Do you make friends at competitions?

Loiloiloi

Loiloiloi

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Joined
Feb 16, 2016
Messages
573
Location
Easton, Pennsylvania
WCA ID
2016CLAR04
Do you go to competitions with the goal of making friends? I have a hard time just going and approaching new people in comps. Don't get me wrong, I have talked to lots of great people in comp, like Chris Tran and Keaton Ellis, but I have a hard time establishing myself in a group and usually just practice by myself, compete, talk to people a little bit, and then leave. What's your experience with this like?
 
I'm really shy and don't like talking to people. Instead, from my very first competition, I kept myself busy by volunteering for judging or scrambling so other people wouldn't talk to me. It turned out not to work so well. The organisers started asking me to do more and more important jobs, and next thing I know, I was the one announcing the events and people started thinking I was one of the organisers and started coming to me with questions.

But seriously, I don't know how it works at the comps you go to, but at the comps I go to the best way to ma make friends is to stay behind and help tidy up afterwards.
 
Yeah, I made at least 3 'friends' and met plenty of others at dixon. a group had kinda gathered around me and my skewb friend that day (Probably because they wanted to try my epic GTS, my friend was getting good skewb times, and I got a 1.96 Pyra solve...) and that was even with judging all OH rounds too... I'd say the best way to make friends is to just sit yourself down in a place where people can't help but notice you and just be friendly. Asking to try cubes is also another way... (lol I probably tried 200+ cubes belonging to other people.)
 
Loiloiloi said:
Do you go to competitions with the goal of making friends? I have a hard time just going and approaching new people in comps. Don't get me wrong, I have talked to lots of great people in comp, like Chris Tran and Keaton Ellis, but I have a hard time establishing myself in a group and usually just practice by myself, compete, talk to people a little bit, and then leave. What's your experience with this like?
Click to expand...

My goal is to break a national record every time so I can feel awesome about myself and make enemies by taking away their national records. (Just kidding)

It's easier to approach people who are close to your age. It's generally good to try to help out with judging. I guess it forces you to interact with people more.

My situation was different for me at my first competition. I already knew many names and some faces from this forum. I was keen to meet UK cubers was the first time. It was just really easy to get the ball rolling from there. I guess my goal is to just have a good time regardless of my results. I don't really think about making friends at a competition. It sorta comes naturally...
 
I was very antisocial at my first comp. I sort of hid in the spectator area and cubed alone all day. After that, I started interacting more with local cubers online (here and on facebook), and I ended up having friends to talk to in my later competitions.
 
PenguinsDontFly said:
I was very antisocial at my first comp. I sort of hid in the spectator area and cubed alone all day. After that, I started interacting more with local cubers online (here and on facebook), and I ended up having friends to talk to in my later competitions.
Click to expand...

Your first comp sounds so much like how I used to be. First two comps, I had no idea what I was doing, but third comp, I met Brandon Huang, who was my first cubing friend. After that I just kept meeting more people, and now I have a super-awesome group of friends who I talk to every day. :)
 
Stalk people until you find someone around your speed, then ask if you can grab a chair and warm up by racing. Ask questions about cubes and methods to the people around you. When you're in the competitor area waiting to solve, ask people how they're times are etc. Eventually, you'll get to know people.
 
I talked to people here on SS, and we met up then. I think that's "the" best way. Now that being said, I've only been to one comp where I wasn't the organizer, so I've gotten to know the staffers better now.

If there isn't anyone you can talk to online that lives near you (which there probably is) then Drew's advice is really good.
 
At my first comp I met quite a few ppl but somehow at my second comp not a single onew of them were at the next comp. At my second comp I met a group of ppl that I hung with a lot at the comp and they were all there at my third comp and we hung a lot there too and I also met new friends. I go to comps once a year bcoz there is only 1 comp every year here in Israel ): .
 
I'm basically only friends with the staff at the comp and a few other I know on Skype people because I'm either scrambling or competing for the entire comp lel
 
Well, I saw DG that one time at Manhasset 2015. And a guy saw my Mathcounts wristband at Big Apple Spring, and we talked for a bit about our schools' teams... There was this one guy who ran up to my table to ask for a screwdriver. (Wow I'm lame. I'm so much better at talking to people over the Internet) Ok, I have a comp next weekend, so...

Goals:
Don't make any second rounds so I can see my friends the day after (because reasons)
Go around and talk to people
Don't let my dad fall asleep

I should really be more social in these kinds of things.
 
Anyone going to the comp in Exeter, New Hampshire? Because asking to meet with people here and actually meeting them is the only way I'm gonna make friends.
 
I didn't speak to many people at all at my first comp. I was the oldest competitor by over a decade. After that I have met up at least one of the guys from the older cubers thread at every competition.
 
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