>>31
Yes, I've talked to thousands of strangers. I waited tables for three years, I go out to bars at least twice a week on most nights and talk to dozens of women, and have since I was old enough to go, I've cold called for companies and forced myself to network and make conversation with people who make fifteen times as much as I do.
I am good at approaching people and making conversation. But the myth that "The fear of approaching new people goes away with enough practice" is a flat out lie. I, and everyone I've ever talked to who is a good conversationalist and who has confided in me has admitted that no, it does not ever actually go away.
Approaching a new person, especially if they have something you want, are powerful, or are intimidating is and always will be scary. Experience helps you get over that fear and gives you tools to deal with it, but it will never eliminate human nature.
You just have to fight through it.