And DO IT ALL THE TIME. Talk to everyone. Talk to cashiers, talk to random dorm people. Talk to professors. Talk to them like people. Be interested in them, etc.
---
As far as building friendships, the trick it to talk to people about activities that might be interesting and plan to do those things. Then do them. It might be as convoluted as a dinner + play + drinks evening out with time tables and tickets, or it might just be a game of NHL hockey on the Xbox 360 later at 9pm.
--
Women(or perhaps men, depending on sex/inclination): Just talk to them. They're primarily people. Additionally, ask people out constantly if they're interesting to you in that way. The 2nd time you see them or the 15th minute of talking to them should be about when you think to do that. "Out" implies an activity, and little else. It could be disc golf, or walking around town even. It's about talking.
---
For any social situation: Read a bit about the news, and a couple obscure (non tech, not all political, but some is okay) sources. Talk with people about them. Figure out how to ask questions about what people think about the happenings of the world which someone could have an opinion on without having read the item in question. This is a great way to make sure you're not totally out there and silent.
Basic tricks you can pick up from something like http://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Anyone-Success-Relationships/...
http://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-People-Will-Listen/dp/0801061...
And DO IT ALL THE TIME. Talk to everyone. Talk to cashiers, talk to random dorm people. Talk to professors. Talk to them like people. Be interested in them, etc.
---
As far as building friendships, the trick it to talk to people about activities that might be interesting and plan to do those things. Then do them. It might be as convoluted as a dinner + play + drinks evening out with time tables and tickets, or it might just be a game of NHL hockey on the Xbox 360 later at 9pm.
--
Women(or perhaps men, depending on sex/inclination): Just talk to them. They're primarily people. Additionally, ask people out constantly if they're interesting to you in that way. The 2nd time you see them or the 15th minute of talking to them should be about when you think to do that. "Out" implies an activity, and little else. It could be disc golf, or walking around town even. It's about talking.
---
For any social situation: Read a bit about the news, and a couple obscure (non tech, not all political, but some is okay) sources. Talk with people about them. Figure out how to ask questions about what people think about the happenings of the world which someone could have an opinion on without having read the item in question. This is a great way to make sure you're not totally out there and silent.