tl;dr

It wouldn't be much trouble for me to give it to him, if he's interested.

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Originally Posted by Minion

It wouldn't be much trouble for me to give it to him, if he's interested.

Fuck that shit. Give it to me. (Especially if its an eBook.)

Pang may even want to read some of it. He reads everything, you know.

FELIPE NO

Actually, despite his persona, it seems to me that Pang would be an amicable (although perhaps antisocial) guy in real life.

Anywho, I can give it to multiple people, since it's only data, not an actual book.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

...and I still spend my days off (like tomorrow, I'm predicting) either doing nothing or hanging out with my friend.

I think this post will have a disrespectful taste in it, but it's not meant that way. Seriously, what do you do all day? You told us you would "do nothing" - as in ceasing to exist? Don't you have any hobbies? Or things you like to do?

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

You two understand the concept of quitting smoking "cold turkey"? Difficult for most, simple for few. Jumping in with both feet would be akin to quitting smoking "cold turkey", something I can't fathom doing. As it is, I'm trying to quit being boring and lonely as most people quite smoking: slowly but surely, and with some sense of resolve. It may take some time but at least I'm trying.

Excuses. You say you're socially inept yet you don't have a problem talking to someone. So what is your problem? Do you even want to find friends (with an explanation, please)?

About the drinking thing - I think noone here will try to make you an alcoholic. But one drink won't have a big impact on your life. Just try it, maybe you like it, maybe you don't. If you don't know what to order, try an alcopop. It's like lemonade, just that it destroys brain cells. Personally I hate beer with a passion but that's my taste. Another thing: Do you also base the "I-can't-find-friends"-theory on the fact that you don't drink alcohol?

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

I'm not in school yet, but the idea of joining a/many club(s) is one I've been entertaining.

Great idea. You should just do it for the sake of it rather than wanting to change your life. Otherwise it would seem quite forced, you know? I suggest volunteering for something if you have time for it. Helping others is a great thing and (maybe!!) finding friends would be just a positive side-effect.

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

Haven't we all concluded that it's obvious I can't? For whatever reason -- I don't have the mental capacity, I can't think outside the box (...)

First you seek a helping hand, then you reject it and say you're simply not capable of making friends. Guess what? Everyone is. Everyone can find someone who likes him. There are 6000000000 people on the earth. Don't tell me that no one likes you. So the "I-can't-do-it-on-my-own"-card doesn't work here, you could have just used it if you're shy.

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

I'm thinking I should just suck it up and give up trying to make friends for the time being. If there's only two people that interest me and neither want to hang out then there's nothing I can do about it. No one's coming to me and asking if I'd like to hang out, and they never have...so what does that say about how people see me?

See above.

Originally Posted by The Dopefish

So, my only problem is I need to find social situations and feel comfortable meeting random strangers.

If that's your problem then you're just underestimating yourself. What are you afraid of? Your life doesn't seem like you could lose anything at the moment (you said you're not happy with it, not me).

Again, this whole post is not meant to be disrespectful. The others brought some very inspiring advice. Please, do something about your life. The way you live it at the moment you just throw it away.

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Originally Posted by Minion

Actually, despite his persona, it seems to me that Pang would be an amicable (although perhaps antisocial) guy in real life.

He's a pretty considerate guy, really. He just keeps to himself an awful lot.

And how many "friends" do you think Pang has?

Case closed. ^_^

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well, yeah, but what I'm saying is that he seems like a loner by choice. This book is mostly for people who frequently piss other people off and don't understand why. Or for people who want to know what to do in order to climb the ladder at work.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Quote:

And how many "friends" do you think Pang has?

I was on Pang's friends list! Does this count for anything? =D

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Minion

Well, yeah, but what I'm saying is that he seems like a loner by choice. This book is mostly for people who frequently piss other people off and don't understand why. Or for people who want to know what to do in order to climb the ladder at work.

WELL THEN! I could certainly use that, COULDN'T I? ^_^ (Though I realize why I piss people off)

And it really couldn't help our dear friend Dope here. Maybe we could create a hobby for him in reading. Thats a completely valid hobby, no? (I don't even know anymore)

And PeePee, I have no idea. ;_;

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Incidentally, it was written in 1936, RR? I think I will have to read this, now. It couldn't help, considering my VERY ANGRY DISPOSITION.

He wrote it as a textbook for the course he originally taught at a local YMCA in New York. He found there were no really good books on the subject, so he took his background as a biographer (I think he claims to have read something like 80 books on Lincoln alone) and used examples from other peoples' lives to show what methods worked for them. He'll point out a trend in how they behave, throw in some good quotes from successful people, and generally makes a pretty convincing argument.

If you're going to buy a book, I recommend the one I linked to at buy.com. It has two of his best books together in hardback for about as much as you'd pay for one of them in paperback.

If I was on my desktop I'd send you the text file I made with my favorite passages from the book. Here's one of the lines that struck me the most while reading the book (I remembered enough of this one to google for it).

Originally Posted by John Wanamaker

I learned 30 years ago that it is foolish to scold. I have enough trouble overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Dopefish, here's the bottom line. If you whine in real life about your situation half as much as you've done in this thread, no one is going to want to be around you. You have to be positive.

I've noticed a trend among young people - especially boys - to try to win sympathy points by wallowing in self-pity. The harsh truth is, that doesn't work. Any girl with an ounce of self-respect is going to be repulsed by a guy who constantly harps about how lonely and socially inept he is.

Tell people often enough how much you suck and pretty soon they'll start to believe it.

FELIPE NO

Thankfully I'm not as bad in real life as I am on here.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

How old are you, Dope?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Twenty-two.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Perfect. This weekend, go to a bar with some friends, get some alcohol in you and try approaching some girls. Let us know how it goes, too.

Scenario:
You're playing pool, darts or whatever, and you see group of girls playing too. Go over and ask if they can teach you some pointers, or (if you can play) offer advice. Introduce yourself. Ask what the girls' (preferably the one you're most interested in) are into, where they work, how old they are, etc. Tell them some of yours.

In general, it's a good idea to stay away from politics and religion for topics. (Some say you should NEVER bring either of these topics up in a bar, actually.)

Don't talk about previous love interests, either. (Will make it seem like you're still into them.)

As people are saying, just TRY SOMETHING. Try the book. Try talking to some women you don't know. Seriously. This isn't an exact science. (Thankfully.)

You can't screw up if you don't try, but you can't succeed without trying, either. Loneliness is worse than rejection. (Tell yourself that if you get discouraged from approaching girls.)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by eks

Perfect. This weekend, go to a bar with some friends, get some alcohol in you and try approaching some girls. Let us know how it goes, too.

So, let me get this straight: go to a bar with my one friend, who is 20 and has a girlfriend already.

AWESOME PLAN.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

More excuses?

Actually, that's good, too. They can be the designated driver. That, and he (probably) won't be stealing any of your prospects.

I was speaking idiomatically.

He doesn't have a license.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You just want attention, don't you?

FELIPE NO

I don't see YOU resisting either way...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

So that's a yes. Everyone should just stop trying to help you, you don't seem to like anyone's advice anyhow.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Well, now that you've admitted you're doing it just for attention, perhaps the right *cough* authorities could step in.

And I am not talking about staff, either.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I haven't said anything. But this topic is dead anyway.

How ya doing, buddy?