I have decided two things:
1. I will not settle for anything less than a nice girl, who is not a drama queen and doesn't play games, and with whom I have some common/compatible interests. Anything less is just not worth the trouble, and I prefer never even kissing or holding hands again in the rest of my life to settling for less.
2. I will not act this role of cocky-funny sociable jerk. If that is what it takes to find someone, I prefer celibacy. If a girl knowingly goes fora jerk, then I simply don't want her, or even respect her.
I don't really have any advice to give, as everything has failed for me: being myself, not being myself, actively looking for a gf, not actively looking for one, etc. But I know what you mean about it being tough when others around you are dating - it's maybe tougher when everybody around you is either getting married, or planning to, or already married, or think they've missed the boat (maybe I'm made of stone and would sink the boat anyway).
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I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading).