anything actually rude; my mistakes tend to be just jokes that fall flat or references to geeky things or my special interests that other people don't get.
I've tried really hard to improve my conversation skills but I still put my foot in it from time to time.
I could've written this.
It's a major cause of social anxiety. I might flinch or react to my own mistakes immediately after making them while I'm still in the same situation. It takes a lot of work to just move on and not let it ruin the rest of the interaction.
I also get the flash memories so if you see me freeze up in my tracks that's probably what's happening. It takes effort to shake off the memory and be able to continue what I'm doing.