[MagicRat]

Well, we all can relate, thats why we're on-line.
Often writing to people is easier than speaking to them.

I always write (IMAO) witty, well written posts, emails, etc, but my social interaction with real live people has its hazards.

I am always somewhat impressed by people who seem to have the gift of the gab and excellent social skills. They seem to be able to mingle with others so easily; this is a valuable skill which does not come easily to me. For them, meaningless discusion has its uses in smoothing out social relationships.

Sure the actual discussion, the words spoken and ideas expressed are vacuous and inane, but they make for better social relationships with others.

I really have to work at my own skills to do this. It's fraught with hazards, because I have a tendency to make any conversation meaningful, by discussing politics, current events, history, the sciences, etc.

I do not like empty conversation, so I sometimes fill it with meaning that people often do not want to hear. They LIKE the empty platitudes and do not want to be enlightened with facts. I risk ending up lecturing them
about the subject at hand. They get politely bored at best or at worst, accuse me of making stuff up (a la Cliff Claven of 'Cheers' fame )

This is the point of such time wasting conversation; it needs to be done because we all live in a social world (dispite my own best efforts to live like a hermit).

People who do not socialise well come across as being withdrawn or strange, and unfortunately, many people do not understand them and are less likely to work or interact with them.
This, unfortunately, usually puts the socially withdrawn person at a disadvantage.
This is why, dispite how I might want to be left alone, make the effort to mingle with others.