SOCIAL studies!!! Please answer this question?

How can i become more social (please answer)?

• Sorry if this is a it long. Well here it goes... First of all, I've looked all around Yahoo Answers! for the answer to this question. The answers were very simple like "be yourself", "just talk to people", i think you get it. But this is a huge problem for me. It's a bit difficult for me to talk to people that aren't my friends. For example, in my new class (I've gone in the class for 1 year) i only really talk to my three friends. I sometimes try to talk or joke with someone beyond my friends but it becomes really awkward. Everybody except my friends have got the picture that i'm the serious guy who only studies, who maybe is a little bit weird. I'm not like that outside school, i do joke, i am myself. Every time i try to make a joke or say something everybody just stares and you know that "awkward silence", that happens to sometimes. I kind of have a blockade to talk to people i don't really know or who aren't my friends. In some situations i have to talk to people who aren't my friends but i don't know how to start because i'm to afraid it will be awkward ( by that i mean going to a person you don't know and say like "did you see that tv show" or "what a nice weather"). That's not working (maybe when you're an adult but i'm 14) it will just be awkward to say that to a person i have barely talked to. Please understand this is very difficult to me i can't just press a button and "be myself". My problem is basically i don't know where to start and develop relations with people. I'm sorry if this didn't make any sense cause' english isn't my first language. Thanks for all the answers!

• Answer:

  hi im 14 as well and have basically the same problem. what i try to do is listen to other people's conversations and determine whether or not i can join. i usually do this when 3-6 people are standing in a loose group. i kinda sidle over and stand on the outside but near to them, and offer a comment or my opinion when ever i can. i always replay my answer briefly in my mind before i say it though to make sure it doesn't sound dorky or rude or awkward, and it usually works out well. i dont know whether you are male or female so this tactic might not work as well if youre a guy. i hope it helps though, cuz its helped me to become less socially awkward.