heard an NPR radio program, The Importance Of 'Consequential Strangers', with the author of this book, Consequential Strangers - the power of people who don't seem to matter but really do. I'm always interested to hear something about social interactivity and culture norms. This discussion talked about the way we may not listen to a friend's advice, yet take to heart advice from a stranger. Or the effect a small bit of encouragement from a stranger may have on us --
Even considering the new world of social networking online and how we may connect with some total stranger and through common interests develop a relationship. And what is that relationship, friendship? aquaintance? consequential stranger? I began to think of those conversations and dialogue I've had just putting up this blog, and how that affects my ideas and/or opinions of myself. anyway, culture has definitely changed with the opportunity to communicate with strangers online so easily, or even the abilitiy to keep up with people we meet by connecting online continuously regardless of where we live. Should be cool to see where all this goes or how culture norms in the future are changed.
I also enjoyed the discussion of the micro communities that exist between the people you see every day, same bus crowd, or coffee shop crowd, or the same workers at the sandwich shop you see daily. the pleasure of "getting to know" someone although they are never more than that same stranger you see every day, maybe speak to, maybe wave hi....
So, do YOU value the consequential strangers in your life?
5 comments:
sounds like a good writing assignment for your students, might be interesting to read about their experiences.
Yea, I value those opinions, probably too much
now that you mention it.
And in this world now with chat rooms and
all the manhunt and similar sites you can make acquaintances hundreds or thousands miles away and connect with them more then your good friends. Interesting really.
When I was in my 20's and sorting all this
stuff out (and still am)
I used to call those gay party lines and met
some folks on there in the "phone world".
Powerful stuff, yet I never knew them but they were closer friends to me then my "real" friends were....take care!
I love the "regular" strangers in my life. Whether it's the blonde girl who works at my gym, the Korean guy at the liquor store or the random old ladies that work in Walgreen's, it really makes my 'hood feel like home.
First off I think anonymous is right! Do that!
This is pretty crazy. I think with the whole online/blogging thing a lot of the bloggers I've met are closer to me than my real life friends in some of the stuff I have been able to mention. Friendship? I'd say so. Consequential stranger? Has a cool name for it, but I think with many of us it is more and being able to share making the relationship deeper.
I think that the consequential strangers/people from everyday life just bring a sense of normalcy para mi.
Hmm..wondering now where I can go to get my car washed by those boys!
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