I used to have a neighbor who would come hang out in my driveway and just talk about random shit in the evenings, and she said her opinion was shyness was equal to rudeness.

While I didn't exactly agree with her, I could see where she was going with the idea. People will use "I'm shy" as an excuse almost to opt out of a lot of traditionally social activities in most cultures, (I'm speaking mostly from experience with my American culture) but still expect to be included and participate in some way (their preferred way) or they get down and feel depressed about it and sink even deeper into the dark hole they want to get out of so badly. Emotions on a constant positive-feedback loop. I suppose I speak from personal experience.

But you took the words right off my keyboard so I thought I would put in my $0.02 - whatever the cause of the social awkwardness/shyness, it can be overcome, just as most any other anxiety-related issues of the sort can. Again, just speaking from personal experience and having started just recently to do it for myself. It's fucking hard, but every bit of work is well worth it.

EDIT: got my loops mixed up retarded-like. Thanks niviss!