Improving social skills

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I see that a lot of people here say that they've improved their social skills. How did you do this?

I find something that helps me do it is to talk with people younger then myself (and therefore are closer to my social skill level) and I have been advised to do this. So like in high school I hung out with freshman all four years and now sometimes I do some volunteer work.

Practice. Do anything you can to interact with people, or get a job or activity that requires you to talk frequently.

What North said, Practice makes Perfect, or at least Good Enough. Social situations are mostly about comfort and confidence; the more you get into them, the more comfortable you get. Think of it like taking a swim in cold water....you get used to it, and eventually enjoy it. And when you enjoy it, more often than not other people will enjoy you.

I don't have a lot of friends, but those I do have, I got because I took the metaphorical plunge.

I've improved my social skills by finding out where my limitations are.

It may sound odd, but it's true. I start noticing patterns in how I behave in different types of social situations, and around different numbers of people. I figure out what kinds of things make that situation good or bad, and I find ways to work around it.

I've been lucky in that I've found people who are patient and understanding of my condition. Not all the time, I have gotten into several sticky situations, and there are still areas I need work on, but practicing does help. My theory about AS is, it's not that we can't interact socially, it just takes us longer to learn what the rest of the world knows instinctively. We have to try harder, but it is possible.

I hate how true that is.

Continue to observe others. Watch how they interact with each other and their reactions. Observe and practice.

For starters, pick a better screen name.

oouch. hahaha

1) practice!
2) not everyone can exactly do this, but they should! i act in plays. the people involved are extroverts pretty much so you kinda have to be too
3) apparently there are classes and discussion groups? ive never tried it but i bet it works, and it gives you someone to talk to!