This is a tough challenge. I work from home a lot and spent yesterday designing a banner and writing at my desk. Not many strangers there.
It feels strangely stalkerish to go out and deliberately talk to a stranger, and have a surreptitious motive for it. It’s definitely not comfortable. I feel like a Jonny-no-mates, or the woman who waits in the longest line in the post office just to have someone to talk to.
Having said that yesterday I had to do just that. Set out on a mission to talk to someone to complete the challenge. Until…
the phone rang.
Aha! It was a sneaky move but yes, I have time to answer your survey about something I don’t want and have never heard of. I always feel sorry for telesales people. Please don’t read that as I’m always happy to talk to them. He read the script, not even bothering to slightly act like he was not reading it. I couldn’t resist – I answered in my most ‘I’m reading this” voice something like this:
“I am happy to answer all generic questions about ‘insert product here’, I appreciate your company and their research, and am looking forward to the bargain that you will offer me at the end of this conversation”
He faltered, shocked at the response.
He asked me my age group and I paused, I began counting up the years, whispering, from 1964 onwards.. 1964,1965,1966,… I heard him stop breathing, if you can hear that.
And then… nothing.. the phone went dead. I had won.
I’m sure this wasn’t what was intended when I was challenged to talk to strangers, but I’m counting it – just this once!
