I have an idea: Let’s chat on the phone!

A few months ago, I became an opinion columnist for The New York Times. As media jobs go, this is one of the more solitary, solipsistic ones. When something happens, I tell you what I think about it. The whole point of the job, in other words, is to aggressively insert myself at the center of anything and everything. Needless to say, I love it. As someone who has long held my own opinions in the highest regard, the whole setup seems exactly right to me.

And yet sometimes even opinion columnists get sick of their own opinions. So, for once, I’d like to hear from you.

Here’s the plan: I’m holding weekly office hours in which I will talk to readers (and anyone else!) on the phone, individually, for about 10 to 15 minutes each. The conversation can be about anything you like: Your opinion of my latest column; your brilliant public policy idea; your subject-matter expertise (whether you’re a physicist or a Shakespeare scholar or a software engineer or whatever else); your thoughts about anything, from a great new book you’ve read to the technology you think will change everything to your favorite breakfast cereal. In other words, whatever you think is a worthy thing to share with a New York Times columnist, I’m game to hear it.

What will I do? Mostly listen, probably ask some questions, sometimes argue or push back. I will also probably be doing something else: I might be taking a walk outside, I might be driving, I might be unloading the dishwasher. (I like to multitask.) The point of the conversation will be just to have a conversation, but who knows what else may come of it — perhaps you’ll inspire a future column, perhaps you’ll become a regular source, and if nothing else, at least I’ll have a hot tip on a new breakfast cereal.