Does anyone here have trouble entering a social situation and not being introduced to the people there? I know I get extremely uncomfortable. My roomate will often bring over a hoard of friends while I am alone watching a TV show. He doesn't introduce them to me or anything. They will just plunk down next to and around me and act like I am not even there because I am not participating in whatever half-finished conversation they had started before they even got there. I honestly feel like its an invasion of my home. Then they just start drinking and carrying on like I am some sort of statue. It just makes me very uncomfortable in genereral. I have discussed it with my roomate several times but he just doesn't seem to get it. If I was just introduced I would be much more comfortable.

The same still goes at small get togetheres I may attend elsewhere. If I am not introduced to some people at least (maybe the friends of whomever I came with). I cannot seem to feel settled. Its hard enough for me in situations like that as it is but it is even harder when you have no frame of reference to work off of. Is this something the more unsophisticated segment of normal society has done away with completely?

Sadly, I think you're right! I hate not being introduced, too, and I usually prod uncouth colleagues who just leave me standing with "I don't think we've met" and my name. My older connections are still pretty formal and even do intros the "right" way--junior person presented to senior, and so on. I think AS life was easier when people didn't just behave willy-nilly!

Have you tried rehearsing a jokey thing for your uninvited guests, like "I'm the invisible roommate" or something that points out that they are, in fact, invading your home?

I know exactly how you feel, situations like this have left me wanting to be swallowed up by the earth.

I also have trouble when I'm clearly the one supposed to do the introducing, like bumping into someone from work when I'm in town and I'm with someone else. I want to do it and I've rehearsed the lines, the problem seems to be knowing the appropriate time to do it.

Mainly because I hate people talking over me, there really is nothing worse for me (apart from noisy eaters, but thats another story!)

One of the best strategies I've found is to make self depriecating jokes about being rubbish at this sort of thing, most people will come back with a 'oh I know what you mean' or some such.......

I like that idea Margaret. Actually, I usually don't say anything to them really. I just sit there quietly and stare at the TV, pretty much not interacting with them at all. Thats usually a big buzz kill for their 'good time' (especially since I am probably making them watch old history channel documentaries...heh heh). They usually decide to take off not to long after they get there because of that. If they seem nice I will introduce myself but its always uncomfortable no matter what.