Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'

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Coffee with Strangers

(+26)

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Hand out coupons for a free coffee redeemable at a certain cafe table at a certain time, as a means of getting two total strangers to meet and chat. The coupons come in pairs and are randomly distributed. The purpose of this is basicaly to meet new people and to foster community spirirt, it is not a blind date type situation. This would bring together disparate people who would never normally have met. And if they never meet again so be it, at least they got a free coffee and a chat.

—	simonj, Feb 22 2009

The ideal companion idea. Two_20Cups_20Of_20Coffee
[coprocephalous, Feb 23 2009]

Is "Omegle" the internet version of this? http://www.bitterwa...-into-your-day/9695
[hippo, Apr 06 2009]

this kind of goes with one of my old ideas... Roadside_20Coffee_20Table
[xandram, Apr 06 2009]

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Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee

Destination URL. E.g., https://www.coffee.com/

Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)

Ah,well. It was such an all-around nice idea, and succinct to boot, that i basked in the idea of it just lying there, accumulating croissants to go with the coffee....

—	loonquawl, Feb 22 2009

//This would bring together disparate people who would never normally have met.// - could also bring together desperate people, whom you would never want to meet, but it's still worth this croissant [+]

—	xenzag, Feb 22 2009

up_on_cloud_nine: When trying to chat and know each other, 2 is always better than 3. Strain on the mind among 3 strangers about what each others think of me is much higher when there are only 2 strangers talking to each other.

Also, if 2 people get an exciting topic to speak about, the third person may feel let behind, and all sorts of complications can occur depending on the 3rd person's personality and attitude.

Also, the coupon provider can be a silent audience so that the 2 people won't feel awkward.

—	kamathln, Feb 22 2009

Starbucks is going bellyup here. May as well give away the tons of product they got stored somewhere. +

—	blissmiss, Feb 22 2009

Free coffee is available at many rest stops along US Highways, as are strangers and tables. But not the coupons.

—	Amos Kito, Feb 22 2009

I sense someone is lonely.

—	sninctown, Feb 22 2009

I thinky you maybe right.

—	blissmiss, Feb 22 2009

// I sense someone is lonely

LOL I thought up this idea while sitting alone in a cafe waiting for my wife to finish shopping :)

—	simonj, Feb 23 2009

I like the intention but not the mechanism, a coffee shop giving away coffee won't last very long unless you specify it is only valid at lunchtime and hope people will order food.

It would be better to have 2 for the price of 1 coupons. You could even make them with a couple of variations on a jigsaw piece so that you have to mingle a bit to find someone with the matching half.

—	marklar, Feb 23 2009

I like this idea. It needs to be as convenient as normal coffee drinking, and situated in some of the most lonely places on earth - e.g. central business districts of large cities.

—	vincevincevince, Feb 23 2009

//But most businesspeople can afford to buy coffee..

...yet have few friends

—	simonj, Feb 26 2009

[hippo] that link is very frightening. And funny.

—	blissmiss, Apr 06 2009

You can all go for coffee, for all I care.

—	theleopard, Apr 06 2009

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