Longer distance bus travel usually gives some pretty good opportunities for talking to strangers.
Stranger: Lady with Cool Accent
POINTS:
Greyhound Station... guess it’s kind of the same as a bus stop… 15 points
Initiated conversation: 10 points
Length—over five minutes, less than 15: 10 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
What I learned: There really IS a point to university education! But it’s still mostly a piece of paper.
I have considered subtracting points for not talking to the guy sitting beside me actually on the bus. BUT I’m not going to. I was just bitter because we were pretty much the only two people on the bus who didn’t get their own seats and weren’t sitting with someone they knew… (and I was there FIRST!).
(Let there be no confusion… I am a selfish brat :D ).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday: Legitimate Success!
Stranger: Fellow Admirer of Honey Oat (the Subway bread)
Points:
Location… Subway. Put it the same as grocery store/class: 10 points
Initiated conversation (!!): 10 points
Longer than five minutes: 10 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 32 points
What I learned: When you switch to white bread, you cannot also have a cookie.
(In my defence, I did not realize until too late that Italian Herb and Cheese is a white bread while honey oat is a brown. At least the order guy got a kick out of this whole discussion.)
Points:
Location… Subway. Put it the same as grocery store/class: 10 points
Initiated conversation (!!): 10 points
Longer than five minutes: 10 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 32 points
What I learned: When you switch to white bread, you cannot also have a cookie.
(In my defence, I did not realize until too late that Italian Herb and Cheese is a white bread while honey oat is a brown. At least the order guy got a kick out of this whole discussion.)
Wednesday… once again, it depends on how you count.
Well, I’m going to go ahead and count at least one iffy one today. Two, in fact. But also some “what I learneds” from others.
Stranger 1: Fellow Sneaky Microwave User
(iffy because we did know each other’s faces, but not names… we work on the same floor)
Points:
At work: 10 points
Initiated conversation: Well, more so initiated activity, so we’ll count that—10 points
Conversation 5 minutes or more: 10 points
Inside comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 32 points!
What I learned: There is general disdain for how the third floor has four microwaves and virtually no people.
Stranger 2: Librarian-to-be
Points:
Newcomer to group of which I am already a member: 2 points
We spoke a few times through the evening, so I’m not giving points for initiation, because we both did that.
Conversation 15 minutes or more (it might have been over half an hour, but I’m not sure): 15 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 19 points
What I learned: Some librarians are self-described as not bookish.
Grand total: 51 points. WOOT!
Other what-I-learneds from other strangers I’m not counting…
1: Everyone knows people from Haliburton.
2: I should really meet my friend Lisa’s cousin (who apparently everyone knows).
Stranger 1: Fellow Sneaky Microwave User
(iffy because we did know each other’s faces, but not names… we work on the same floor)
Points:
At work: 10 points
Initiated conversation: Well, more so initiated activity, so we’ll count that—10 points
Conversation 5 minutes or more: 10 points
Inside comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 32 points!
What I learned: There is general disdain for how the third floor has four microwaves and virtually no people.
Stranger 2: Librarian-to-be
Points:
Newcomer to group of which I am already a member: 2 points
We spoke a few times through the evening, so I’m not giving points for initiation, because we both did that.
Conversation 15 minutes or more (it might have been over half an hour, but I’m not sure): 15 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 19 points
What I learned: Some librarians are self-described as not bookish.
Grand total: 51 points. WOOT!
Other what-I-learneds from other strangers I’m not counting…
1: Everyone knows people from Haliburton.
2: I should really meet my friend Lisa’s cousin (who apparently everyone knows).
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Briefly a little off-topic
I recently got myself on Twitter. It's interesting to note that I'm being "followed" by about 5 people I do not know whatsoever (I joined 4 days ago, or so). I guess this is common for Twitter, but when you're used to Facebook "friends" it's a touch unnerving. There is a part of me that thinks maybe I should just block said unknown people, BUT I feel that would be out of the spirit of this blog. Of course, the thing with Twitter is that I don't actually talk to those strangers... might be worth trying, I suppose.
I occasionally wonder if the random Twitterers connect over to this... yes? No? Meh. This is potentially more interesting, either way.
I occasionally wonder if the random Twitterers connect over to this... yes? No? Meh. This is potentially more interesting, either way.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday: I Tried
The day isn’t over yet. But I would like to reemphasize that I TRIED. Didn’t really succeed… you might understand why below.
There is a grocery store near my work… I needed some things. (This is being added over my lunch break, just so we’re clear).
Tuesday Lunch Grocery Line Lady:
DID initiate conversation: 10 points
Less than one minute: 5
Grocery store again: 10
Comfort zone: 2
TOTAL: 27 points
What I learned: One’s comfort level with English can be graphed as a negative correlation to the number of times they say “okay”.
There is a grocery store near my work… I needed some things. (This is being added over my lunch break, just so we’re clear).
Tuesday Lunch Grocery Line Lady:
DID initiate conversation: 10 points
Less than one minute: 5
Grocery store again: 10
Comfort zone: 2
TOTAL: 27 points
What I learned: One’s comfort level with English can be graphed as a negative correlation to the number of times they say “okay”.
Sunday: Depends on how you count…
I do some volunteering through Sunday afternoons in the kitchen of a local homeless shelter. I do usually talk to a number of people I don’t know there, and this week that surely did happen. I’m going to say that that doesn’t really count for points, though.
I’ll still spout off some “what I learneds”, though:
1) Both other staff and clients think the volunteers tend to be nicer than some of the kitchen staff. We are all scared by a few.
2) As you might suppose, deconstruction is more fun than construction.
3) Canelloni = good idea.
The only other thing I could report on would be: Sunday Night Grocery Line Lady
Points:
Did not initiate conversation: 0
Less than one minute: 5
Didn’t give grocery store a category… we’ll put it at the same as class, given the somewhat forced mingling thing: 10 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 17
What I learned: People respect a thrifty chicken purchase.
I’ll still spout off some “what I learneds”, though:
1) Both other staff and clients think the volunteers tend to be nicer than some of the kitchen staff. We are all scared by a few.
2) As you might suppose, deconstruction is more fun than construction.
3) Canelloni = good idea.
The only other thing I could report on would be: Sunday Night Grocery Line Lady
Points:
Did not initiate conversation: 0
Less than one minute: 5
Didn’t give grocery store a category… we’ll put it at the same as class, given the somewhat forced mingling thing: 10 points
Comfort zone: 2 points
TOTAL: 17
What I learned: People respect a thrifty chicken purchase.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Saturday: Lessons in How to Get Money
I’m not sure it counts when you pay someone to talk to you.
I seem to be a person who looks nice. I don’t mean “looks nice” in the attractive sense, because that’s REALLY not true (see profile information for note on self-deprecation), but “looks nice” as in people will ask me for directions, the time, money. This might explain why I’ve had so many conversations with strangers that I did not initiate. This phenomenon has been described by one of my guy friends as being "approachable".
Usually, I will quite happily give directions or the time, but not money. Occasionally, though, I get caught in a mood where I acquiesce to EVERYTHING. I need to watch that one.
Anywho, my Saturday stranger asked me for money… $2 for chicken. Something about his approach caught me off-guard, I guess. As I said, I don’t usually give money (spend time volunteering at a local shelter, instead), but he got me this time. We did exchange some words along with money, so I’m going to count it (this was the one time I ventured out of my house on Saturday…).
SO—POINTS:
Did not initiate conversation: 0 points.
Stranger on “street”: 20 points
Length one minute or less: 5 points
Outside of my comfort zone: 10 points
What I learned: Appeals for money from people on the street are more likely to succeed when the correct price of a chicken at Loeb is referenced ($8).
I seem to be a person who looks nice. I don’t mean “looks nice” in the attractive sense, because that’s REALLY not true (see profile information for note on self-deprecation), but “looks nice” as in people will ask me for directions, the time, money. This might explain why I’ve had so many conversations with strangers that I did not initiate. This phenomenon has been described by one of my guy friends as being "approachable".
Usually, I will quite happily give directions or the time, but not money. Occasionally, though, I get caught in a mood where I acquiesce to EVERYTHING. I need to watch that one.
Anywho, my Saturday stranger asked me for money… $2 for chicken. Something about his approach caught me off-guard, I guess. As I said, I don’t usually give money (spend time volunteering at a local shelter, instead), but he got me this time. We did exchange some words along with money, so I’m going to count it (this was the one time I ventured out of my house on Saturday…).
SO—POINTS:
Did not initiate conversation: 0 points.
Stranger on “street”: 20 points
Length one minute or less: 5 points
Outside of my comfort zone: 10 points
What I learned: Appeals for money from people on the street are more likely to succeed when the correct price of a chicken at Loeb is referenced ($8).
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Day Two: Actual Epic Fail
I don't think anyone counts today... I said a few things to people on the other team at soccer tonight, but I don't think it counts.
SOOOO... 0 points.
BUT, just for fun, let's review an incident from before I started counting.
Stranger: Musician Guy.
Points:
Did not start the conversation: 0 points.
Stranger at bus stop: 15 points.
Inside comfort zone: 2 points.
Executive decision: bonus points for boys (2) (it's harder 'cause I'm lame like that).
Boy: 2 points.
Length: 5 minutes or more: 10 points.
TOTAL (although irrelevant points): 29 points.
What I learned: Even economists can have sons with dreams of Julliard.
SOOOO... 0 points.
BUT, just for fun, let's review an incident from before I started counting.
Stranger: Musician Guy.
Points:
Did not start the conversation: 0 points.
Stranger at bus stop: 15 points.
Inside comfort zone: 2 points.
Executive decision: bonus points for boys (2) (it's harder 'cause I'm lame like that).
Boy: 2 points.
Length: 5 minutes or more: 10 points.
TOTAL (although irrelevant points): 29 points.
What I learned: Even economists can have sons with dreams of Julliard.
Day One (FAIL)
Not epic fail, but not great.
Stranger One: Nicely-Booted Elevator Traveller
Points:
Did not initiate conversation: 0 points
Less than one minute: 5 points
Stranger at work: 10 points
Inside my comfort zone: 2 points.
TOTAL: 17 points
What I learned: everyone likes Jack the elevator guy.
Stranger One: Nicely-Booted Elevator Traveller
Points:
Did not initiate conversation: 0 points
Less than one minute: 5 points
Stranger at work: 10 points
Inside my comfort zone: 2 points.
TOTAL: 17 points
What I learned: everyone likes Jack the elevator guy.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Rules and Points and Such
Being no longer five years old, I have decided that it is okay to talk to strangers. In fact, I think it’ a good idea. Ergo, I have a new challenge for myself: talk to (at least) one stranger everyday.
The results of each conversation will be documented here. Not the actual discussion, because that would probably be some kind of mildly illegal invasion of privacy, but little bits just to prove it happened. You’ll see.
Such a challenge, I think, requires rules and a scoring system (to be added to as time goes on):
Rules:
-store cashiers at work do not count, unless an actual conversation is undertaken
-friends of friends do NOT count if the friend makes the introduction
-friends of friends DO if you begin the conversation not knowing their connection to my friend
-someone asking the time does not count unless there is further conversation
Points:
-started the conversation myself: 10 points
-I need to ask for directions: 2 points
-did not start the conversation myself: 0 points
-length one minute or less: 5 points
-length five minutes or more: 10 points
-length fifteen minutes or more: 15 points
-length half an hour or more: 20 points
-stranger (newcomer) to group in which I am a member: 2 points
-stranger at party: 5 points
-stranger in class: 10 points
-stranger at work/volunteering with whom I will not be working: 10 points
-stranger on bus/at bus stop: 15 points
-stranger on “street”: 20 points
-conversant appears to be of similar background to myself (and I don’t really mean racial or economic background…basically just someone “inside my comfort zone”): 2 points
-conversant appears to be of different background (i.e. “outside of my comfort zome”): 10 points
-the ULTIMATE and UNLIKELY (for me): discussion lasting more than half an hour with someone completely unknown met on the street: 1 000 000 points!
The results of each conversation will be documented here. Not the actual discussion, because that would probably be some kind of mildly illegal invasion of privacy, but little bits just to prove it happened. You’ll see.
Such a challenge, I think, requires rules and a scoring system (to be added to as time goes on):
Rules:
-store cashiers at work do not count, unless an actual conversation is undertaken
-friends of friends do NOT count if the friend makes the introduction
-friends of friends DO if you begin the conversation not knowing their connection to my friend
-someone asking the time does not count unless there is further conversation
Points:
-started the conversation myself: 10 points
-I need to ask for directions: 2 points
-did not start the conversation myself: 0 points
-length one minute or less: 5 points
-length five minutes or more: 10 points
-length fifteen minutes or more: 15 points
-length half an hour or more: 20 points
-stranger (newcomer) to group in which I am a member: 2 points
-stranger at party: 5 points
-stranger in class: 10 points
-stranger at work/volunteering with whom I will not be working: 10 points
-stranger on bus/at bus stop: 15 points
-stranger on “street”: 20 points
-conversant appears to be of similar background to myself (and I don’t really mean racial or economic background…basically just someone “inside my comfort zone”): 2 points
-conversant appears to be of different background (i.e. “outside of my comfort zome”): 10 points
-the ULTIMATE and UNLIKELY (for me): discussion lasting more than half an hour with someone completely unknown met on the street: 1 000 000 points!
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