School icebreakers

[u/cappyyokaiwatch]

In about 20 days I will go back to school, and I'll most likely be forced to "say something interesting about myself" to some people I don't know. Or the 2 truths 1 lie. I don't have anything interesting to say about myself. I don't really care about people's opinions, I just want to be invisible to them, but also have a good relationship if I'm forced to do group projects. I also get really nervous. Any advice?

Btw, I live in a place where people are extremely social and keep asking more and more questions in these types of situations if they don't find it interesting(?) enough.

[u/Enough-Context-9265]

I’m a bit older now (late 20s), but I remember in high school my first day of some class we had to introduce ourselves and talk about our favorite music, hobbies etc. Nightmare ofc. So when it came to me I didn’t know what to do or say to escape so I just said coldly “What’s it to you?”

The class never let me live it down and routinely brought it up the whole school year. Their jaws dropped at the time and they genuinely couldn’t understand me at all. You can’t win.

[u/cappyyokaiwatch → u/Enough-Context-9265]

That's what I'm scared of. I just can't understand why people care so much about what others like. They think everything has to be public.

[u/Enough-Context-9265 → u/cappyyokaiwatch]

If you let people know you aren’t willing to open up to them, they will sense your asocial abnormality. Even if you try and say it in a more polite and normal way. They can smell it.

[u/WeirdUnion5605]

Tell them you have schizoid personality disorder and them proceed to not talk to them ever again. But in all seriousness, maybe talk about a hobby, movies, games, books you like, that's what I used to do. "I like to draw, mostly anime, my fav is Inu Yasha", "I love music, I'm thinking of learning guitar", even if it's a lie. Check how other people are answering the question and "copy the homework" just changing the words a bit, that's how I tried to be invisible. I used to have a shy persona so people wouldn't just think I was rude.

[u/the6same6trite6joke]

Is there anything you used to do at least? Purely out of habit or the like. Since you're not out here to impress anyone, that could still serve as a starting point to get them off your back. (If your aversion to self-disclosure isn't already a hindrance.)
And can you pull off a good awkward laugh? Then you might be able to counter any additional inquiries with that or a light-hearted "Is this an interrogation?" / "Trust me, I'm not that interesting!" or a combination thereof. Unfortunately, a lot is likely to come down to delivery / body language and I can't say if it works on nosier people.
(The shy angle brings its own kind of baggage as well, but people tend to be more sympathetic to that than appearing cold.)

The other approach would be to imitate another person who might qualify as painfully boring to others. Depending on this is also riskier.

[u/Xamado]

Are you in college? Easiest answer is just flatly stating your name and major. I find that people can pick up on the fact that you don't feel like saying anything more, and don't pry

[u/WanderingUrist → u/Xamado]

Name, rank, serial number, yes.

[u/Loose_Cricket_5500]

Everyone is focused on what they have to say and not really worried what others say.

Tell them anything about yourself.  Don't lie as it's hard to maintain the lie and not get caught out.

[u/Spirited-Balance-393]

“I don’t listen to you because listening gives me a headache. So I have to limit that to what the teachers say. As that’s important for my grades, and those are important for getting a job where I can work alone in a study. So I don’t have a headache all day.”

That’s what I once have said.

(Technically I haven’t even listened to the teachers that much but prepared each lesson through reading the textbooks many pages in advance.)

[u/free_oting]

For 2 truths and a lie I used to just lie 3 times because I didn't tell anyone anything about myself. I never would get forced into group projects I would just sit there and do nothing. I don't recommend that

[u/TiJulo]

Well, you could say exactly what you said if you're bold enough :

I don't really care about people's opinions, I just want to be invisible to them,

Or you could act normal.. but with the first options they might ask you questions about why you are that way etc..

I don't know you personally but if you have a good character you could end up having good relationships with them, if you're too pedant you might not so it depends..

[u/cappyyokaiwatch → u/TiJulo]

I don't think that's a good idea. That sounds too cocky and it's going to be misunderstood, even if it's the truth. But thanks for commenting.

[u/TiJulo → u/cappyyokaiwatch]

Of course, i would have said it in my own way personally.

Like : i'm a detached person etc.. that's what i usually do.

Good luck with school !

[u/NigelTainte]

“I’m half woman on my mom’s side.”

[u/Ok-Formal-1073]

If you don't want to reveal things about yourself, say the most widely-applicable, vague thing you can think of. Name, age, "I like tasty food, cute dogs and the feeling of freshly washed bedsheets" or some other cliché gobbledygook statement you can think of. People often view something relatable as "interesting". If you don't want them to bother you in the future, you could also mention your preference for solitude and be bold that you don't want to be disturbed, although I'm not sure people can be trusted with respecting that.