I'm a lot like you. Or I used to be. I love science, and learning things, but my brain did not used to see or understand subtle social cues during my teens and 20s. Hence the reason I did not flirt when I was young. It took me about 5 years to get good at smalltalk, and now I talk too much! lol. Master the art of smalltalk and you will do well, and appear friendly and sociable. The key is to practice in public places. Take a speech class, join a speech club.
At Toastmasters, a national speech club, the point is to practice public speaking. You speak about whatever you want, for as long as you want, with limits. (Other people need their turn also.) Then they critique you. So, talk about a science topic and why it's important. Is it important to a specific industry? Why? What could this topic lead to?
[url]http://www.toastmasters.org/[/url]
I'm not anti-social, I just have no need to socialize or have a lot of friends. Oddly enough, I now have more friends that I did before. Be patient, practice speaking, challenge yourself, and I think you will learn it.
I have a long time interest in psychology, specializing in relationship dynamics for 30 years.
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