Would you talk to a complete stranger about anything?

Question

I think many of you have seen the Kleenex commercial where the man is outside with a couch and a chair. He also has a box of Kleenex tissue. People come to him and they talk and tell about their life or what's going on in their lives. I was thinking about doing this as a community service project in my city on a trial basis to see how many people would actually use it. I think sometimes some people have no one else to talk to and many times it's easier to talk to a complete stranger. Of course, I would have confidentiality statements not to release any information.

What do you think about this idea?

Wow, you all are quick. I was thinking of doing this service on Saturday mornings from roughly 9AM to noon. I have a full time job so I could only do this on the weekends. I think people would use it. I too talk to folks online and it is much easier to talk to people that don't know you.

I had planned to do this during daylight hours in public places like a library, coffee shop, shops with window fronts or even outside. My city has a local festival in May so maybe I will get a booth just to try it out. I will not be giving anyone any psychological advice since I am not a specialist but I am just functioning as a listening ear. You all have given me some things to think about.

I am not sure if people don't trust others but you never know when someone just needs to get something off of their chest. There have been times where I personally talked to a stranger and afterwards, I felt a whole lot better! I guess you never know who needs your ear!

Thanks everyone! Keep the answers coming.I only have a few more hours! As I mentioned earlier, I just find this ideal a great thing to do. If you think about it, talk show hosts do this all the time and Lord knows they are not psychologists..well, except Dr. Phil!!!! I am certainly not need. I used to have a part time job on the weekends and trust me...I have heard all kinds of stories!!!!! HA HA!

Answer 1

I will talk to anyone and will listen to anyone. I don't think I will talk about everything.
How about riding a bus for an hour and starting up conversations there, to try your theory out? The people have to stay until their stop, anyway.
There is less chance of you getting stuck with a weirdo than if you had a booth.
Some people visit rest homes and hospitals to give old, sick or otherwise lonely people a chance to visit with someone.
There are help hotlines and suicide prevention hotlines where people talk to complete strangers, albeit those having some training.
It sounds like an interesting way to use up your time.

Answer 2

I think on paper this is a good idea. As a prelude to trying this I would suggest you voluteer for a hotline for a couple of hours a week. I think you would learn boundries, words that could mean an emergency and also some fakers. That last sentence didn't turn out exactly like I wanted, but I think you get the idea that there are things you need to know that only experience will teach you.
I also feel you need to come up with a very non comital, not threatning sign if you plan to "set up a booth". Such as , would you like my opinion on any subject? I enjoy talking and meeting stangers, stop by and say hi.Thats just off the top of my head.
I don't think you will need confidential statements not to release any information. I believe your biggest problem will be getting to close to certain people. The comment one person made about not letting them follow you home was a very good one. I would go out of my way to remain unknown except for maybe a first name. That would mean your car not be in a place where anyone could determine its yours and copy the license tag, etc .
I realize that may sound somewhat peranoid, but I'm a 59 yr. old woman who is friendly and social. I cohosted happy hours monthly for 10 years as well as I was a stay at home housewife for as many and I feel I have helped many people feel comfortable and helped them meet others, but there were a few that I had a problem with. Whether it was because of retardation, anti social, many excuses and many problems they latched on to me and I did have problems getting them to let go. I know I've written a lot, but I do wish you all the luck in the world and maybe I'll meet you in a coffee shop somewhere, just sitting at a table looking for some company.

Answer 3

I talk a lot to strangers. First I think that I have something to give: my attention, an idea, a comment, a word of apreciation, a thankfull heart, and quite an exclusive way of evaluating things and actions, but not people themselves. A normal person, I believe.

The world would be a better place if we could trust each other, But to trust you just need to Communicate in order to get the person's Reality and giving back your own. This increases Afinity between the two of you and this is basicaly, Understanding.

So, if you cut Comm, you stop getting Reality and this reduces Afinity. If your Afinity is reduced, then you Comm less, so the Reality decreases even more and this brings down the Afinity, which is to say you stop understanding the other.

This is what happens right before the majority of the divorces. The couple stop communicating because both work and he wants to watch football and the news and she wants to watch the soap-box opera and the program about 'society'. They are too busy watching their own tv shows.. And meanwhile they keep living their lives, getting to know other people... people who also communicate - like they used to do before and during engagement. They stop the Reality and this ceasses Afinity so they stop trusting each other because they don't know the other anymore and there is this idea that we should not trust somebody we do not know..., but they initiated to get to know somebody else, at the workplace, in the underground, at the snack bar where they have 'lunch'... And now they know this person and not the wife/husband anymore.

What do you think that will happen? Divorce.

If you do not know a person usualy you do not trust him/her. This is wrong because the person did nothing to you, he/she is a complete strange to you. But you have to have some Reality about the person in order to evaluate if the person is trust worthy or not. But even though, a person is inocent until found guilty. So, why not to talk to strangers?

This is to show how important is to communicate either with your own people or to stragers. What they will tell you, is up to that time when it comes. However, be sure not to evaluare the person you are listening to. Just aknowledge what they tell you. You do not even need to identify yourself with them. You just need to aknowledge. Understanding will happen, if you are really interested in what they have to say.

This is a great action of yours. You could learn how to do it professionaly and this way, deliver an even greater help to people.

Answer 4

It sounds like an interesting concept. I think there are many people who would talk to strangers. Your confidentiality statments won't do much good, it's only paper. You'd have to identify them first which will close many people up.

The setting of the conversations would have to be in a public place (coffee shop?), which should be relaxing but safe (for both you and the conversationalist). Be careful what you tell them if it's a two sided conversation. Don't give out personal information and be sure one isn't following you home.

Answer 5

Nope. I won't even talk to friends or relatives "about anything".

Most people will only talk about something like the weather or when the next bus comes with a stranger, and if someone would be willing to "talk about anything" with a stranger he/she probably has mental illness.

I think you may mean well, but I think you overestimate people's need to talk and willingness to tell their personal business to a stranger on a couch in the street.

Answer 6

OH shoot yeah. When I worked at a coffee diner. The customers didn't know me from Adam. But they would tell me everything going on in their life. Some were very sad too. Not to mention the fact, I would much rather talk to a stranger myself because he/she can't spread rumors about you to anyone that you know.
I think that that is a great idea and that you should go for it!!

Answer 7

My friend had the exact same idea, inspired by the same Kleenex commercial, but I don't know if he's really going to do it. I think that it's a great idea. There is a sea of people out there who want to be heard, but have no one to talk to. Please get back to us and let us know how things work out.
Peace and Blessings.

Answer 8

You can try it, but I doubt any real people would talk to you. Most people in that commercial are actors. They may look like regular people on the street, but that is the art of acting, blending in. So I wish you the best of luck, whether you do it or not.

Answer 9

the idea is great especially for non religious people (who don't wanna go and talk\confess to a priest) and poor people (who can't offered a shrink) in fact a psychotherapist friend of mine told me that around 65% of people seek therapy out of loneliness, they just want to share their thoughts, fears, disappointment and dreams with some who is not going to judge or criticize them.
if you can do this idea please go ahead as i know it will make a difference in many lives, but you have to put some regulations to the matter as well so it could reach out and be a success, good luck, peace

Answer 10

Go for it! But in reality people are not that trusting,as to talk about
confidently things to a stranger. The world, as it is today is not to
be trusted to total strangers.