First, thanks everyone who wrote comments on last Friday's post. I meant to turn comments off because I had no clue what might be written. It's nice to know that the 'net isn't just full of assholes who should be out buggering roosters.
Second, I'm glad none of you used the s-word. It's a word that most people use to dismiss.
Third, after reading the comments, I think I need to clarify. I know the basics of going up to people and speaking and I'm not afraid of making an ass of myself in front of anyone. (Probably half of what I say makes me come off as a jackass.) What I meant by asking "how do people do it?" is how do people physically speak around people they don't know.
When I want to speak with someone at a party, or something, and I don't know the person, I walk up to him or her and open my mouth and nothing comes out. I physically can not speak. When a person I don't know says something to me, I can answer, but it's usually short and sort of dismissive, like the example from the comic shop.
That's all. Tomorrow, something more light-hearted.