[hnuser847]

> By trying to bond with people on an emotional level rather than an intellectual one.

Exactly, but doing so requires opening and up being vulnerable, which is very difficult and/or scary for some people. It took me years to realize that I needed to open up if I really wanted to connect with people and make friends. It's kind of funny when I think back on it. I was willing to take risks with my career and join early stage startups. I was willing to risk starting my own startup (which end up failing miserably). I was willing to take on risky hobbies like rock climbing and sailing, and I was willing to make some risky financial investments (that ended up doing pretty well). But through the majority of my 20s, the one thing I was NOT willing to risk EVER was being vulnerable, embarrassed, or rejected.