I’ve had advice thrown at me from all different directions but I don’t think I’ve mastered it yet. I know I can’t just jump into friendship with some people and these things take time to develop. That part, I truly understand. I have a problem with being shy in person and in my group therapy, even though everyone is nice and friendly and there is no judgement at all, I tend to keep to myself unless I have something really important to say. I’ve tried signing up for some websites to make friends, but a lot of people at the other end say they are looking for friends and friendship is the reason they signed up for the website, but when I inform them I have a boyfriend, they aren’t interested in chatting anymore. It’s not like I let the information out, out of the blue. I casually bring that issue up when it warrants it!! So where the heck can I go to actually make friends with people who want friends?!?! :smack:
Hm…can’t recall if guests can read profiles, so I’ll just say that my email address is aBaAhDz@sDeOaNnTetW.AcNoTm, minus the “bad dont want” of course.
But other than that, yes, guys who look up girls on websites, regardless that they are supposedly only looking for friends…are not looking for just a friend.
As to being more talkative, probably I would mostly suggest learning something to talk about. Though the other bit of advice from my grandmother for cocktail parties and such was, “Think of everything you can possibly say until you can’t think of anything more, clear it all from your head, and then start to speak.” Oddly, for the specific need of chattering endlessly, this does work–if you can just get yourself started.
Or you can go my way and just be opinionated on everything and argue about everything. But I do promise that being shy isn’t something that can’t be fixed, it’s more of a question of whether it is worth it to you. And listening is good too*, just so long as you still speak out when it is time to defend yourself.
- Though being silent, even if you aren’t shy, still makes everyone assume you are shy.
Pay me. I’ll be your friend. 
ROTL - well played
Are there any real-life friendship groups and clubs you could join near where you live, $tretch? 'Net friends are one thing - but real life friends are better.
Sorry Mr Bus Guy, I just don’t have the kind of money to buy your valuable friendship! 
I’ve looked into joining clubs but I am quite honestly at a lost on what to join. My online friends directed me to some meeting groups online but there are very few in my area and virtually no groups that match my interest. I mean, I like Harry Potter and all, but dressing up as Professor Snape and attending a movie viewing just isn’t my cup of tea. I was tempted to join a book club, but I don’t like the idea of reading on a schedule just so I can have a discussion about it, and active sport groups are out for me just because I’m lazy and inactive. Ahhh, I think I’m just boring and people don’t find my babble stimulating!
Respectfully disagree. I don’t know you or anything, but if there is one thing I have learned in 56 years on this planet, it is that everyone is unique, and everyone has a story.
You may think your life is mundane and of no interest, but have you ever thought about…
That time you did something that went against your ethics just to help someone you knew? Maybe it was a friend, maybe someone you didn’t even like and never told them about it?
That time you helped someone get to a destination even though it meant going out of your way?
That time you met Dick Covey and didn’t even know it was himuntil later?
The times you used to lay back in the cool sand of a construction site and just watch the contrails of the planes going overhead and wondered where they were going…what they were eating right then…or what your area looked like to them…or how you maybe would like to be up there going to strange place you’d never been?
That book that made such a difference in your life, and why, and why everyone should read it?
Trust me, you are not mundane or uninteresting. You have a whole lot to offer. Know your worth!
(I think you’re swell)