Okay, forgive the minor play on words there.
This is absolutely not targeted to anyone, as a disclaimer. Partly because I have seen it just about everywhere and just about as long as I can remember.
Why are people afraid to be the first pose in an event?
Almost every plot scene I've been in or run for the past whatever years, the first 15-20 minutes (it doesn't take this long to read a set and write a pose) is wasted in a middle school dance of silently willing someone else to be first out on the floor. Even people who are prone to 'I do all the things!,' I have noticed, are like this.
Often, once one pose has gone up, all the rest follow in a flood which tells me people were just waiting for someone to be first.
I have two theories on this, but I think they have a core conflict with one another.
Theory 1
People are uncertain what to do and want someone else to guide them.
My issue with this theory is this: it implies the ST didn't give enough detail. And maybe I don't! But I don't think that would be the case with every ST and as I said: I see this happen everywhere. Additionally, if it is the case: why aren't people asking for clarification?
Theory 2
People are scared of looking like they're too eager or greedy for the spotlight.
I also have an issue with this theory because I know plenty of people who aren't remotely a 'I DO ALL THE THINGS!' sort of person. And many of the spotlight-addicts would have, in theory, no issue leaping forward first to set the tone.
So what is the cause of it?
And what can we do to improve it, to prevent wasted time? (or alternatively: to encourage people that it's OK to be first to pose.)
One idea I have is to 'release' the set pose early (if you have a select group of people attending) and let them think about their first pose in the hours leading up to the event / ask any questions they have. Unfortunately, this won't work in every scenario (some events are all-comers, some people can't login until event start...).