Guest guest Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Heres some I could think of: Start a conversation with someone who is oviously enjoying a good book/listening to music on the bus. Climb a street tree, dressed as a cat, and have a nap. Go to a shopping centre and walk close enough, or stand close enough to people to violate their personal space. Just enough to make them uncomfortable. Even better if you start coughing. Someone did this to me the other day!! Jump a queue - this makes people furious tho! > > Hello, > > As part of my exam essays I have to research folkways. I have been assigned > to violate a folkway(a social norm that is loosely held) and write an essay > about the reactions. I know it will not get me arrested but I am terribly > triggered by negative comments/feedback from others. I am lost as to what I > can do that I will be able to handle (and afford). I run the risk of being > kicked out of public places and that terrifies me. I have had suggestions > of going out in a body paint shirt or wearing something outrageous. Any > suggestions on non-triggering, goofy ideas? > > -- > > > " By definition, madness ends in one of two ways: clarity...or death. " > -- *Frantic > Purification* > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 I think that would trigger the heck out of me. I don't blame you for being freaked out! That would be rather nightmarish for me, and I'm not one who embarrasses easily! I think the most I could handle is wearing white dress shoes after labor day in front of old women (who know about the white shoes rule). I think I'd have put them on, dash through a nursing home and call it good. Wow! Blessings! Karla > > Hello, > > As part of my exam essays I have to research folkways. I have been assigned > to violate a folkway(a social norm that is loosely held) and write an essay > about the reactions. I know it will not get me arrested but I am terribly > triggered by negative comments/feedback from others. I am lost as to what I > can do that I will be able to handle (and afford). I run the risk of being > kicked out of public places and that terrifies me. I have had suggestions > of going out in a body paint shirt or wearing something outrageous. Any > suggestions on non-triggering, goofy ideas? > > -- > > > " By definition, madness ends in one of two ways: clarity...or death. " > -- *Frantic > Purification* > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 Here are some subtle things to try that are not expensive and not repulsive-looking: Go barefoot for the day, unless you're in an area where you're afraid of cutting your feet on dirty sharp objects. If you know you're going to be inside a building most of the day, you could just take your shoes off and carry them in a duffle after arriving in the building and go barefoot while inside. There is jewelry that realistically simulates a body-piercing, but its done with magnets. They are meant to be used on your nostril, your lip, or your earlobe. You can buy these things at costume shops or theatrical makeup shops, or on the internet. Subtle but somewhat more expensive: If you know someone who does special effects makeup, have him or her apply a pair of small but realistic-looking pointed ears. Those will mostly be obscured by your hair unless you have very short hair. People are likely to notice the pointed ears but not likely to mention it. If the sfx makeup artist is good and the ears look very realistic, people will stare but try to appear as though they're not. Someone who knows you will probably stare hard but be unable to quite place what is different about you, and may say something like, " Did you get a... haircut? " I've done some costuming myself, and I've noticed that most people don't even look at your feet. Its more common for people to look at your eyes and mouth (and your cleavage) than at your feet, ears, or hands. This could be quite the fun experiment; I hope you enjoy mildly violating the social norms for a day. -Annie > > Hello, > > As part of my exam essays I have to research folkways. I have been assigned > to violate a folkway(a social norm that is loosely held) and write an essay > about the reactions. I know it will not get me arrested but I am terribly > triggered by negative comments/feedback from others. I am lost as to what I > can do that I will be able to handle (and afford). I run the risk of being > kicked out of public places and that terrifies me. I have had suggestions > of going out in a body paint shirt or wearing something outrageous. Any > suggestions on non-triggering, goofy ideas? > > -- > > > " By definition, madness ends in one of two ways: clarity...or death. " > -- *Frantic > Purification* > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 3, 2010 Report Share Posted November 3, 2010 This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first time. Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light on. Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious and ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave the class. Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after they are done showering. Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) The next few cost money: In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it secret. Watch what they do. Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye contact. Take. Your. Time. When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand and eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you were a minister, but say nothing. And just a couple more that are free: Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete stranger, pretending you met them in high school. Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what to do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 I like the one of secretly paying for someone elses coffee!! That would confuse the bajeezuz out of people, plus give you warm fuzzies at the same time. > > This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: > > Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first time. > > Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light on. Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. > > Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious and ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. > > Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave the class. > > Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after they are done showering. > > Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. > > Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. > > Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) > > The next few cost money: > > In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it secret. Watch what they do. > > Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye contact. Take. Your. Time. > > When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand and eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you were a minister, but say nothing. > > And just a couple more that are free: > > Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete stranger, pretending you met them in high school. > > Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what to do... > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 I second the coffee/restaurant thing! It would be confusing at first, because people simply don't do that. Then, they'd probably be pretty appreciative Plus you'd get the warm fuzzies feeling! On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 1:42 AM, crazy150345 wrote: > > > I like the one of secretly paying for someone elses coffee!! That would > confuse the bajeezuz out of people, plus give you warm fuzzies at the same > time. > > > > > > > This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: > > > > Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your > left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first > time. > > > > Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light on. > Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. > > > > Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious and > ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. > > > > Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you > take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for > any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave > the class. > > > > Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after they > are done showering. > > > > Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. > > > > Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. > > > > Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing > at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) > > > > The next few cost money: > > > > In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it > secret. Watch what they do. > > > > Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the > everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye > contact. Take. Your. Time. > > > > When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand and > eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you were a > minister, but say nothing. > > > > And just a couple more that are free: > > > > Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete > stranger, pretending you met them in high school. > > > > Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what to > do... > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Me too, this is a good one: its definitely not the social norm, its sweet, and you get to observe the reaction anonymously. And if you choose, you could even speak to the person afterward without revealing that you're the one who paid; just ask them about what happened (you're just curious because you happened to overhear the conversation.) Thumbs up! -Annie > > > > > > This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: > > > > > > Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your > > left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first > > time. > > > > > > Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light on. > > Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. > > > > > > Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious and > > ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. > > > > > > Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you > > take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for > > any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave > > the class. > > > > > > Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after they > > are done showering. > > > > > > Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. > > > > > > Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. > > > > > > Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing > > at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) > > > > > > The next few cost money: > > > > > > In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it > > secret. Watch what they do. > > > > > > Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the > > everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye > > contact. Take. Your. Time. > > > > > > When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand and > > eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you were a > > minister, but say nothing. > > > > > > And just a couple more that are free: > > > > > > Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete > > stranger, pretending you met them in high school. > > > > > > Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what to > > do... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 , the Ned Ryerson idea is sheer genius. I am chuckling at my computer screen. " I have missed you SO MUCH. I don't know where you're going... but can you call in sick? " Here's another one, though not funny: if you live in an area with a public transportation system, ask politely if someone will give you his/her seat on a subway or bus. It's oddly nerve-wracking, at least to me. > > > > This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: > > > > Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first time. > > > > Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light on. Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. > > > > Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious and ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. > > > > Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave the class. > > > > Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after they are done showering. > > > > Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. > > > > Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. > > > > Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) > > > > The next few cost money: > > > > In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it secret. Watch what they do. > > > > Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye contact. Take. Your. Time. > > > > When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand and eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you were a minister, but say nothing. > > > > And just a couple more that are free: > > > > Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete stranger, pretending you met them in high school. > > > > Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what to do... > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 This is funny. Sounds so fun. I'm a performer at heart, and I work in advertising (where everyone is crazy) so sounds kinda like just a day in the life. . . at the same time a blast. here's a few - Wear your halloween costume around town - I LOVE climb a tree, be a cat, take a nap so adorable - Wear a crazy hat and take public transporation - I did this just around the office yesterday - first an Octoberfest hat and then a sombrero. No one much noticed, but then, I do that stuff every day as I work -Dress like a teen, try to talk like one, go hang out when they get out of school. Try hip hop, punk or emo look ha ha ha, I've seen adults do this (though not meaning it as a joke) and it is SO FUNNY - wear an old wedding dress and walk around ha ha ha, go to wherever it is in YOUR neighborhood that they love to take wedding pictures,if you want, act a little nuts, or try to get into the picture with the couple - OR, i bet your class would eat this up, get a girlfriend to hold hands with you, travel all around town. Just observe the looks you get - this would be a good soc study. - Oh this would be funny (but maybe too much) - try making out with someone in a public place. the teenagers do it all the time, why not us? -Dress as a big, grown up boy or girl scout. Help people cross the street. Insist on helping even when they say no thanks. HA HA HA - Oh, i was at an event Fri night and a young woman was walking around with a bunny on a leash (serious), people loved that. I've also seen people walk around with big old snakes. Please DO let us know how it goes. So funny! > > > > , the Ned Ryerson idea is sheer genius. I am chuckling at my > computer screen. > > " I have missed you SO MUCH. I don't know where you're going... but can you > call in sick? " > > Here's another one, though not funny: if you live in an area with a public > transportation system, ask politely if someone will give you his/her seat on > a subway or bus. It's oddly nerve-wracking, at least to me. > > > > > > > > > This sounds fun. Here are a slew of norm busters that I thought of: > > > > > > Very seriously and deliberately fumble around before you hold out your > left hand to shake the left hand of someone you are meeting for the first > time. > > > > > > Go trick or treating this Friday when you see a friendly porch light > on. Say, " Heppy Helloweeeen, " and pretend you are a foreigner. > > > > > > Go visit a church mid-week, dressed really weird, but be very serious > and ask the priest or minister if you can use the sanctuary to meditate. > > > > > > Visit a yoga class and keep exercise shoes on; if someone suggests you > take your shoes off, pretend you are a foreigner. Do not take them off for > any reason. Leave with your shoes on, and take your notes before you leave > the class. > > > > > > Ask someone coming out of a pool if you can borrow their suit after > they are done showering. > > > > > > Talk to yourself on an elevator full of people you don't know. > > > > > > Take someone else's reservation at a restaurant. > > > > > > Smile like a sunbeam on a rainy day; carry an unusual umbrella and sing > at the top of your lungs (or lower if that is slightly more comfortable.) > > > > > > The next few cost money: > > > > > > In a coffee shop, pay the bill of a person you don't know. Make it > secret. Watch what they do. > > > > > > Pay for your next purchase in pennies. Be friendly and chatty about the > everything but the money, and totally non-apologetic. Maintain good eye > contact. Take. Your. Time. > > > > > > When you give a handout to a panhandler on the street, make good hand > and eye contact with the person. Shake their hand a long time, as if you > were a minister, but say nothing. > > > > > > And just a couple more that are free: > > > > > > Re-enact the Ned Ryerson scene from Groundhog Day with a complete > stranger, pretending you met them in high school. > > > > > > Talk to someone on the street about your assignment and ask them what > to do... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Make it fun and do it with a friend. 1. Do an odd chair collection and arrangment at a coffee shop. My cousin did this, it cracked us up. 2. Go grocery shopping out of everyone elses cart. Also you can add things to peoples carts ie. batteries, magazines, fishing supplies. 3. Ask the public to sign an insane pledge, petition. Ease up on yourself and get someone else to be with you. Putting yourself out there, openning yourself up to anger...is really hard to do. Let us know how it went. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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