>be me, usual /fit/ sperg
>like group fitness classes
>fit in by working hard and being polite
>becoming a regular, people greet me, talk to me, ask opinions
>but then I'm noticing another group
>way older guys who can't really keep up
>awkwardly hang around me around them when class ends
>social interactions with them always feel super forced
>get the feeling they're talking to me to try and belong
>but they always want me to sustain the interaction
>if I don't greet them the second I see them or respond immediately when class ends, they get mad
>start throwing punches at the punching bag in the gym's fitness room
>can tell some other people in the class don't like them either, but most of the room is neutral
How do I work up the courage to do the cold shoulder thing? I can tell they're craving attention, but I'm not their emotional teddy bear, and these guys have a decade or two on me, at the least. Why do I have to mollycoddle and be nice with them, but they get to turn into punching angry man just because I don't say hi fast enough?