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My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

sashachapin.substack.com

51–60 of 444 posts

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#51

This post wasn't what I was expecting from the "socially normal" title. While there is a lot of self-reflection and growth in this piece, a lot of the points felt more like learning how to charm, manipulate, and game social interactions. Look at the first two subheadings: > 1: Connecting with people is about being a dazzling person > 2: Connecting with people is about playing their game The post felt like a rollercoa…

The book is called “how to win friends and influence people”, after all.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#52
> The other day, someone told me, “I can’t imagine you ever being awkward with people.”

I was telling my therapist of several years recently about being uncomfortable with the number of new people I've had to meet recently.

He seemed surprised that I wasn't excited by it all and said something along the lines of "You seem like a very social person, that seems out of character." It struck me… am I really that good at masking that my therapist didn't realize I am absolutely terrified in near all social situations? I have zero idea how to make small talk with people I haven't known for years.

Working from home since COVID has made my social skills so much worse because I don't get the practice.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#54

Wow, I can’t get past the first couple of paragraphs. > I’ve tried so hard to learn how to connect with people. It’s all I ever wanted, for so long. Are there really people like this? HN is probably the wrong place to ask this question, but this is so far outside of my bubble that I just cannot relate. Some people feel like this, for real ?

I'm curious what your bubble is.

The peice is relatable to me at least. A great many of the lessons were something that I also arrived at through deliberate practice. Though the paths we both took are radically different, the main ideas are universal and the resulting destinations are similar.

I can't list all of the times when someone has shared that they didn't mean to "share all that" because it happens often enough that it's become countless.

As mentioned elsewhere, it illuminates the spectrum of interpersonal and social intelligence where it becomes impossible to not notice how some people repeatedly, and perhaps even compulsively are their own impediment to personal connection.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#55
I recognize all of these steps, having gone through flavours of them myself. The root for me, was that I learned at a young age that to feel safe, I needed to cater to what others wanted for me. Never learning to ask myself, what I wanted. It might be the author's next step, is reconnecting with his inner-desire and finding out what he wants from the world, instead of how he wants to appear in the world.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#56

This post wasn't what I was expecting from the "socially normal" title. While there is a lot of self-reflection and growth in this piece, a lot of the points felt more like learning how to charm, manipulate, and game social interactions. Look at the first two subheadings: > 1: Connecting with people is about being a dazzling person > 2: Connecting with people is about playing their game The post felt like a rollercoa…

The book is called “how to win friends and influence people”, after all.

I read that book because it was on so many generic book recommendations lists.

It was less sleazy than I expected from the title. It actually had a lot of points about being genuine, being a good listener, showing respect to other people's opinions, admitting when you're wrong, being sincere, and so on. Decent advice, really.

A side benefit of reading it is you learn how to spot when other people are insincerely trying to use the tricks in the book against you. Once you see it, it's hard not to miss.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The book is called “how to win friends and influence people”, after all.

I read that book because it was on so many generic book recommendations lists. It was less sleazy than I expected from the title. It actually had a lot of points about being genuine, being a good listener, showing respect to other people's opinions, admitting when you're wrong, being sincere, and so on. Decent advice, really. A side benefit of reading it is you learn how to spot when other people are insincerely tryi…

Interesting, when I was reading it I got a real sociopathic vibe from many of the points and especially how the author was talking about them.

If I take a helicopter view of the main themes they make sense, but I will admit feeling a little sleazy by reading the book.

Reading is subjective however, so I’m glad it didn’t make you feel this way.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#58

This sounds like a ton of work to learn and by the end it sounds more like a curse than a super power. To be so above people in terms of social intelligence must be horrible. It sounds like the Author views interactions on a completely different level. I dont have any offensive social strategy so its hard for me to dictate making friends but passively I do quite well by just projecting an authentic version of myself.

It really depends on what you want to do with your life.

If you want to do engineering, or play music, or be a professional chef, you don't need these skills.

If you want to be in sales, or a working actor, or manage a high-end restaurant, or be a professional interviewer, then these skills become pretty important.

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes? I mean...why is it so hard to imagine people having difficulties with things you find easy or natural?

Maybe social connection doesn't come easy to them and they don't care about it much.

Ok, sure. But is the disbelief there are other people unlike him out there warranted?

Re: My stages of learning to be a socially normal person

#60
post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read that book because it was on so many generic book recommendations lists. It was less sleazy than I expected from the title. It actually had a lot of points about being genuine, being a good listener, showing respect to other people's opinions, admitting when you're wrong, being sincere, and so on. Decent advice, really. A side benefit of reading it is you learn how to spot when other people are insincerely tryi…

Interesting, when I was reading it I got a real sociopathic vibe from many of the points and especially how the author was talking about them. If I take a helicopter view of the main themes they make sense, but I will admit feeling a little sleazy by reading the book. Reading is subjective however, so I’m glad it didn’t make you feel this way.

Disagree with your reading, respectfully. The majority of that book is putting into words the things we like about people. It helped me immensely, especially points like not criticizing people and thinking it’s helpful. I would say the title aged terribly and comes off as sociopathic.
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