Keeping one's mouth shut is actually great advice! The less one says, the less one has the chance to screw up. Is this the same as avoiding social gatherings? I

Keeping one's mouth shut is actually great advice! The less one says, the less one has the chance to screw up. Is this the same as avoiding social gatherings? I don't think so. You can keep your mouth shut and cause good impression by being a good listener. Let's face it: most people like to talk more than they like to listen. While at a social event, you can quickly study the people you're talking to, try to figure what motivates them, and then ask carefully-thought questions that will make them talk for hours. You don't need to pay attention to what they say, you merely need to give the impression that you do. Listening enough so you can ask more questions is always a good idea. If you keep a good posture and obey the rules of etiquette, you can go through a party without talking at all, and people will perceive you as a polite person, a good listener, a gentleman. Most social gatherings are work, they're not supposed to be fun. They're not meant to be relaxing. Stay frosty and don't be yourself under any circumstances.