>>95789889Based on a lot of observing fil, and first-and-second-hand experiences interacting with people both in a performer and regular person context, learning social skills later on in life due to a sheltered childhood.
1. Courage. Which doesn't mean "Never be afraid", but rather "Push through being afraid and put yourself out there.
2. Don't take yourself too too seriously
3a. Try to study up on or otherwise learn how to be more quick on your feet in conversation and learn to use impulsive associations and observations to fuel wit
3b. Improv classes. Fil probably hasn't had them, but they help you to think on your feet and not get stunlocked near as much
3c. Learn to roll with the punches
4. Work up at least some confidence and spine. Not enough to be arrogant, but have the ability to stand up for yourself and push back a little sometimes, this being sort of the yin to the yang of rolling with the punches.
5. Learn to know when the bit should drop, and to move on (and when to bring it back, usually in a small way). Autistics may struggle with this, and I'm not saying that to be mean
6. Be kind to the people you interact with, both your friends and theoretical chat. You can bantz with them if that's the kind of relationship you have, but let them know you appreciate them too.
7. Be genuine where you can, to an acceptable degree. You can be genuinely interested in trains, but best keep that relegated to when it's relevant, and even then parcel stuff out rather than infodumping every train ever made all at once. Emotional honesty (if you're decently emotionally regulated) will usually draw people to you, if you're not some weirdo who finds funerals funny.
8. Honor - keep your word and don't renege on a fair deal/scam others. Fil's very good about this, generally speaking. She might squirm and plead for a better deal, but she's a catgirl of her word in the end.
9. Try and keep a positive attitude.
