Oddbean

The overly simple motivation for me is: I hate going out in general public or in company with friends where there default reaction is to pull out their phone. Or being around phone zombies in general. College campus was bad, mostly with headphones and such. I enjoyed exchanging smiles, hellos, and how are you's to strangers, but most have headphones in or stare at screens. As an engineer I don't want to be responsible for endorsing, or encouraging what the world has become due to tech. I do wonder if there is such as thing as too much convenience, I mean I suppose there is always too much of something, but where there line is IDK.

Also I'd argue it isn't really a general thing either. Plenty of older people 50s+ are just as bad or worse at this in my experience. Maybe not with a phone in their face, but equally awkward or bothered in public.

It's a skill. I think part of that skill must come from taking in interesting and beautiful things, so that you can make meaningful conversation with people. First, though, one needs a conversation starter and a bit of courage. That takes practice.

Not sure, as it's something I'm still learning. Some ideas, though: - Read a lot. Fiction, nonfiction, essays, and occasional news. Or if reading isn't always practical, podcasts and audio books do a pretty good job in the place of physical books. - Talk about meaningful things with your friends. Make connections. Think about how the movie you just saw relates to the essay you just read. - Engage in hobbies. Something that interests you can you can get excited about with other people. - Jog or garden or do something physical outside, that makes you attend to the weather, the skies, the seasons, and the natural world. - Ask questions and listen. - Laugh at other people's jokes, and at your own.