Why We Should Talk to Strangers More

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1. 01Why We Should Talk to Strangers More

   Good evening, everyone. On a crowded train, most of us look at our phones and avoid eye contact. Tonight, I want to convince you that we should talk to strangers more often.

   大家晚上好。在拥挤的列车上，我们大多数人都会低头看手机，避免和别人有眼神接触。今晚，我想说服大家：我们应该更常和陌生人聊天。

2. 02What We Expect

   Most people expect that talking to a stranger will be awkward, or that the other person won't want to talk.

   大多数人以为和陌生人说话会很尴尬，或者觉得对方不想聊天。

3. 03What Research Found

   But a well-known study in Chicago found the opposite. Commuters who were asked to talk to a stranger reported a more pleasant trip than those who sat alone, even though they had expected the reverse.

   但芝加哥一项很有名的研究发现，事实恰恰相反。被要求和陌生人交谈的通勤者，比独自坐着的人觉得这趟旅程更愉快，尽管他们事先预想的正好相反。

   Source: Epley & Schroeder (2014)

4. 04Why It Feels Good

   Short conversations remind us that we are part of a community. We often learn something new, and we leave feeling a little more connected.

   简短的交谈会提醒我们，自己是社区的一部分。我们常常能学到新东西，离开时也会觉得和别人更亲近了一些。

5. 05Why We Hold Back

   So why do we hold back? We underestimate how much others enjoy talking, and we worry too much about what to say.

   那么，我们为什么会退缩呢？我们低估了别人有多喜欢聊天，又太担心自己该说什么。

6. 06How to Start

   Starting is easier than you think. Comment on something you both can see, ask a simple question, and let the conversation end naturally when it's time.

   开口其实比你想象的容易。聊聊你们都能看到的东西，问一个简单的问题，到了该结束的时候，就让对话自然地结束。

7. 07A Word of Caution

   Of course, we should respect people who clearly want to be left alone, and always trust our feelings about safety.

   当然，对于明显想独处的人，我们应该尊重；在安全方面，也要始终相信自己的直觉。

8. 08Conclusion

   In short, strangers are often kinder and more interesting than we expect. This week, why not say hello to someone new? Thank you.

   总之，陌生人往往比我们想象的更友善、更有趣。这个星期，何不和一个新认识的人打个招呼呢？谢谢大家。