Let’s Talk to Strangers (2)
They connect us to the broader community and open doors to possible friendships. Talking to strangers has helped me learn how to throw the conversation back and forth without dropping the ball, add something meaningful to what the other person has said, and anticipate how they might react to my comments. Those are all important day-to-day communication skills.
That’s right. Not so long ago, it was impossible to go through life without speaking to folks you didn’t know. Liked how New Yorkers loved to comment and carry on a conversation in a supermarket checkout line, on the sidewalk affecting everything from the way we work to family relationships and friendships.
Yes, the lockdown meant we had to stay at home, avoid crowds and speak only within our trusted bubbles. Many of us sought refuge in digital technology that allowed us to watch movies, attend fitness classes and have meetings-all remotely. The longer we hunkered down, the fewer strangers we met. Today, you can spend a week in New York and never utter a sound to another human being.
You could say our recent aversion to strangers is a byproduct of technological evolution. E-commerce sites and restaurant delivery apps have conditioned us against entering stores and restaurants filled with strangers.
