Update, Oct 1: Subway Friend-Seeker Fired on Wall Street

There are few socially acceptable reasons to speak to strangers on New York City's subways during the morning commute. Almost none, in fact. But that doesn't stop Solomon Lederer.

His speech to a crowded B-train car could almost be mistaken for the interruptions already familiar to transit riders. "I just want to say something for like 30 seconds," he begins, in the style of panhandlers, proselytizers and the sellers of dubiously charitable candy bars. But Lederer's attire -- ubiquitous corporate casual, with a flyer-laden satchel he refers to as his "purse" -- signals that the 29-year-old Morgan Stanley software developer might be after something different.

"I have this idea," Lederer continues, "that we can do some kind of exchange or networking on the subway so that we can get more of what we want and possibly give more of what we can give." He then hands out the flyers to make his offer plain:

This unusual approach is part of Lederer's effort to take the ethos of social networking offline -- to "friend" his fellow subway riders. It's a challenge to the sullen isolation of the commute, giving everyone the chance to join his impromptu circle of altruistic exchange.