Yes, sometimes I get those feelings. If nobody sits next to me at shul, I think it's because nobody likes me. But I could have sat next to somebody myself!

The "people are hoping" is recognition that other people might be wanting attention and not doing anything to get it.

I walked over to that guy for three reasons:
1. I had just been asked for a date, so my confidence was pretty high.
2. I'm a member, so in a way, that made me a "host", and remembering that always gives me "ownership".
3. The guy looked like he would welcome some company.