thx 8bits. When I started writing this, I had the girl be the one starting the conversation. It can go either way. The arguable truth is this: girls think it's easier to be a guy because males seem to have more freedom to make a move. Guys think it's easier to be a girl for the reason you gave. Many of both just don't know how to have a converation. You can't let "being shy" be a crutch.
Dive in. Question: Since you started hanging around here (hubski), have you become more confident?
Ah, not particularly, haha! It's something I've had to improve myself, slowly, over time. It's definitely still a work in progress. I've at least felt more confident in expressing my opinion online since coming to Hubski. But conversations in the physical world with people I haven't meant are still difficult, to a degree. But traveling and being more confident in what I like to do, my "identity", have helped in that regard. I'm not as wishy washy about my passions, and that can reflect in my conversations.
I'm 36 years old and communicate for a living; I'm still figuring out how to effectively communicate with people I meet for the first time. It's a work in progress and it always will be. You are certainly right that I enjoy hearing that people feel safe to express themselves on Hubski.