Dude, you asked what he could learn, I gave a lot of example lessons to be learned from the post. I didn't say they all apply to him, but it's damn sure more than "I've learned I shouldn't socialize at all."

You're coming off as quite the nice guy yourself. Don't ask a question then get all butthurt and defensive when it turns out the answer isn't quite as easy and simple as you'd have liked.

If he takes from this "I should never socialize again", then that right there is his problem. He's being lazy and not reflecting on himself or his actions. No, he doesn't have the advantage of a 3rd person perspective, neither did I, neither did so fucking many people who have learned to improve themselves.

Yes, I can blame him. It's lazy thinking used to protect the ego. No one wants to believe it, but if you want to change more, that's what's going to matter, and that's what's going to put you on a positive path. Giving fatalistic responses and refusing to acknowledge you're not being perceived how you would like accomplishes nothing positive.

I'm not saying it's easy, or fast. Hell, it's really really fuckin hard when you're perceived like that to change peoples perceptions of you. It's part of why the shift from high school to college can be so freeing. But he's not going to get that new start unless he accepts how he's coming off, reflects on why, and focuses on how to improve it.

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If you're this defensive about it because you heavily relate, maybe you should reflect on THAT. Is this the only time you're letting your defensiveness cause you to ignore important factors? Are YOU being honest with yourself?

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Edit for your edit

Edit: And at what point is giving up no longer lazy? The 10th time it happens? 20th? 50th? What about the people who's every social interaction ends up like this?

Never. If your (general you, not YOU you) every interaction is like that, then you'll have further to go, but still can do it. But it's never not lazy to just give up on something like that. I'm not saying it's inexcusable. I've given up on things. I love music but can't play an instrument because I suck at it and gave up, but I'm sure I could learn if I applied myself. I'm just too lazy for it. But it's still lazy to give up.

As long as you're blaming all the outside stuff and not looking inward, no progress will be made though. I don't care who you are, there someone uglier and dumber that manages social interactions just fine. It's about being honest with yourself about how you're coming off, regardless of if that's how you think your actions should be interpreted.