TED Studio
Rainn Wilson: Ideas worth dating
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Being alone takes its toll. Feel like it's time to make a real connection? Third-wheel with Rainn Wilson (star of "The Office") as he dates some of the best ideas on TED.com and discover your perfect "idea mate" along the way.
Rainn Wilson - Actor, writer
Rainn Wilson is an actor, writer and co-creator of media and production company SoulPancake. Full bio
Rainn Wilson is an actor, writer and co-creator of media and production company SoulPancake. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
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(Music)
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Rainn Wilson: It takes
its toll, being alone.
its toll, being alone.
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I'm a little bit lost,
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and it's finally time
to make a real connection.
to make a real connection.
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Who am I?
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(Drums)
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I'm a single white male,
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45 years of age.
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I love animals.
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Gainfully employed.
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I'm a people person.
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I keep fit.
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Who am I looking for?
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I'm looking for my idea mate.
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Are you that idea
that matches with who I really am?
that matches with who I really am?
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(Video) Ron Finley: How would you feel
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if you had no access to healthy food?
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Gardening is the most therapeutic
and defiant act you can do.
and defiant act you can do.
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RW: Wow, we sure are getting
our fingers dirty for a first date, huh?
our fingers dirty for a first date, huh?
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RF: Gardening is the most therapeutic
and defiant act you can do.
and defiant act you can do.
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People in these areas --
they're exposed to crappy food.
they're exposed to crappy food.
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I want people to know
that growing your own food
that growing your own food
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is like printing your own money.
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RW: You're like a food superhero!
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RF: Food is the problem
and food is the solution.
and food is the solution.
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(Music)
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Erin McKean: I'm a lexicographer.
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My job is to put every word
possible into the dictionary.
possible into the dictionary.
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RW: I love words, too --
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just as much as any lexi-ta-tographer.
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What if you love a word
that you've just made up,
that you've just made up,
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like -- I don't know -- "scuberfinkles"?
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Beau Lotto: Do you think you see reality?
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RW: Well, I'm a little
nearsighted, but yeah.
nearsighted, but yeah.
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BL: Well, you can't -- I mean,
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your brain has no access to this world.
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In fact, even the sensory information
that your eyes are receiving,
that your eyes are receiving,
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your ears are receiving,
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is completely meaningless
because it could mean anything.
because it could mean anything.
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That tree could be a large object far away
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or a small object up close,
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and your brain has no way of knowing.
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RW: Once I thought I saw Bigfoot
but it was just a German shepherd.
but it was just a German shepherd.
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Isabel Behncke Izquierdo: Bonobos
are, together with chimpanzees,
are, together with chimpanzees,
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your closest living relatives.
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Bonobos have frequent and promiscuous sex
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to manage conflict
and solve social issues.
and solve social issues.
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RW: I'm just curious:
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Do we have any conflict
that needs managing
that needs managing
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or social issues to resolve?
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IBI: Remember --
you're on a date with my idea,
you're on a date with my idea,
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not me.
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Jane McGonigal: This is the face
of someone who, against all odds,
of someone who, against all odds,
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is on the verge of an epic win.
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RW: An epic win?
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JM: An epic win is an outcome
so extraordinarily positive,
so extraordinarily positive,
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you didn't even know it was possible
until you achieved it.
until you achieved it.
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You're not making the face.
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You're making the "I'm not
good at life" face.
good at life" face.
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RW: Arthur, I want to be
really honest with you.
really honest with you.
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I am seeing other ideas. OK?
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I'm dating around.
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That's the situation.
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Arthur Benjamin: I'd say this:
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Mathematics is not just solving for x,
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it's also figuring out why.
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RW: Do you want to get some pie?
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AB: Pi?
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3.14159265358979 --
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Reggie Watts: If we're going
to do something,
to do something,
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we've got to just make a decision.
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Because without a decision
we're left powerless.
we're left powerless.
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Without power,
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we have nothing to supply
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the chain of those who are truly curious
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to solve all of our current conditions.
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RW: And, "If you choose not to decide,
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you still have made a choice" -- Rush.
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JM: Yes!
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This is the face we need to see
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on millions of problem solvers worldwide,
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as we try to tackle the challenges
of the next century.
of the next century.
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RW: So, are we going Dutch?
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AB: 3846264338327950
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28841...
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971?
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RW: One night, want to go
to a movie or something?
to a movie or something?
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RF: Hell, no! Let's go plant some shit!
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RW: Let's plant some shit!
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Good, now what is this that I'm planting?
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Bonobos!
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IBI: Bonobos! (Laughs)
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Bonobos.
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RWatts: Um, interested much?
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RW: I want to have your idea baby.
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RWatts: Well, you know
what they say in Russia.
what they say in Russia.
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RW: Hm?
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RWatts: "scuberfinckle."
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(Bottles clink)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Rainn Wilson - Actor, writerRainn Wilson is an actor, writer and co-creator of media and production company SoulPancake.
Why you should listen
Rainn Wilson is best known for playing Dwight Schrute on NBC's Emmy-winning show, "The Office." He has also acted in Super, Cooties, Juno, Monsters vs. Aliens and The Rocker, among other movies.
Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a media company that seeks to tackle "life's big questions." He's a board member of Mona Foundation and co-founded Lidè, an educational initiative in rural Haiti that empowers young, at-risk women through the arts.
Rainn Wilson | Speaker | TED.com