How a pay phone is connecting people in liberal SF to conservative Texas in new social experiment

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- There's a new pay phone in San Francisco's Mission District. But this phone only calls one number. And on the other line is a stranger in Abilene, Texas.

It's an effort to connect people across the political spectrum.

"I think our thesis is that humans are pretty awesome and if given the opportunity, will really look to find common ground because biologically that actually gives us a lot more happiness," said Ben Goldhirsh, Co-Founder of Matter Neuroscience, the bio-tech company behind the pay phone.

Goldhirsh explains the pay phones are part of a social experiment. They were installed Sunday outside a business in San Francisco and one in Abilene, Texas.

In San Francisco, the phone outside Black Serum Tattoo on Valencia Street says, "Call a Republican."

In Texas, the one outside Seven and One Books in downtown Abilene says, "Call a Democrat."

A sign says it connects people from the most liberal city in the America to the most conservative.

"People are excited," said Arlene Kasselman, owner of Seven and One Books. "I think the opportunity to have civil discourse in a time where there's so much polarization is important for people. I think people want to experience a unifying thing and these conversations can be unifying."

ABC7 News listened-in on some conversations in San Francisco.

One touched on Waymos and Cybertrucks.

"A Cybertruck just drove by. What do you think of those?," Berkeley Resident Milo Duhamel asked the person in Abilene. He said the person talked about their distaste of autonomous vehicles.

"Not really anything political, really, but it was kind of interesting to just see what's going over there right now," he said.

Duhamel's father, Sai, asked the person in Abilene he was talking to about political parties.

"On the phone it says call a Republican," said Sai Duhamel, of Oakland. "Do you consider yourself a staunch Republican?"

Duhamel said the person on the phone was not a Republican and he isn't a Democrat. Rather, he said he is registered with the Green party and thinking about switching to the Peace and Freedom party.

"She's unhappy with the world politics at the moment as well," he said.

Guerneville Resident Matt Bloom asked his conversation partner about current events.

"What do you think about what's going on in Minneapolis right now?"

Bloom found out the person on the other line has friends living in Minnesota whose locations are shared with her so she can monitor their safety. He talked to her about his co-workers in Minneapolis.

The conversations are recorded and some will be shared as soon as next week on the company's Instagram page.

Goldhirsh said so far, the conversations appear to be friendly.

Many agree no matter the political party, this shows we have more similarities than differences.

"I think people are just trying to get through the day, relate to each other and have a good life," Bloom said.

"I think it's amazing and great," Sai Duhamel said. "I think it should be replicated and more of them all over the place."

Goldhirsh said the company may be doing just that and they may be adding pay phones in other cities.