“If I knew a lot about what I was talking about, I wouldn't be nervous. But if I wasn't confident in my knowledge of the subject matter, I would be.”

— Lisa Egan, homemaker, Lawrence

“Yeah, I probably would be. I'd be afraid that someone would know more about it than me and call me out on it.”

— Josh Rome, unemployed, Lawrence

“I think it would depend on the age group. I'd be fine with little kids, but any older than that would probably make me nervous.”

— Becky Davis, Lawrence High School senior, Lawrence

“Yes. Talking in front of so many people would make me nervous.”

— Michael Suher, Brown University graduate student, Providence, R.I.