Hi Bear. I absolutely think there is hope for you. My sense is that your personality is a good one, better than you realize, and that your fear of being rejected is somewhat unfounded.

Yes, of course, if you try to interact with people, you will definitely find the occassional person who doesn't respond with interest. That can be unpleasant for a sensitive person, but you have to tell yourself that occasional rejection won't kill you, or even make you particularly unwell. It can be borne with equanimity, if you find that it is not a universal reaction you evoke all the time . . . and you will find that, I believe, if you venture forth socially.

You don't seem to have an intrinsically bad attitude, which often underlies the mentality of posters who start threads saying "I'm always worried that people don't want to be bothered with me." . . . and then go on to give an object lesson as to why a lot of people wouldn't. You're not long-winded. You seem intelligent. Don't seem to take yourself overly seriously. There is a lightness of touch to your style of expression that suggests to me that you probably have a very decent sense of humor.

Go on. Start experimenting. Once you start getting some favorable responses, you'll start to lose some of your inhibition.