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Neither of those are truly challenges.

1.) The coffeeshop isn't an office - people can talk. If it's too loud, that's on you (the person using it as an office) to find another place.

2.) You already have something in common - you want to talk!

I've seen this idea of the "talk table" work in retirement homes, not sure how well it would fare with a younger crowd.

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1.) Fair point.

2.) Right, I do want to talk, but the number of subjects I can converse about is a tiny fraction of those on offer. If I show up and the topic is rebuilding engines or flower arranging - two topics I know nothing about - I'll have nothing to contribute.

Contributing by being interested and actively listening is more important than knowing everything about everything.

Good point. In retrospect I misunderstood the gist of the article. Loneliness can be remedied simply by being around and engaged with other people. That doesn't require holding forth on whatever's being discussed.

Part of being social(ly well adjusted) is giving a shit about what someone else is interested in instead of requiring everyone to have the same interests as you.

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