Social Retardation?

[JuJu92]

Social Retardation : The inability to maintain a stabled conversation.

Are most people in the age groups (15-19) socially retarded or is it just me? (Especially males of the straight breed) but some girls too; and I didn’t say ALL I said most. :eek:

[Brookie Ugene Wagner]

I think some people just are socially awkward, or shy. I don't think they are "retarded" They just need to work on being able to talk to people they don't know, because most likely they talk to people more if they know them

[danny7]

i stand out from the rest of my friends cuz i am smart, crazy, not afraid to do ANYTHING, and just "not the type you'd expect to be how i am". its really annoying when ppl can't keep a current conversation, they're like 5 yr olds that change topic every 2 minutes.

[ezbucketz]

It's definitely not just you. Trust me. If ever there was a case to be made for social retardation, it would be me.

[ImCoolBeans]

I don't think anyone can carry out a stable conversation all the time... so I wouldn't compare it to being "retarded" in any way.

Agreed. Comparing the inability to hold a fluent conversation to being "retarded" is pretty tasteless in my opinion. I'm sure there have been times where you haven't been able to hold a strong conversation, as well as everyone who posted in this thread including myself.

[trooneh]

Socially retarded is far from a correct term. Socially inept is a much better way to put it, and social awkwardness is a normal teenaged phenomenon. However, I do agree with the idea put forth recently in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?ref=opinion&gwh=0DE1E0879BA61DCF3DB88577B9BD22FF) that disorders such as Asperger's, part of the diagnosis of which is social ineptitude, can be over-diagnosed.

[Syvelocin]

Some more than others. I, for instance, have the inability to carry a conversation with someone I'm not on very close terms with. I just fail at it. I can be extremely talkative and social with people I've known for a long time though. Can't tell you how many people have walked away from me at parties or how many phone conversations I've been in that end after a long period of silence. I get mistaken for extroverted often because I'm an actress and I work at Starbucks but It's easy when you have something you are supposed to say and you don't have to think about it too much. I can smile, greet someone, and take their order, sure. I fail at carrying a conversation however. Especially face-to-face, but I still notice it in online conversations as well.