Since you asked, I appreciated all of it, and all of it resonates. I know most of it. Some of it I actively do, some I've done and need a reminder, some of it is about getting my expectations back in line again.
Yeah totally right about signaling. I'm a heart on my sleeve guy. I need to be reminded that I have to play a game at first, you can't just be yourself. I treat people well first (until they give me a reason not to), but even that is signaling and not working in my favor. Open/generous people just attract users. I actually already hold back a lot (being strangely open here for a change) but clearly it's still not near enough. Gotta keep reminding myself of that.
About not dating: I've just spent 2+ years trying to connect with people without the intention of dating. I've found that most of the people I run into just aren't like me, probably because I'm digging in the wrong places. I live on a lake love to boat in the summer, but the crowd that attracts is just not the same as me. I realized most of them aren't my friends, they're just into having a friend with a boat and free booze. So I'm getting used in a way. So that's a me problem, and a signaling problem in a way. You're spot on about weeding people out fast, probably the #1 thing I've learned these last 2 years, I've cut a lot of these people out. Which stinks because they're fun, and I need people to boat with. So I'm back to trying dating in 2023 and see if I'm any wiser this time. 10 days in and already it's mostly just matches with scammers/escorts and sugar gals.
I get the thing about meeting people just to do things, build a network, etc. Like I said I just must be digging in the wrong places. The social things I do like concerts and boats attract the wrong crowd, the bar crowd; and the intelligent/introvert side of me, well its hard to meet introverts. I'm going to make another effort on Meetup, focusing on groups that cater to introverts like books and board games. That's one thing I haven't tried (been focusing on extroverts as I figured that would be easier). Guess it means I have to boat less this summer, which stinks cause it's one of the things that brings me joy. Choices.
Not talking about money etc, I really don't. But I'm just generous with myself and my time and it doesn't take long before people sniff out there's something different about me, some air of confidence, assumed success. I just don't have the same problems they have and it shows in my demeanor, the way I talk, wisdom compassion whatever. It attracts people that need things. Again, you're right, it's a signaling problem. I guess I just have to play coy or something. I don't know a lot of successful people in my personal life (other than colleagues, but I don't mix business and personal). I come from lower mid class so those are my peeps and I understand them, but at the same time I'm not like them any more. I also don't come from upper middle class, so I don't really fit in there no common upbringing.
Lastly, your point about don't make assumptions. You're absolutely right, and I need to be reminded of this. Take more risks (no risk no reward) instead of assuming. I get it, need to put it into more practice. I need to shake things up.
I'm still upbeat enough to get up and try again. I just feel like every time I put myself out there and try and open up, I learn new lessons on why not to trust people. Like I said, 2 years of trying something new, only to have to cut most of 'em out. Makes me wonder why I keep putting myself out there I guess. Which is why I asked for a new / outside perspective from you in all honesty. I need new things to try I'm running out of ideas.
I'm convinced that some of this is societal. We live in brutal times, people dehumanized, struggling. Can't change that, but I can change what I'm doing.
Thanks again for taking your time with an honest and helpful response. Mixed feelings about sharing this in a public forum, but HN rules, a lot of great intelligent helpful people here.
This description sounds like your point of view is very transactional.
Being open to people very different from you should make friendships with those people more valuable, not less valuable.
I view any person whose day I've improved or learned something from a worthwhile interaction.
This [1] is the best description of networking that I've had and it applies to any conversation or relationship I can think of.
Suppose you approach every conversation as an opportunity to learn something interesting about them as quickly as possible and make their day/life a tiny bit better. In that case, you will enjoy having conversations with people you only meet once or twice. And if you make people feel interesting, they will want to spend more time around you because you make them feel good about themselves, rather than you needing to find reasons to spend time with them.
A note about this approach. You need to equally and authentically share things about yourself, or people will get suspicious about your motives and feel like there's an angle or something.
If you can make someone say, "Oh, I thought it was just me." Then you've made a real connection with someone else. [2]
[1] https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_griffiths_the_power_of_meaningful_networking https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_griffiths_the_power_of_mean...
[2] https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerabi...
You lost me a little on this comment.
Regarding transactional point of view, are you suggesting this is a problem? Up until my mid 30's I wasn't this way (religious, turn the other cheek). I have always been the guy that tries hard to make everyone around me a little bit better. I value kindness, empathy, generosity. So much so that it led to enabling systemic bad behavior and high drama. People love talking to me, I'm a good listener, I make them feel interesting (different people are very interesting to me, I used to consider myself a punk). So I've got that down. Problem is I can do that without having to reveal anything of myself, no skin in the game. It's all about hiding in plain sight. Not helping me and my trust situation.
Similar to what you talked about with your wife, there was close to zero meaningful reciprocation in my life, and that led to major problems. I learned I had to start expecting some form of reciprocation from people. I don't think I'm asking for much now (as I said I'm pretty much taken care of for the rest of my life), but I am asking for something. I guess what I'm just asking for in return is having a low drama good time and that my generosity doesn't get taken advantage of? That to me is a good start for building real trust, or am I wrong? So I see learning to expect reciprocity as personal growth on my part, not a problem to overcome. Thoughts?
I do find my friendships valuable, and I sweat their loss. However most of the new ones continue to fail the reciprocity test. For example, I've found the bar/boat crowd to be mostly people that are combinations of liars, cheaters, and alcoholics (and hidden drug use). It's fun at first, and they are all very interesting, but these really aren't the kind of people that I should be building a friendship network from, as the people they've "vetted" aren't any better. So I end up just being the person who takes them out and buys them booze. They call me in the middle of the night when they are drunk and need to be picked up, etc. I don't cut ties quickly enough, and I'm working on cutting ties quicker as you suggested. Are you suggesting I'm seeing this situation all wrong? Are these the people I should be learning to trust and investing in more?
I'm terrible at networking, I've just not needed it. I've just doubled down on independence and hard work and it's always worked out in my career. This is where I got lucky, working for really good people. As they've climbed the ladder they brought me with them. So this is another outside idea that my gut says you're right, I have to give this a try. Not good at it, it's the trust thing, they're all attack vectors. But I'll work on getting better.
As far as "authentically sharing things about myself", most people don't understand where I come from and how I think, so I tend to reach them where they are. I haven't found anyone I can truly be myself around. I mean if you want a female partner in your life you have to find a way to enjoy a certain amount of chick flicks and cooking together. Fewer philosophy discussions, science discussions, technology discussions. It's why I've been focusing on boating so much, I really enjoy the sun/water and it's something that I have in common with a lot of normal people so I figure that increases my odds of building my network. Also I have to be careful around other people who have trauma, most of them haven't learned to manage it, and that's dangerous for someone like me. Like a recovering alcoholic can't be in a relationship with a raging alcoholic, one just brings the other down.
So for me, right now, it's really about learning to say no sooner and take my ball and go home instead of hanging with people that aren't making my life better or helping me build the kind of quality network I think I need.
Really interested in your feedback on this. I'm willing to entertain the idea that I've got reciprocity all wrong. But I can't go back to zero reciprocity. It's too hard/wearisome saying no to people all the time (especially when I came from little and now have so much, just makes me feel guilty). Easier if I just kick 'em out.