The surprising benefits of talking to strangers

[eduardkoopman]

The surprising benefits of talking to strangers

We consistently underestimate the benefits of interacting with strangers, research suggests.

www.bbc.com

 

[Gonthar]

In the old days, it was pretty common to talk to strangers - in buses, trains, parks, barber shops, waiting in line, etc...Now everyone is on their smartphones, if you start talking to them, they will think you're crazy, only old people occasionally start talking to others...

 

[skull_mogger]

In the old days, it was pretty common to talk to strangers - in buses, trains, parks, barber shops, waiting in line, etc...Now everyone is on their smartphones, if you start talking to them, they will think you're crazy, only old people occasionally start talking to others...

It makes sense that people were more willing to talk to strangers when those strangers still looked and acted like them

 

[eduardkoopman]

if you start talking to them, they will think you're crazy,

" people systematically underestimated how much their conversation partners liked them and enjoyed their company, an illusion we call the liking gap.
Our studies suggest that after people have conversations, they are liked more than they know."

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