This is a tip I learned from one Joe Gatto long ago, applicable to all genders. “Always match the shoes, belt and watch. See my shoes, white. My belt, white. My watch strap, white.” Works perfectly every time. I like to match my shoes, handbag, belt, and headband (if I’m wearing one) with all gold or all silver jewelry depending on the accessory color I chose. I did not follow that advice here, but I like this outfit a lot!

Giving compliments is fun, but I feel sometimes people think I’m complimenting them for one in return!

Maybe they view it that way, and it does vary from person to person, but if you’re being genuine you probably aren’t giving off that vibe at all! Now, if you are actually just complimenting them for transactional purposes then yeah, they’re probably going to pick up on that. But if you’re using a compliment as a segue into a conversation, it’s obvious you’re not fishing for compliments because you’re asking questions about what you just complimented.

The best advice on socialization that I can give you is don’t be afraid to express genuine positivity, for any reason. If you think someone’s shoes are cool, go tell them, and ask them about that. If they think you’re weird for saying so, that is 100% a them problem and there are plenty of awesome peeps out there that will take your positivity and interest in them and send it back your way tenfold.

EDIT: To add to this, because you clarified that your issues lie in maintaining conversations rather than starting them, try to balance giving/gaining information in a conversation, see if that helps. Conversations are a back-and-forth that can go almost anywhere, not an event where people take turns saying their thing at the other person. So if you’re in the middle of a conversation and you think you’re starting to be a chatterbox, go like “ah but I’m going off again,” and ask them something about what they last said. Not only does it show you’re listening, it also allows them to circle back to a topic in which they obviously show interest. If you try to ask (noninvasive) questions and prod the other person into giving information, the conversation can’t stagnate because you’re engaging them on a subject.

Also, sometimes conversations just die. Or have awkward endings. That’s not necessarily an autism thing, just a life thing. Most of the time when I think I made a conversation awkward, going back and asking for clarification if I made it awkward is what actually makes it awkward. If you can be fine with maybe coming across as a little odd sometimes, it will take a MASSIVE amount of pressure off of social situations for you.

If you want to discover new things, just push yourself to try one thing per week you’ve never tried before, no matter what that is. It can be scary, but you will find as many new things you enjoy as there are things you don’t enjoy. For music, I like to listen to different genres because that lets me explore many new artists with an overarching musical theme that I know I enjoy. So like I know I love grunge, probably not gonna be a hard experience to get into Mother Love Bone. Or I’ll pick an all new genre and get a feel for it.

Relatability is a tough concept, because in my experience that’s one of the gaps that’s super hard to bridge between NT/ND communication. It’s not really possible to make yourself more relatable, because others have to relate to you, and that’s subjective from person to person because that’s something they have to do in their own head. But, I have found the more you try to relate to other people, the more they try to relate to you. So take that how you will.

Well at least Creedence Clearwater are still good ol’ American boys that support our troops and stand for the flag!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅

THQNordic and Nightdive have been carrying this sector of gaming for me lately

Yeah, it’s fucking awesome! Nothing makes me happier than seeing a AAA studio sink big bucks into a project that was destined to be a dumpster fire, then release it as a timed exclusive loaded with DRM for good measure. I really hate that there are developers falling victim to the overall shittiness of the games industry, but I don’t know how else studios are supposed to learn that people want to buy games, not lease online storefronts. On that note, anyone have any good indie recommendations?

“I just noticed he’s a little guy.” ~Me, on the subject of my cat, daily

Absolutely, it’s also completely ridiculous that she seems to recognize that drag can be fun and chill, yet continues to double down on the phobia.

I can’t believe how effective this is at tapping into our understanding of what’s supposed to happen in this meme and applying it to what’s actually happening in the real world. The title tells you what it’s going to be and even still the message hits hard out of left field. This is how you get a point across.

I love how she said she gets along with everyone and still went on to say that it’s “impossible to walk around New York City without running into a mentally ill fa***t.” Like, who do you think you’re referring to with that statement? Because it seems to me she’s referring to the drag queen she “gets along with.” At least the hypocrisy remains consistent.

I don’t know how obscure this is because it was on the Skate 3 soundtrack. However, I’ve never met a person that knew the song, and it’s not on any music streaming services, so I think it’s a little obscure.

Gunfight by The Mighty Underdogs ft. MF DOOM

I see you picked up on the subtext, don’t forget the hand Mario World had in that too (and don’t forget to mention the chicken piccata, that’s the important part) 😉

The best way is to ask questions about something that the person obviously puts thought into.

“Those shoes are sweet, where did you get them?”

“Gnarly hair dude, who’s your stylist?”

“Yo this chicken piccata you made is tubular man.”

Be engaged and ask follow up questions, people love talking about themselves. Soon enough you’ve gotten to know them, and you just say hey and be friendly every interaction after.

I’m in this post, and I don’t like it.

going up from -22 to -3.

Honestly Walz getting a bigger poll boost isn’t as much of a story when Vance got a slightly smaller boost and is still in the negative.

Whoa, is that the lingual ancestor to “having beef” with someone? Why are the Trues beefing?!

So are we gonna vote and change that or what?

You know how you can see pinned restaurants with their name and a fork and knife icon? Businesses can pay to show their full logo and get priority in search results/what shows first on the map as you zoom in.

Yes. It’s hard to make out the map with all the pinned ads sometimes, and I’ve had multiple times this year where it has taken me to the wrong place. Every time that happens, I boot up Organic Maps and get right to my destination.

I have never been in a group of adult males that didn’t drop everything to search the sky as soon as they hear chopper blades. The “it’s go time” part of the brain activates I think.