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30 minutes with a stranger

(pudding.cool)
1103 points MaxLeiter | 2 comments | 04 Sep 25 05:56 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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gwd ◴[04 Sep 25 08:03 UTC] No.45124841[source]▶
One of the problems with their "better / worse" statistics: Bad interactions tend to outweigh good interactions. I think the rule of thumb is that 4:1 good/bad ratio in a relationship is "breakeven" where the relationship will stay neutral; higher than that and things get better, lower than that and things go south.

So if you could talk to a stranger, and there's only a 20% chance you'll feel worse, a lot of people would still not consider it worth the risk.

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1. namuol ◴[04 Sep 25 13:27 UTC] No.45127048[source]▶
I think it depends on what you’re used to. If you’re in an abusive relationship or socially isolated, a single positive social interaction can feel like a breakthrough.
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2. netmansion ◴[04 Sep 25 16:00 UTC] No.45128742[source]▶
I would argue that a negative social interaction would feel exponentially more harmful at a time like you describe, in which you're already feeling generally unsafe or insecure. My fear of others is always so much worse when I am hurting for some positive feedback from the world.