[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.41,0:00:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don’t talk to strangers!
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.52,0:00:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who’s heard that before?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.55,0:00:18.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is what all of us hear\Nfrom our parents, teachers and our peers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.30,0:00:19.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we are tiny.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.62,0:00:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And why?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.88,0:00:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,According to Psychological Science,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.59,0:00:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,children as young as seven
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.03,0:00:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,already evaluate trustworthiness\Nin strangers as accurately as adults do.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.69,0:00:30.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But still, for a fear of the unknown,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.99,0:00:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we try to avoid all\Ncommunication with strangers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.31,0:00:35.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I do have to commend us
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.91,0:00:38.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because now, in the 21st century,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.47,0:00:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have perfected the art\Nof not talking with strangers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.30,0:00:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through our tech gadgets.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.58,0:00:46.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, when we walk down the streets,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.94,0:00:49.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on our phones, with AirPods in our ears,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.66,0:00:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we pass people on the street\Nwithout even acknowledging their presence.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.17,0:00:55.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because, why would we?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.73,0:00:57.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are they going to introduce me\Nto my soulmate?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.14,0:01:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are they going to find me my next job?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.53,0:01:01.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably not.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.92,0:01:06.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it seems that having conversations \Nwith strangers is a total waste of time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.12,0:01:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And anyway, we are so busy.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.52,0:01:13.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I want to convince you\Nof the opposite,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.72,0:01:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that speaking with strangers \Nand diving into the unknown
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.76,0:01:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will improve your life tremendously,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.06,0:01:23.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both by giving you more opportunities \Nand connecting you with your community.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.68,0:01:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, imagine it is 8:30 in the morning,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.56,0:01:29.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you click the elevator door
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.14,0:01:31.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the eighth floor\Nof your apartment building
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.40,0:01:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.46,0:01:35.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You are coffee-in-hand, \Nand you walk into the elevator,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.36,0:01:38.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all of a sudden, the elevator stops.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.50,0:01:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the seventh floor.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.84,0:01:44.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lady walks in with her two dogs.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.26,0:01:45.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do you do?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.01,0:01:49.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A. Comment on the dogs: \N"Oh, they’re so cute!"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.02,0:01:54.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,B. Pull out your phone and pretend \Nto do something of utmost importance.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.09,0:01:58.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or C. Stand awkwardly, \Nsipping your coffee.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.21,0:02:02.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So just think to yourself,\Nand be completely honest,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.58,0:02:04.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who would pick option A?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.12,0:02:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see you friendly folks out there!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.26,0:02:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And B?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.33,0:02:10.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here, the masters of acting!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.16,0:02:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And C?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.32,0:02:15.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ah yes! There are my fellow\Nawkward coffee sippers!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.90,0:02:20.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That used to be me until I was sipping\Na latte with my aunt one afternoon.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.14,0:02:24.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She told me the story\Nof how she got her current job.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.29,0:02:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was a financial advisor
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.78,0:02:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got an email one morning\Ntelling her she was dismissed.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.20,0:02:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That week, she sent six applications\Nto different companies,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.72,0:02:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,frantically trying to get a job.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.78,0:02:36.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Disillusioned, a month later,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.56,0:02:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she got on the elevator\Nafter her Planet Fitness workout session.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.78,0:02:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were two men in the elevator,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.48,0:02:44.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she began to fuss\Nabout the challenges of finding a job.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.00,0:02:48.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the men mentioned\Nthat his wife worked for a headhunter
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.22,0:02:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,specializing in the area\Nshe let him know she was interested in,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.46,0:02:53.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gave her her number.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.15,0:02:54.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My aunt called the headhunter,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.59,0:02:57.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and within two weeks,\Nshe had a job she loved.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.16,0:03:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All from speaking with a stranger\Nin an elevator, no less.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.31,0:03:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The average New York City\Nelevator ride lasts 118 seconds.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.54,0:03:06.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That’s it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.86,0:03:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That’s what it can take \Nto spark a conversation
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.36,0:03:13.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that leads to somewhere interesting\Nand different, even life-changing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.36,0:03:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inspired by my aunt’s story,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.19,0:03:19.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I decided to turn an opportunity\Nin the elevator that lasts 118 seconds
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.08,0:03:23.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into an opportunity that lasts 8 hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.69,0:03:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to discover the stories\Nof fellow MTA commuters
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.12,0:03:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by speaking with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.62,0:03:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got on the 6 subway train\Nat 9 AM on 86th Street.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.77,0:03:35.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was, naturally, pre-COVID-19.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.76,0:03:39.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I stayed on the green line,\Ngoing up and down, until 5 PM.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.29,0:03:41.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A total of eight hours on the subway.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.88,0:03:43.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The entire time,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.19,0:03:46.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my goal was to speak\Nwith people I had never met
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.25,0:03:48.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and would likely never meet again.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.15,0:03:51.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I asked people the same question\Nto spark off a brief conversation:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.90,0:03:54.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"If this subway car\Ncould take you anywhere,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.57,0:03:56.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where would you go?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.70,0:03:59.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At times, the responses were a mixture\Nof a shrug of the shoulders
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.91,0:04:03.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or pretending to get back\Nto a text message or a game,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.16,0:04:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Subway Surfer included.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.05,0:04:08.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was easy to understand\Nthe reticence to speak with a stranger.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.88,0:04:12.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think several people thought\NI was plausibly mad
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.07,0:04:15.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and distanced themselves from me\Nas if I had the flu.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.46,0:04:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The people I did spark\Na connection with, though,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.75,0:04:20.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shared fascinating responses \Nto my question.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.71,0:04:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met a young man who answered me
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.64,0:04:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by pointing up to an advertisement\Nin the car about holidaying in Florida.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.92,0:04:30.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He wanted the train to take him\Nto the white beaches and blue sea,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.82,0:04:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to share the spot with his boyfriend.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.72,0:04:34.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He wanted to get away\Nfrom the hurly-burly.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.64,0:04:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A totally different perspective \Ncame from an older woman
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.78,0:04:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who said she wanted \Nthe subway to take her to Mars.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.74,0:04:43.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For all of her life, she loved astronomy,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.99,0:04:46.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and today, with the rise of astrobiology,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.63,0:04:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which she explained to me \Nmeans the study of life on planets,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.58,0:04:53.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she wanted to see for herself \Nthe possibility of life on Mars.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.99,0:04:55.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there I was,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.20,0:04:57.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sitting with this person\Non the subway car
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.28,0:04:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was an Elon Musk-type visionary.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.41,0:05:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A third and final sample\Nfrom my more than 200 interactions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.26,0:05:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was of a mother of five children \Nwho was expecting a sixth.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.25,0:05:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She told me she wanted \Nthe subway car to take her home,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.35,0:05:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exactly where she was headed.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.42,0:05:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She wanted to open\Nthe front door to her home
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.62,0:05:20.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and feel the warm hugs of her children\Nafter a long day in a small cubicle.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.22,0:05:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She hoped there wouldn’t be \Na delay in the trains
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.63,0:05:25.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for she was eager\Nto prepare dinner for her children,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.27,0:05:27.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their favorite: pasta with tomato sauce.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.94,0:05:29.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to join her for that too!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.52,0:05:34.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The average New Yorker spends\Nsix hours commuting each week,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.55,0:05:37.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most of which takes place \Nin the company of fellow commuters.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.61,0:05:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's fertile ground \Nto reach out to a stranger
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.09,0:05:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and get some type of conversation going,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.53,0:05:45.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if it's just to commend them \Non something or other.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.72,0:05:48.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it's in everyone’s best interest.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.14,0:05:52.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A 2014 study conducted \Nby Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.15,0:05:55.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,published in the Association\Nfor Psychological Science,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.72,0:05:58.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found that commuters who spoke\Nwith their fellow subway or bus riders
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.98,0:06:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had a more positive\Nand equally productive commute.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.60,0:06:06.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus, we can always get\Nto beating our Candy Crush score later.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.82,0:06:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got enough captivating stories\Nfrom my single question to write a book.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.01,0:06:14.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In class, I have found inspiration
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.33,0:06:17.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for revisiting this childhood fear\Nof speaking with strangers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.73,0:06:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of my teachers found her soulmate\Nfrom one such interaction.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.90,0:06:22.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Check it out.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.28,0:06:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was at the grocery store, \Nin the ice cream aisle,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.90,0:06:26.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to reach the top row
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.28,0:06:29.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get the Ben & Jerry’s\Nchocolate chip cookie dough flavor.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.45,0:06:32.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A man walks up to her\Nand offers to reach it for her.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.40,0:06:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was six foot two.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.21,0:06:36.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He tells her that\Nit's his favorite flavor -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.44,0:06:37.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as is mine! -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.57,0:06:38.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they start talking.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.91,0:06:42.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cut the story short, my teacher\Nand the tall man exchange phone numbers,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.50,0:06:44.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they grab coffee the following week
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.45,0:06:46.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since they discover\Nthey work near one another.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.66,0:06:48.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing leads to another,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.30,0:06:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they are today celebrating\N25 years married.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.76,0:06:53.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No doubt a thing of fortune,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.15,0:06:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and glad that their chance meeting \Ndidn't happen today, during COVID-19,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.30,0:07:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where keeping six feet apart\Nmay have meant lives never come together.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.66,0:07:04.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's hope we can restart\Nour social lives soon!
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.64,0:07:07.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we do, what will we do differently?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.43,0:07:09.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How will we come out of our hibernation?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.14,0:07:11.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What will we improve on,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.43,0:07:15.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learning from the importance of social \Ninteractions from being starved of them?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.98,0:07:20.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Perhaps I can recommend a script \Nto help you along, if valuable.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.08,0:07:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can start an interaction \Nby asking a fun question.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.100,0:07:26.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's quirky, but you'd be surprised \Nhow much people want to share.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.66,0:07:28.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What will you ask?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.15,0:07:30.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A. What is your favorite color?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.66,0:07:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,B. If you could make a YouTube video\Nwith one billion views,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.31,0:07:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what would it be about?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.52,0:07:39.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or C. If this subway car could take you \Nanywhere, where would you go?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.92,0:07:41.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When this pandemic ends,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.37,0:07:45.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we once again fill the subway cars\Nand elevators and grocery stores,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.28,0:07:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,let’s return and share the human energy
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.26,0:07:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we have missed\Nduring this awful pandemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.49,0:07:51.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Make that some type of resolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.95,0:07:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Goodbye to awkward coffee sips \Nor pretense eyeing of your phone.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.32,0:07:56.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Reach out to a stranger instead.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.29,0:07:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.