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In summation here are my questions:
1. How do you maintain an interaction with a person after you've started it?
2. Conversely, how do you appear interested or open to others so that they know its okay to talk to you?
Thanks for your time. I wish everyone who comes in here for advice the best of luck.
First off, welcome. It's always good to see some new faces in here. I'm having a hard time meeting friends too and I'm in college. Honestly man, I don't see why you have a hard time meeting new people considering the fact that you're in several clubs yourself, you do work-study and you're in the gym which is fantastic. If you know at least a couple of friends that you hang with at your clubs, then have them introduce you to people.
I know what it's like though because I only have one friend that I know after transferring to a senior college and having been there for a year. It doesn't help that I have social anxiety and anticipatory fear which keeps me from going to clubs.
That said, to answer your questions, in my experience (and I'm still learning), you just talk around random stuff; show interest in the other person. The easiest things to talk about especially within school is stuff like their what that person's major(s) is, what classes are they taking, general interests, etc. If it's a chick that you've been wanting to talking to that's in your class, you say "Hey, what did you get on your paper?" or stuff like that. Don't talk too much about yourself (everyone has a habit of doing that, myself included) or else you're gonna come off as egotistical.
As for showing interest or appearing to be open to people, honestly life doesn't work that way. You have to go out and talk to the person. Personally, on the street, I typically get approached by tourists who ask for directions. I suppose it's because I don't look intimidating. Again, keep the questions open, not just one-sided yes or no answers, elaborate more on something that catches your interest e.g. Dude says he likes making video games, ask him what types of games he makes or with a woman, if she says she's been to say Ecuador, ask her what it was like. If you feel like the people are cool and want stay in contact with them, then go for it.
Conversation comes naturally, especially if a person or the people are interested in you and you like the company. According to this book that I once read, if there's an awkward silence, then the person who breaks the silence breaks it because he or she feels insecure.
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OT3 is nice and simple Soultron, so props to you. -PXG-'s was incredibly detailed so props to him as well. You totally nailed it with the confidence stuff; I have confidence issues myself; it's something I'm gonna keep working on.
I would suggest that you add meeting GAF members to the list too because after all meeting GAFers who live in the same area as you is a great way to make new friends. Also, you could add the Lady GAF advises Man GAF thread as an alternative/supplementary thread if you want to. I'm looking forward to seeing some new faces here as well as old ones, so bring on the successes, the failures, the problems, and the lessons. I saw a ton of people grow in the last thread including Mr.Paer and myself so here's to more of that. I like to think we're all kind of like cheerleaders to each other.