Wanted: Chief small talk officers. Awkward applicants welcome

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn the United States this morning, a communication app called RiseGuide is hiring Chief Small Talk Officers, and Axios reports it renamed the job from Head of Hanging Out to stress how serious it is.

2. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe monthlong gig pays each of up to three hires two thousand dollars, plus a budget for outings to parks, bookstores and fitness classes, where they approach strangers and rate how it goes.

3. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThey approach strangers. On purpose. In a bookstore, where people go specifically to avoid that.

4. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe company's own survey of Gen Zers and millennials says eighty-six percent will chat, but only thirty-four percent will start it.

5. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSo the job is to be the thirty-four.

6. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThirty-four. I have been in the sixty-six my whole life, and I thought it was a choice.

7. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA manager admits the irony of an app fighting screen time, but says the goal is for users to leave the app.

8. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have heard that from governments too.

9. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorBrilliant. A company paying people to make it redundant.

10. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorBrock, a question for you: it's a lovely forecast, so what exactly do you say to a stranger about it?