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.

   大家晚安。在擁擠的列車上，我們大多數人都會低頭看手機，避免和別人有眼神接觸。今晚，我想說服大家：我們應該更常和陌生人聊天。

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.

   大多數人以為和陌生人說話會很尷尬，或者覺得對方不想聊天。

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.

   但芝加哥一項很有名的研究發現，事實恰恰相反。被要求和陌生人交談的通勤者，比獨自坐著的人覺得這趟旅程更愉快，儘管他們事先預想的正好相反。

   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.

   簡短的交談會提醒我們，自己是社羣的一部分。我們常常能學到新東西，離開時也會覺得和別人更親近了一些。

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.

   那麼，我們為什麼會退縮呢？我們低估了別人有多喜歡聊天，又太擔心自己該說什麼。

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.

   開口其實比你想象的容易。聊聊你們都能看到的東西，問一個簡單的問題，到了該結束的時候，就讓對話自然地結束。

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.

   當然，對於明顯想獨處的人，我們應該尊重；在安全方面，也要始終相信自己的直覺。

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.

   總之，陌生人往往比我們想象的更友善、更有趣。這個星期，何不和一個新認識的人打個招呼呢？謝謝大家。