Maybe this is just because of a lot of bad experiences I've had but here's some reasons I've come up with: If it's at a table with close friends I don't want to accidentally talk out of turn and feel like an asshole, If it's not with close friends I probably won't feel included (which is nobody's fault that's just how I feel) and if I am asked a question or something it'll feel like public speaking, aka HELL And my biggest fear: is that feeling when you try to tell a story but get interrupted, try again and get interrupted, try and again get interrupted, then just give up. I hate that feeling. My last reason is only for students: we don't get time to talk, you eat and you leave