Life is too short to wait on policy changes. Everyone has to take responsibility for achieving their own goals.

I moved a lot growing up, and had to make friends quickly. I got pretty damn good at magic. When a stranger suddenly starts complaining about how spicy the burritos are and blows an actual fireball randomly, you end up in fun conversations with strangers.

My version of it these days is giving tech talks even when they terrify me, because it helps me find the select few people who share my interests faster.

But also if 9/10 strangers blow you off when you try to chat them up, who cares? That is their problem. The 1/10 are going to make it worth it.