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!
No comments:
Post a Comment