Social ineptitude

I have a social blind spot. When people make conversation by asking me stuff ("What have you been up to?") my immediate assumption is that they actually want to know the answer, so I tell them. Then later I realise that it was small talk, and that I should have asked them something back. But I didn't.

Usually by the time I figure it out, they've gone, or the moment has passed, and I've failed socially.

So sorry, everyone.

Conversely, often when I ask a question, people interpret it as an invitation to chat. In fact I probably wanted to know the answer, and the other person didn't tell me. It's frustrating because I have to ask again, but now I've got small talk wrong again and failed socially again.

But this time I'm not apologising.