This is a story about you. This is a story about me. This is a story about everybody...
Hi, my name's Nick Grant, and I'm not anonymous.
I believe anonymity creates lonliness, isolation and kills the social ties that bond us all together. If we don't know any of the names of the people with whom we share a cramped tube carriage, then we are living far too anonymously. You know what the person next to you smells like, but you don't know their name.
Without social structure, we can act in inhumane ways. We start to see people as statistics. We start to treat people with no regard for their feelings, for their safety.
SAFE
We all just want to feel safe and secure. Do you feel safe and secure? I hope you do. I see it as a human right. I think it's being infringed by the way we have organised ourselves into ultra dense urban populations, where we are mistrustful of each other.
You shouldn't mistrust me. I just want to be friends. I just want everybody to get along.
London, please don't be alarmed. I come in peace. I'm unarmed and I'm not out to harm, alarm or upset anybody.
So, if you see me on the tube, say "Hi Nick" if you recognise me. I will be overwhelmed that somebody knows who I am. I feel really anonymous. I don't like being anonymous. I feel unloved.
I'm giving out some coloured stars... that's my only purpose this evening. It's totally benign. Peaceful.
If you see me, we catch each other's eye, I might introduce myself. I'm not trying to sell you anything. I'm just trying to make meaningful human connections. All I'm doing is giving away colourful cardboard stars to anybody I feel shines out, as a beacon of human connection. You are under no obligation to accept a colourful cardboard star, which is totally free.
If you're too busy thinking about getting home and getting your dinner, I'll try and read your body languague as best as I can. I'm certainly not inviting myself into your life. It's totally OK to ignore me if I misread your eye contact for human connection. Please ignore me if I make you feel uncomfortable... I really don't mean to.
Have a safe journey home tonight. I hope you're happy, safe and secure.
Stay safe.
I see you shining. Hope to see you soon.
If I see you shining I will give you a star.
Love,
Nick Grant (that's my real name)