The whole idea is a privacy minefield, so it would have to be very carefully designed and implemented, of course making it opt-in. But still, should we even pursue this idea?
So that, for example, even if I met someone just briefly, they can still later see the contact information that I am willing to provide.
Wouldn’t that make it much easier to connect with people who live close to you?
Are there any relevant projects or ideas that already exist?
You’re basically right, and all I’m saying is that a technological solution like: my phone buzzes and tells me “the person over there is open to meeting new people and isn’t busy at the moment” would be rad as hell. Just a little reassurance that I’m not an intruder so I don’t get caught in my own head and trip over my own neurosis.
Also, online is totally different from IRL. We’re all just lines of text on a screen here; NPCs in the posting RPG. Even better, by responding you’ve already proven that you’re open to responses.
… although I just realized we can’t disable inbox replies and now I’m freaking out! 😂
I am like you, also wanting a signal before interacting.
I think for me, a big reason is because I’m autistic and I won’t be able to perceive any ‘cues’ from other people, so I default to assuming they don’t want to talk unless they’re extremely explicit about the opposite.
But I think a lot of people also look for a signal, they’re just better able to read it from body language and whatnot?
I’m actually overly sensitive to perceiving cues from other people, so I get constant false signals all the time and it stresses me the hell out! I try so very hard not to assume what other people are thinking, but I am so so so sensitive to even the slightest signs that I blow things way out of proportion.
Like, a typical person talks to a stranger and see’s “oh they’re busy, I’ll talk to them later”
I talk to a stranger and see “oh they hate me I guess I’ll go die lol”
And it doesn’t matter that I know it isn’t real! I’ll just spend the rest of the day beating myself up for bothering them, even as I run around in circles in my own head arguing with myself that I’m being ridiculous. Ugh. Just thinking about this has me stressed lol