Also, in the slightly-less-navel-linty drawer: thanks for making the critical comments about what extroverts tell introverts that is very specifically not helpful. Reading through your post gave me a lot of sympathy pains, but still... I could totally see myself telling you to go out more if you're lonely. I wouldn't realize how totally unhelpful--even harmful--that sort of unsolicited advice is unless it's been pointed out.

I wish I knew how to say things like "I'm lonely" without having everyone on the planet assume it's a bid for sympathy. Even after you've qualified it out the yin/yang, it's still hitting my "must sympathize and provide helpful advice NOW!" funny bone reflex...