If you’re a person who doesn’t have much interest into talking to people while at a social event, people assume you are one of a few things. You are socially awkward, weird, mean, or any combination of the above. I very rarely talk to people when I know that chances are I will never see again in my life. I believe this to be a worthwhile endeavor.
I rarely gain anything useful out of these types of interactions. People say you never know when you might see anybody again, but I don’t worry. I’m not rude to these people– I just don’t actively engage myself into their inane conversations. If one happens to arise, so be it, I’ll suffer through.
Society seems to believe the idea that if you are less social and talkative, you must be weird or afraid of people. More than anything, I just get annoyed with people. Introductory conversations so often devolve into discussions of restaurants, movies, and the weather. So basically, you’re telling me that you eat food, watch screens, and exist in the atmosphere? Let’s hang out more often! These type of conversations don’t make sense to me.
I’m not against meeting new people, but it’s already too hard to keep up with the friends and family I already have. I can probably make a list of the people I still need to email or return phone call to. I can’t add you to the list! There’s no place or time right now. I really am a cool guy, but I’m not going to let you know, because I don’t want to encourage you. I have books I got for Christmas I haven’t read yet, places around town I haven’t visited, and I need to clip my fingernails.
Society equates being less than social to weirdness for no justifiable reason. Simply the fact that somebody doesn’t want to talk to you doesn’t mean he or she is weird. It doesn’t mean you’re weird either. It just means that I have other things on my mind and on my plate than trying to remember your name and think of something to pretend to be interested in until you leave.
Friends, have told me I’m rude, I’m just not being fake.
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