Why is it so hard to talk to people? Actually no scratch that, why is it so hard to meet new people? I remember there was a time when meeting others was as easy as saying “ I like pokemon cards to you?” That single sentence was enough to gain a potential lifelong new friend.

But that was a long time ago, I’m 22.

I have faced the realization that as I grow older it becomes more difficult to relate and find new friends. What I find interesting is even people who share the same interests find it hard to connect.  Now I’m not oblivious to the social barriers of stereotypes, socio-economic gaps, language barriers, and racism but even when people find themselves in the same race, class status, and speak the same language and possess no negative disposition against one another. There’s still no interaction.

Maybe people don’t care, don’t want new friends or just perfectly comfortable with the friends in their circle and don’t want anymore. But everybody has a story to tell, even if dull isn’t that right Mr. Twain?

I believe people in today’s society especially western society, people possess a dread fear of social rejection. I mean who in their right mind has enough courage to bypass another person’s social comfort bubble and start a conversation? Not many I tell you and the few who have the guts to do deserve a purple heart.

Everybody goes about their daily lives with a certain loyalty to their friends rivaling a cult, cool snuggies and creepy rituals aside, if a stranger decides to put themselves out there and attempts to connect to another person or another group of friends, the response is usually a visual stoning or hideous glares that a person with leopardsy approached them.

After a significantly negative experience like that, of course most people would just give up because being burned alive is not bad as being socially rejected. As a result, most people don’t really give themselves a chance to practice their social skills and interactions enough so they don’t feel confident in social situations, they figure it’s a lot easier to just say in their comfort zone bubble like everybody else and be on the giving rather than the receiving end of social rejection.