RSFFYTM #3 - Social anxiety, or just my stupidity...? Probably both.

Same, HaloEliteLegend. Sans the anime part.

I met my current (second) wife online on an action figure/video game/etc. forum. My hobbies and interests are my own and I'm not about to change 'em for ANYone, life's too short for phoniness and attempts to 'change' people.

Maybe instead of personal interest start it off like "Damn that lunch lady cooks like shit" "Lol, I'm just messin' with you, Im [John], nice to meet you.." *wait for response*...

Be honest about your likes, but if the girl flat out avoids the topic or says they're not into it, move on, don't go back to it. The conversation starts off as very middle-school-aged. Your worst moment here is pressing her twice on anime, which she clearly had no interest in + entirely ignoring her when you prompt her for what other mediums she likes, just to go back to your topic. I assume fear of doing something cringey is what social anxiety is, but the thing is, we as people constantly do idiotic and cringey things. You gotta learn to roll with it.

Next time you talk to a girl, just drop anime entirely as your intro. If they're not into that medium at all, from the get-go, you're gonna already have them tune out of really caring. Ask them what their interests are in media itself; Hi there, *classmate xzy*! Do you watch TV or movies at all? If so, what's your favorite? " Bam, you've got them talking about themselves, now, and people love to talk about themselves, usually. Then, if you've seen or heard of any of the one's that she picks, go from there, and likely, she'll ask you what you like, to which then you can say "I like anime, do you?" and so on and so forth.

I hope I found the video I watched, but this...

@MarcusD Remind me to watch that video late afternoon when I'm not on mobile data.

Damn, @Chary with that full textual analysis. Or as it's also known, txt anal.

"If she likes anime, good. If she doesn't, I can try getting her into it."

First of all why do you want to get her into Anime right off the bat? And it really seemed like you were pestering for Anime. Are you trying to make a friend or convert someone to Anime?

Great Gatsby, Walking Dead, One Direction, Films that make you think. She gave plenty of stuff you can move the conversation forward with.

Also Listen. Something lots of people don't do. Lots of people even don't do this in arguments. In arguments people want to quickly raise a counter point against your point. Instead of listening and trying to understand what the other is saying, and asking for more elaborations so they can understand what you mean better. They have existing biases and try to right away spew it on you. They carefully pay attention for a word or something you say not to understand but to attack you on. Waiting for a slip up. Its basically hearing without listening. People act like this on Twitter, Youtube, here on GBATEMP, any social media site, and in person.

Same applies here. You were definitely not listening. Your main focus was get her to like Anime. And you completely ignored her. You asked what she likes not to get to know her, but to hope she will eventually ask you what you like so you can bring up Anime. Its so obvious in your text even Chary caught that. Whats the point of making a friend if you don't care about your friend expressing themselves and its just you and Anime. Who would want to be friends with someone thats ignoring them.

you are not wrong smiley. its ok when you want talk to anybody, like when i first talk with you.