i spoke to some complete randoms. but... i feel i kind of cheated because it took going out on a friday night and intoxicating myself to ensure i passed.
any idiot can get a few drinks in and be 'mister talk to strangers', so it's not much of an achievement, and nothing that really felt like a test.
however, there are learning points.
- if you talk to people, they will engage you in conversation, and if they're a decent kind they'll be happy for it.
- the just before and just after work times are a really unfulfilling time to contemplate talking to people - they look so miserable. it's almost as though smiling costs them their hard earned money, and yet they must loosen up when it comes to their real free time. personally i find it hard to switch off my sense of fun and i think that has presented difficulties within a work context in the past. imagination and humour don't go too far when you're simply a commodified employee.
- not being too judgemental is a good way to start - i had a great time with a guy who i might not label as my kind of friend but he had a great outlook. he claimed he knew a number of celebrities and frankly, if i was a celebrity i'd welcomly share a few pints with him, so why not? and that for me is all that really counts. the truth to me is less important than the dream.
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