Must be of harder material such as granite ie an intrusion (batholith) than the surrounding material with material pushed up the slopes and deposited at the rear. Very interesting and wouldn't mind seeing one for real.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I was expressing annoyance about shallowness but not really asking for advice. I can socialise enough to get by but don't have many close friends. It's cool - I'm used to it now.
The price of popularity is becoming dumbed down and that's not a price I'm willing to pay most times.

Lauren found that when she was went to the local high school.  She could only "hang out" with people if she didn't talk about her interests but about theirs, and was very frustrated with them as she felt they were extremely shallow.  It's been a lot better the last two years since she began Years 11/12 for the run-up to University studies, since the kids she now mixes with are completing 11/12 because they intend to go on to Uni. She says they're still pretty shallow, but at least they don't penalize her when they find out she has a brain: it's expected more, or perhaps her "peer group" is now maturing into acceptance more.
Alison

It did come across as needing advice. One doesn't need a lot of friends. My wife is my closest friend and so are the kids (sometimes). As for being dumbed down I don't think they know what they are missing. Most people are extremly shallow and self centred.

Oh no, I only want advice if I specifically say "what do you think I should do?". I also want to prevent myself from being "dumbed down" by having to talk very much about inane topics. Small talk eg. about the weather is something I can do but talking very much about the latest celebrity diet and similar topics is something I don't tolerate myself doing for very long.

It seems like no matter what you try to talk about, there's always someone out there who gets offended and feels the need to try to force their opinions onto you.  When it's a matter of advocacy, I can see how that's not always wrong.  But when it's a matter of abstract ideas...  I just figure the argument isn't worth engaging in.

Sometimes there is a "give/take" exchange.  That is what some people think friends are for.  when you have no favours to offer that person, they do not want to be your friend anymore.  Either the take is doing something for them, lending them something, minding their children, going with them somewhere, listening to their problems.  The give they will determine if it is equal to what they are getting from you.  Usually you are not supposed to ask or keep tally.  they might determine what they think you need or want and will feel upset if you do not thank them for or appreciate their favour.

Kate Fox (Watching the English) has written down some of these unwritten rules, e.g. "sqeamishness" about money, keeping to yourself, "mustn't grumble", start a conversation with a stranger by talking about the weather ("grooming talk"), show awkwardness when greeting (shaking hands) etc.

I can really see why money is a touchy subject.

Most people my age have part-time jobs, while I am still looking. Basically, I am living off my family for my affairs, but I have been able to cover my tuition via financial aid.

Anyway, other students casually ask me how much my apartment is. The fact that I have a single bedroom and no roommates, makes it rather pricey when compared to other students. But it is actually pretty cheap for a one-bedroom, since I'm out in the middle of nowhere.

The thing is, these students already have their apartments settled, so there is no need for them to know my rent. They just want to ask, because they feel like it's some sort of pissing contest over who has the best deal. I also think there is some judgment going on; they seem to think of me as some privileged white girl from a rich family, with no clue how bad the recession is affecting everyone.

The more I deal with people like that, the more I appreciate those in my disability groups who actually understand what I am going through.

Well, strangely, there seems to be a 'rule' against things being 'taboo' subjects. Naturally, people find plenty of ways to make things 'taboo', nevertheless. Which isn't to say I don't agree that asking people you've just met about their sexual preferences, religious beliefs, etc, shouldn't be something to be careful about doing. There seems to me a big difference between saying you'd need to be careful about asking people some things & get to know them a bit first & saying you just can't talk about it.
Generally, I haven't had any problems discussing my religious beliefs with atheists & people of other religions. They don't mind saying why they're whichever & allow me to say why I'm a Christian. Mostly, whether my 'reasons' make sense to them or not, they respect my right to my beliefs as I respect theirs. Sometimes, they can at least agree the 'arguments' are good ones, even if they remain convince of their beliefs.
Similarly, I've not usually had problems discussing politics with people, whether they agree with me about the matters or not. I certainly don't have any problem with others being gay or lesbian, transgender or anything else, just because I'm heterosexual.

Though many said social rules suck, with perseverance one can ask the reason why such social rules occur.

What will be most unusual each time you confront one is that they are most definitely arbitrary social rules to some degree.

Oh snap.  I broke two of those the very first time I spoke with Hyperspace.  And it wasn't the money one.  We also spoke of conspiracy theories, cheese jokes, rootbeer, and human nature.

Forget about those rules. If you break them as often as possible whenever possible you make Human Beings more likely to be open-minded about talking about the three topics right away.

All I know is, the best friend you can ever have is one who can sit there with you and just -talk- back and forth with you, laugh together with you AND NEVER AT YOU when you aren't laughing at yourself too (for real)...  There's nothing wrong with give-and-take (equally) being -part- of a friendship, but what's wrong is when that's ALL there is TO a friendship, especially if it really -is- unequal by a long shot.  At least in my humble opinion.

You go to geek culture (they should be intelligent, right?) and hear all talks how smart they are, and how great their (next) startup is. At best,  computer games and zombie movies. How smart should be people who are busy showing off how smart they are all the time? I can bet, many are aspies.