Talking to strangers: Intention, competence, and opportunity

So, if talking to strangers seems daunting to you, it might help to think that by doing so, you could give someone the gift of being seen.

By the way this question is itself a good example of one of my core beliefs: individuals can challenge and encourage each other to dream bigger, in a way that’s not as easy to do independently. (read Tyler Cowen: the high return of raising others’ aspirations)

Digital intermediation could help offer this kind of access to what Zacka calls “the lively and diverse intermingling of strangers in the public arena” and what the urban planner Jane Jacobs described as the “great and exuberant richness of differences and possibilities, many of these unique and unpredictable—and all the more valuable because they ... See more

The main reason we don’t create more affordances, however, is pure egocentrism. When we just say whatever pops into our heads, we may think we’re making craggy, climbable conversational rock walls, when in fact we’re creating completely frictionless surfaces. For example, I’m thrilled to tell you about the 126 escape rooms I’ve done, but my love fo... See more

The things we think will make us feel happier – acing exams, securing a dream job, buying that dress – usually don’t, but small habits can make a big difference. One of them is talking to strangers.