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drpaladin

drpaladin 118,880
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Does one need Poise? It Depends.

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Bill W

Bill W 65,023
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The word poise comes from the Old French word pois ("to weigh on a scale" or "heaviness"), which traces back to the Latin word pensum ("a weighed portion" or "something withed") and the verb pendere ("hang", "cause to hang" or "weigh").  Over time, the meaning shifted from literal physical weight to a balanced state, and by the 1640s, to emotional and mental balance.  It was borrowed into Middle English as poisem / pois in the 14th and 15th centuries to mean physical weight, heaviness, or equilibrium.  In the 16th century the meaning evolved to describe a state of being equally weighted on both sides (equilibrium).  In the 1640s it shifted metaphorically to mean mental steadiness, calmness, and composure.  In the 1770s it expanded to describe physical carriage, or the way a person carries their body.  

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest recorded use of "poise" depends on the part of speech.  The verb appears first in 1389, while the primary  noun form (weight / balance dates back to 1421 in the Rolls of Parliament.   The secondary noun form (unit of viscosity) appears much  later in 1913.  

Edited by Bill W
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Bill W

Bill W 65,023
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Poise in storytelling is the calm control and balance a speaker shows. It builds trust, helps the audience focus on the message, and turns a nervous delivery into a smooth, powerful experience.  

Why Poise Matters:  
Builds Trust: A calm speaker makes listeners feel safe and sure.  
Controls the Pace: Slow, steady movements and pauses give heavy moments room to breathe.  
Reduces Noise: It stops nervous habits so the core message shines.  
Shows Confidence: Standing tall and steady proves you know your value and your story.  

How to Practice Poise:  
Breathe Deeply: Calm breaths keep your body steady and your voice clear.  
Use Clean Gestures: Make intentional movements that match your words, then rest your hands.  
Embrace Pauses: Do not rush through quiet or scary parts of the tale.  
Focus on the Listeners: Think about helping the audience rather than how you look.  
Edited by Bill W
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sandrewn

sandrewn 30,076
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58 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Does one need Poise? It Depends.

Reference: Your question, see the other responses for the answers.

 

Reference: It Depends, this is not an endorsement, just product information.

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5 Best Adult Diapers In 2026 (No Matter Your Size) - YouTube

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Paladin

Paladin 22,491
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In Sydney in the 1950-s. 1960s and early 1970s the Queen of etiquette, poise and deportment was June Dally-Watkins. At her school of deportment for young ladies aspiring to be models or socially competent, she taught poise by requiring her students to practise walking with either a volume of an encyclopedia or a copy of the Sydney phone book balanced on their heads. :)

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ReaderPaul

ReaderPaul 22,241
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6 hours ago, drpaladin said:

Does one need Poise? It Depends.

Well, Poise does not Always Equate with Depends.  Perhaps Tena prefers Cora, or Aunt Flow, or such an old brand as Kotex.  Sometimes one can Stayfree, and other times one might have to get Rael.  But with proper planning one might be Always Discreet.

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sandrewn

sandrewn 30,076
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10 hours ago, drpaladin said:

Does one need Poise? It Depends.

I am going to end this farce I started by going back to our 'Word of the Day'.

Question: Did the Beatles have poise?

Answer: Yes; Ringo said he threw up from nerves before the Royal Command performance and you can see Paul is very nervous. George said they were apprehensive before big steps, but also had a confidence.

I think there were two things that got them through their nerves; firstly, they were hugely experienced - Beatles’ historian Mark Lewisohn calculated that by 1962, the Beatles had had more stage time than any other pop band in the world. They’d also been through so much together; once in Hamburg they were sitting at a table when someone at the next table was shot dead. While the waiters dealt with that, the Beatles had to go on stage and start performing.

Secondly, they completely trusted each others’ abilities. George also said that he felt a bit sorry for Elvis as there was only one Elvis, but there were 4 of them to share the experience.

 
How They Showed Poise
  • Grace under pressure: They handled screaming crowds, chaotic press conferences, and intrusive questions with calm humor and sharp charm.
  • Tough background: Years of playing long, grueling hours in Hamburg clubs built their stage grit and confidence.
  • Shared strength: Having four members meant they shared the stress and kept each other grounded during major moments.
  • Clean style: Their early matching suits and look gave them a neat, composed public image.

The Beatles - Twist And Shout (Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/23/64) - YouTube

When The Beatles first emerged in the early 1960s with their signature "mop-top" fringe, their hair was treated by the mainstream public and media as a shocking symbol of rebellion, with critics famously remarking that the young men "looked like girls".

When the Beatles Arrived in America, Reporters Ignored the Music and Obsessed Over Hair

 

:cowboy:(I have to confess, I was a teenager then and bought a Beatles wig, never had the courage to wear it, except at home, even my parents never saw it. Shortly afterwards I joined the military, and any dreams of a mop top haircut, were quickly sheered away.)

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drpaladin

drpaladin 118,880
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49 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

I am going to end this farce I started by going back to our 'Word of the Day'.

Question: Did the Beatles have poise?

Answer: Yes; Ringo said he threw up from nerves before the Royal Command performance and you can see Paul is very nervous. George said they were apprehensive before big steps, but also had a confidence.

I think there were two things that got them through their nerves; firstly, they were hugely experienced - Beatles’ historian Mark Lewisohn calculated that by 1962, the Beatles had had more stage time than any other pop band in the world. They’d also been through so much together; once in Hamburg they were sitting at a table when someone at the next table was shot dead. While the waiters dealt with that, the Beatles had to go on stage and start performing.

Secondly, they completely trusted each others’ abilities. George also said that he felt a bit sorry for Elvis as there was only one Elvis, but there were 4 of them to share the experience.

 
How They Showed Poise
  • Grace under pressure: They handled screaming crowds, chaotic press conferences, and intrusive questions with calm humor and sharp charm.
  • Tough background: Years of playing long, grueling hours in Hamburg clubs built their stage grit and confidence.
  • Shared strength: Having four members meant they shared the stress and kept each other grounded during major moments.
  • Clean style: Their early matching suits and look gave them a neat, composed public image.

The Beatles - Twist And Shout (Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/23/64) - YouTube

When The Beatles first emerged in the early 1960s with their signature "mop-top" fringe, their hair was treated by the mainstream public and media as a shocking symbol of rebellion, with critics famously remarking that the young men "looked like girls".

When the Beatles Arrived in America, Reporters Ignored the Music and Obsessed Over Hair

 

:cowboy:(I have to confess, I was a teenager then and bought a Beatles wig, never had the courage to wear it, except at home, even my parents never saw it. Shortly afterwards I joined the military, and any dreams of a mop top haircut, were quickly sheered away.)

Those with dyslexia think poise is a flower.

 

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Bill W

Bill W 65,023
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4 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Those with dyslexia think poise is a flower.

 

That's why most people spell the word for flower as posy or posey, not posie.  

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drpaladin

drpaladin 118,880
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10 minutes ago, Bill W said:

That's why most people spell the word for flower as posy or posey, not posie.  

Most spell it posie. I've never seen the others. Until now.

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Bill W

Bill W 65,023
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5 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

Most spell it posie. I've never seen the others. Until now.

The traditional dictionary spelling for the noun (plural: posies). It matches standard English rules for nouns ending in a "y" sound.  (This is not just me saying it) 

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drpaladin

drpaladin 118,880
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8 minutes ago, Bill W said:

The traditional dictionary spelling for the noun (plural: posies). It matches standard English rules for nouns ending in a "y" sound.  (This is not just me saying it) 

LOL

There are many words which end in IE.

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sandrewn

sandrewn 30,076
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@drpaladinI just had to say one(more) last thing. I have attended over a dozen Robbie Burns Night dinners, courtesy of  The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Sergeants & WOs Mess and this is where your IE comes in. Cock-a-Leekie Soup is the traditional soup for Burns Night.

 

Edited by sandrewn
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Bill W

Bill W 65,023
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37 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

@drpaladinI just had to say one(more) last thing. I have attended over a dozen Robbie Burns Night dinners, courtesy of  The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Sergeants & WOs Mess and this is where your IE comes in. Cock-a-Leekie Soup is the traditional soup for Burns Night.

 

That happens when you get old, your cock-a-leekie! 

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drpaladin

drpaladin 118,880
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2 minutes ago, Bill W said:

That happens when you get old, your cock-a-leekie! 

Which brings us back to incontinence products.

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sandrewn

sandrewn 30,076
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🤐

 

 

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