Are You Socially Retarded?

I like that you like potatos.

Was thinking chaos, disorder, catfights...

I once sat in my car, in the parking lot of America's Bar in Kalamazoo, MI, watching two girls go at it. In the snow. Drunk. Both wearing those 3/4 length pastel wool coats popular in the 90s. Blood and makeup everywhere.

Wish I could say I was listening to Slayer, but it was more likely House of Large Sizes.

BTW here's yer Parliament

Understood. I thought I was the only person who knew who they were. Wrong again.

Thankee. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

You've started a really good thread, earllogjam. I don't have any definitive answers, but I can relay my personal experiences to you.

I've always had a hard time talking to men. I don't know what to say to them unless it's small talk or related to a special interest we both share. Yes, I do find that I have a hard time talking to women some times, but not nearly as much.

You may be interested in this, earlboy: When I lived in Australia for two years in a hostel, I had very intimate conversations with other young men unlike ever before. I talked to dudes almost liked I talked to women. It's almost as I have had lost respect for the male ego. Talking to men around my own age in this way had me thinking that men might not be wired that differently from women verbally-speaking. Culture seems to be playing a much bigger role that what I had thought.

I'm not exactly sure what encouraged the atypical male verbal behavior, but it sure did make me see a different side to men - a very vulnerable one. Could it be that male international backpacker types often break themselves from rigid some cultural chains in their journey to find their true selves? Or what it just a happy accident where men with similar verbal behaviors were brought together?

I think teenagers were always rude though :)

You warmed up and relaxed pretty quickly...

I wasn't! Then again, my parents did not permit rudeness. It just didn't happen.

Earl, I suffer from nearly crippling shyness in social situations. I just had to teach myself the skills to deal with it. Ah, the number of times I have simply had to force myself to walk up to someone, introduce myself, shake hands, and start a conversation... agonizing, but worth it.

Fuck, did you set him on fire? Is there NO LIMIT to your torture???

Back on topic. I'm rarely shy. Ever. In a social situation, I am that guy who doesn't mind talking to anyone and everyone. Not annoying hopefully, but I have no problem getting into a conversation. I wouldn't say 'Life of the party' because that is arrogant, but I would say that I'm good in the social dept.

No, silly... hot wax!

My partner is the gregarious, bon vivant in social situations. It comes naturally to him. Most people I meet think I'm naturally gregarious, but it's hard work for me.

to add on this, i find it much easier to talk and to be fast friends with women way more than guys. sometimes, it's really difficult to meet a new other guy and hit it off. in my experience, some just brood in the corner, hardly speaking, and staring. i know there are many exceptions (see Jeff's post) but that's something i've really noticed where i live.

i don't know what it is with women. they have the gift of gab. :P

Hi im the first to admit im a dag and would be boring to hang with, I like my time alone spent doing things i like but also enjoy the times im with few close friends. Socially im shy which can come across being arrogant or otherwise so i do make effort to talk to a new person each time im out.. its slowly getting easier but still not always up to it.

Shy but wild

Cuddle

Because I'm not a social butterfly am I therefore retarded?

I just think that's a little...negative. I also happen to think it's "retarded" to be a loud obnoxious twat. I am very happy to be on my own a lot of the time. I don't go looking for social interactions; I don't 'need' them for energy, happiness etc. I can be sociable and do go out a few times a week but I don't thrive on meeting people.

I am not as sociable as most people.

Potatoes are merely a means to an end - namely, chips.

"What has that got to do with the price of fish"? (The statement is probably wrong, but my friend usually says that when I go off subject.)

Now, before you get into a catfight, yes, I maybe younger, yes, I am socially retarded, but there are some of us, who due to general lack of luck, have been less fortuate in those experiences.

I know I am turning the attention to me, but for something like this, it maybe a gentle reminder of what you take for granted.

- Firstly, I've never had sex in my life. (Or atleast not what I know of)

- Secondly, I've never really touched anyone else (with intention) in a location for sexual arousement. I have touched a few, who have had their clothes on, on brests and I mean very few (less than 3 fingers worth). One of them wasn't due to me, that was someone placing my hand on her brests and giving them a rub. Except, guess who got into trouble?

- Thirdly, apart from porn, family and other still images, I have never seen anyone else nude. Plenty have had their way over MSN and seen me nude, and yes, they have asked me to go a lot further than I wanted to, but this goes back to the thread I started. Yes, they've got me to do things for them, I never could see them on webcam really, or not upclose and personal. There were those that promised and lied through their bloody teath.

- Fourthy, I am <quoute> a social retard </quote> anyway. Not through fault of my own.

Now, you see how deprived I am? Oh yeah, I am nearly 22 (22 next week in fact!). Now, I've started a thread to help me and others in the same situation. Social retardiness is often not a fault of ourselves, but our genetic makeup. It could be the way our mind is made up or the way we interact with others. We may have a phobia against a particular group of society or we just maybe faulty for some other reasons. If some of the socially retarded members want to look at the thread started, try here:
Socially defunct, how to questions.

Lastly, I think to be honest, socially retarded is a strong statement to make, I would rather use socially deficent, as its a sight handicap to us, not you. It also means we are difficult to understand.



I hope these comments help you both to look at life differently.