How do they do it?

So, I've realized that no one will ever find this blog interesting, so I may as well do whatever I want to on this. 

After taking my kids to their first Jiu Jitsu lesson today (I'm planning on having them continue past the 1 week trial) I realized something that, admittedly, I've realized before:  I'm a total incompetent when it comes to interacting with other people.  This is not something that I would ever admit to certain people IRL, but it is, nonetheless, absolutely true.  I don't know how other people do it.  I try and I feel like I'm flailing around in the dark, trying to plug a vga cable into a dvi port, or worse, a usb port. 

Yep, meet my geekiness.  I use computer analogies. 

The problem now, though, is that I seem to be passing it along to my kids.  I try to get them into situations where they'll have to interact with other kids, both their ages and older, and with adults, but they seem to be having the same trouble I've had.  They don't know how to react, or what to say.  It reminds me of Kindergarten, when I would lurk around the door watching the other kids play, but not knowing how to go play with them without them being mean to me. 

I'm starting to think I'm just built differently from most other people.  And by differently, I mean worse.  Other people can strike up a conversation with complete strangers and have it go well.  Other people have more than family members for friends.  Me?  Well, see the previous sentences and go the opposite way.  I'm horrible in social situations and have always been so.  The only time I can talk with people is when I've known them for years.  Oh, and I can talk to people in a professional capacity, if I know everything I'm talking about.

So, how do they do it?  What am I missing?  And how do I fix myself so that I can manage things like other people do?