Social (adj.):

a1387 Designating a war fought between allies.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in the 14th century social meant fighting between friends?

I'm a fairly social person--so I've been told. Sometimes I enjoy this socializing, and sometimes all I want is to curl up in a warm blanket with the sole company of a good book. Yet quite frankly, in all reality, when I have the choice between people or paper, I drop the books and run.
The reason I'm bringing this up is I've noticed I allow people to dictate my mood far too easily. For example, when I actively socialize with all the "right" people, I've had a "good" day; otherwise, I've inexplicably had a miserable one. Well, now I'm explaining. In spite of internal and external professions, I must really care what people think of me. Actually, I know I do. Consequently, I suppose I interpret social action as an invariable reflection of that thought--that judgment of who I am, what I'm capable of becoming, and how much I'm worth. Don't get me wrong, I don't need every person to smile and pointedly tell me "hi" just so I don't kill myself. I do have self worth, and I do understand this without social reminders. But I think it's normal to define one's self based on social acceptance. I don't want this to be so, but it is, and I succumb to social pressures every day. Why can't I just not care? Or should I? Do you think socializing with the masses is important? Should we care what the masses think? say? do?