Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below and read The New York Times article How not to be Alone.
- How often do you get engaged in conversation with a complete stranger?
- Have you ever helped out a complete stranger?
- In what situations are we most likely to overhear private conversations?
- Have you ever overheard a mobile phone conversation or seen someone’s screen when being in a public place?
- If so, could you explain the situation(s) and what the conversations were about?
- Could you have found a way not to have listened to the conversation or not to have seen the screen?
- Do you try to ignore people when they are in public but engaged with telephone conversations and social media interactions that are meant to be private?
- If so, what strategies do you use?
- Is your attitude shared by the majority?
- Have you ever felt tempted to intervene when overhearing the conversation and help the person out?
- Would you always ignore the people holding the conversation if you noticed they are going through a difficult time? Why (not)?
- The statement “Technology celebrates connectedness, but encourages retreat.” is taken from the New York Times accompanying article to the topic. What does that statement mean to you?
- What do you think are the unspoken“rules” about conducting –and observing– interactions using technology devices in public?
photo from ELTPics in Flickr
