9 TED Talks to inspire smart conversation

No one really wants to talk about the weather. Inspired by TED Talks, here are some prompts to bring better conversation to any situation.

1. Erin McKean: The joy of lexicography
The conversation starter: “So, what’s your favorite word?”
Ask: The chatty person who’s sharing an outlet with you at the coffee shop
The basic idea: Dictionaries don’t compile themselves — linguistic sleuths called lexicographers do — and in order to keep the modern dictionary accurate and dynamic, they need be open to new words and formats. They also need your help.
Fun facts you’ll learn: How lexicography is like archaeology; why there’s no such thing as a “bad” word; and the definition of “erinaceous” (hint: it involves hedgehogs). Scoot to 3:58 for that.

 

2. David Eagleman: Can we create new senses for humans?
The conversation starter: “If you could choose a sixth sense, what would it be?”
Ask: Around the dinner table, just before dessert
The basic idea: Human perception is limited to information our five senses are able to receive and process. But combining technology with biology, scientists are finding new ways to enhance our current senses — and even add new ones.
Fun facts you’ll learn: How scientists are using “peripheral devices” inspired by snakes, moles and fish to give humans new senses; the inner workings of a vest that lets people hear through touch. (Yes, you read that right. See it in action at the 11:45 mark.)

 

3. Ben Ambridge: 10 myths about psychology, debunked
The conversation starter: “Do you think you can tell when someone is telling you a lie?”
Ask: At a late-night get-together
The basic idea: From inkblot tests to learning styles to the details of Milgram’s famous experiment, there are a number of famous psychology tidbits we think we know — but are actually wrong about.
Fun facts you’ll learn: Contrary to popular belief, men are not from Mars and women are not from Venus. Also — sorry to break it to you — listening to Mozart won’t make you smarter.

 

4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story
The conversation starter: “Tell me about a time when you had preconceived notions about a person or a place — and were proven wrong.”
Ask: Your seatmate on a plane or long train trip
The basic idea: It’s easy to hold a narrow vision of a person or a whole culture. But everyone has a collection of layered, overlapping stories — no one is a single, simple meme.
Fun facts you’ll learn: Why the media’s focus on a “single story” about a place prevents true understanding; and what we can do to change — and broaden — the narrative.

 

5. Hans and Ola Rosling: How not to be ignorant about the world
The conversation starter: “Are you optimistic about the world, or pessimistic — and what makes you feel that way?”
Ask: Among old friends
The basic idea: Thanks to sensationalist news media, many people think the world is heading in the wrong direction. But reality doesn’t always align with our pessimistic perceptions. By changing the way we see information, we can rise above ignorance.
Fun facts you’ll learn: The many surprising pieces of evidence that show the world is getting better (and why chimps seem to have a better handle on this than we do). For a heartening stat on global vaccine rates that the media got wrong, click to 7:05.

 

6. James Flynn: Why our IQ levels are higher than our grandparents’
The conversation starter: “Do you think you are smarter than your parents?”
Ask: At a family reunion picnic
The basic idea: Cognitive history shows that each generation scores higher on IQ tests than the one before. As the world around us has changed, so has our ability to process it and understand increasingly complex concepts.
Fun facts you’ll learn: The staggering difference in average IQ scores between generations; the “mental artillery” we have today that our grandparents didn’t; and the areas in which we still fall short. (Hint: flipping through a history textbook might be a good idea.)

 

7. Suzana Herculano-Houzel: What is so special about the human brain?
The conversation starter: “Did you ever wonder why humans cook our food, and other animals don’t?”
Ask: While cooking with friends
The basic idea: For all the progress we’ve made in neuroscience, some basic questions about the human brain’s size and function have remained unanswered — until now.
Fun facts you’ll learn: The key difference between a human brain and a rat brain; the skill our ancestors developed that changed everything; and what neuroscientists achieved by making “brain soup.”

 

8. Dambisa Moyo: Is China the new idol for emerging economies?
The conversation starter: “If you had to choose between a roof over your head and your right to vote, which would you choose?”
Ask: When you’re talking with someone from a different background, and want to get to know them better
The basic idea: China’s rise to economic power is indisputable, and while Western leaders tend to fixate on clashing ideals, some emerging economies view China’s model as the one to emulate.
Fun facts you’ll learn: The political and economic values propelling China forward; why the West’s focus on liberty and democracy isn’t always applicable to reality; and what the could be championing instead.

 

9. Nicolas Perony: Puppies! Now that I’ve got your attention, complexity theory
The conversation starter: “Ever notice how our dogs behave when they’re in packs?”
Ask: At the dog park
The basic idea: The behavior of individual animals may seem simple and straightforward, but when these animals interact in groups, surprisingly complex patterns emerge.
Fun facts you’ll learn: How to create an example of complexity theory with Scottish terrier puppies.

from TED Blog http://blog.ted.com/9-ted-talks-to-inspire-smart-conversation/
via Sol Danmeri