Social Monk Bootcamp Vol. 1

Everyone who participates in this event will start a conversation with at least 5 random strangers during this week (05/14 - 05/21).

The rules are simple.

During this exercise it is forbidden to use excuses such as asking the time or directions, or making a safe situational remark, you will open your conversations honestly and directly by for instance saying that you thought the person you approached looked cool/interesting/cute/whatever and you simply wanted to meet them. You will also try to establish a real conversation with these people (about anything), meaning you do not just open and walk away, you stay even if nothing comes to mind; crash and burn if you have to. You do not eject until you've persisted and tried to get a serious conversation going, or obviously got blown out.

The goal of this exercise is to break social barriers, detach yourself from social validation, boost your confidence, distance yourself from your ego and train your social skills and discipline.

This will be the first of multiple social bootcamps to come. Consider it a warm-up!

Monks, show us what you're made of!

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Comment by Daniel Cherry on May 29, 2009 at 4:50pm

whew its over

Comment by Tomek B on May 25, 2009 at 8:51am

So Dean, what do we do now? :P

Comment by Vinay on May 23, 2009 at 11:47am

You could totally say that to me, Josh.

Comment by Josh on May 23, 2009 at 4:11am

is it ok if i say "i like that top?"

Comment by Sophie on May 22, 2009 at 5:34pm

Karandash, don't worry about it! the convo i had wasn't really a convo, someone was trying to give me a kitten...
It hard as hell i know! but just saying hello to people is good! Start small :)

Comment by Karandash on May 22, 2009 at 11:48am

I couldn't do it. This made me totally depressed. The more depressed i got the less i could do it. I have not tolked to a single person.

I even sort of envy all of you guys who could converse with even one. Man you totally rock!

Comment by Daniel Lockwood on May 22, 2009 at 9:59am

I actually did this. I'm not sure if I used "excuses" or not. I can't really tell anymore. To be honest, I always pay attention to what someone is doing before I talk to them.

I approached at least 5 new people over the past week. I'm sure of that. I think the best way I've found is to just, like Reese says, "Be in the moment" with them. You're already there with them. So I talk to them like they should be expecting it. I notice I always use an interjection first, then pause for a half second, make sure I have their attention, and make a comment that opens up conversation. "Man, who picks this music?" "Hey, let me get a cigarette from you." "Wow, you're really deep in those books." "You know, you look like you're enjoying that sandwich almost a little too much there." "I think you're in my way. I need you to be like, two feet that way."

Those were my five "openers" or whatever. From what I can remember, I met 2 women and 3 guys. All really nice people, talked for a few minutes. Got a number from one of the girls, and a number from a dude, actually. Yeah, gotta keep in touch somehow! lol I joked with the guy too. Said I picked him up. He's cool though. Might come through with some herb. I was happy.

Comment by Sophie on May 22, 2009 at 8:54am

I managed 1 conversation, but i did say hello to everyone i saw :P

Comment by Tomek B on May 22, 2009 at 8:40am

It seems like a little bit easier bootcamp is needed here. I didn't do it. I will retry when I finish my urgen tasks (that means next week).

Comment by Lakatos on May 21, 2009 at 8:47pm

oh man... It's almost over. and I couldn't speak to the minimum required amount of people :( . No problem. Can't wait for the next bootcamp :)

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