Are Hongkongers cold people? Man behind campaign of speaking to strangers hopes to bring back human connection
Founder of ChatToStranger wants people to detach from their mobile devices and warm up to others
“It’s like having to confess your love to someone you’ve had a crush on.”
That was how 27-year-old Leung Cheuk-lam felt when he spoke to a complete stranger for the first time last year as part of a personal project, which requires him to strike up a conversation with at least one random person a day.
The idea is to promote face-to-face human connection, something that Leung says is increasingly rare these days because of our growing dependence on communication devices.
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“I’ve heard lots of people complain about Hongkongers being cold,” says Leung, a freelance actor and video editor. “I hope I can change that.”
Recalling his first time talking to a stranger, Leung says he felt very nervous, although he knew just a simple “hello” was all that was needed to break the ice.
“It’s like telling a girl that I like her and at the same time feeling scared because I don’t know if she feels the same about me,” Leung says.