The big idea: why we should spend more time talking to strangers
Despite having more opportunities than ever to connect with strangers, and much to gain from doing so, people often refrain from talking with, and listening to, strangers. We propose a framework that classifies obstacles to connecting with strangers into three categories concerning intention (under-estimating the benefits of conversations), compete... See more
Stav Atir • Talking to strangers: Intention, competence, and opportunity
The trust of a city street is formed over time from many, many little public sidewalk contacts. It grows out of people stopping by at the bar for a beer, getting advice from the grocer and giving advice to the newsstand man, comparing opinions with other customers at the bakery and nodding hello to the two boys drinking pop on the stoop, eying the
... See moreJane Jacobs • The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Who should you speak with? Dialoguing with a variety of people, in a host of far-out ways, makes for a paradigm-smashing experience:
Mark Levy • Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insight, and Content
By taking an interest in the problems and minutia of their day, you’re already more interesting than 99% of the people they’ve ever met.