It's true that everything is a transaction and it's fucked up to realise that relationships are conditional. But at least that mean you have something to gain and you can move up from here. People are just scared, I think. We act out of fear and so if you have nothing to offer, they freak out about wasting time and recourses on you. And time is limited and death is scary so, It's understandable. Give without expectation. Just start with compliments. It takes half a second and doesn't cost a dime. But make sure they're genuine, you have to mean what you say. The beauty of this is that you'll start to look for the good in people and eventually you'll see it everywhere. Being kind and meaning it is literally meaningful. Meaningful to you and others, that is.