If social anxiety is thinking a lot of people are worthless dumb attention whores and that gyms especially catter to them then yeah i have "social anxiety"..."disorder" I spent 6 years in three diff gyms .. i just ended finding these places disgusting , always the same characters everywhere wether it was in europe or north america...and built my own fully customized home gym where i train my loved ones and sometimes random people i meet at work and get impressed by my physique for example, that's enough for me. Proof gyms are moronic places; most beginners are repulsed by the first time they get in there. Says everything you need to know about gyms and their usual population.
I train at a small gym for 12 years or so, I know everyone there, avoid stupid people, exchange valuable communication with quality ones, oh and I have the keys, can go whenever I want + the regulars, esp. a certain cicrle of them are really cool people. Have had a lot of help from them on various situations, some of them I call friends. Too bad your experience with gyms is like that. It's about a differentiation when it comes to public - stay away from time wasters, these who can't offer anything valuable (or at least a good entertainment. A GOOD entertainment.) and have a good time (or just listen to the music) with the ones who are intelligent.
A great spotters are rarity too. I'm glad I have a few, who are as dedicated as I am so I know I'll find them at a certain time in the gym.