Social Ex I - Metro Metro Land Archives

Social Experiment I

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SOCIAL EXPERIMENT I Who: You, us, and whoever else. When: Thursday, January 23, 2003 from 7:30 PM until as late as the last one of you stays. Where: The Grand Saloon, 158 E. 23rd St, between 3rd and Lex. We have reserved the back room and back bar. What: Our first little experiment. It’s more than a bar night, it’s less than a scavenger hunt. Here’s the idea: You show up at the bar and are given a question based on your comfort level taking risks. You provide an answer that is then written on a sticky tag. Then you stick that tag to yourself. Then you are free to do whatever you like to do at a bar with bunches of other people there. What's fun about it, see, is that while everyone will know what your answer is, no one (except you) (oh, and maybe the three of us) will know what your question is. People will have to engage you if they want to know. It's up to you to decide how to respond. That's the experiment. It's a rare glimpse into the innerworkings of the way that humans interact and avoid interacting. Good, clean fun. Its success is up to you. Why: You know, for fun. How: Well, you see, it’s like this: we sit around sometimes and think about things that might be cool to do. We then talk about these things. Then we figure out what’s workable given our schedules, energy, talents, and the feedback from all of you lovely, charming, generous, fun-seeking people (we could go on, but it would get unseemly). And then we do the research, checking out appropriate venues and the willingness of the people who run those venues. And then we email all of you. Etc: It's open to anyone who wants to come, provided that they are hip to answering the questions, wearing the tags, and talking to people. The three of us will be back in the area reserved for us. When you enter the bar, just head straight on back. They put us by the bathrooms, which could be a double-edged-mixed-blessing-in-disguise-sword. If anybody gives you any trouble, tell them you are there for the private party, which we think is under Brady's name. His last name is Richards (for you trivia buffs who are filling out the MetroMetro fanzine). When you encounter us at the back, you will be given a question which you answer on the nametag provided. We ask that you write legibly. Then you can do as you please, as long as you respect the bar and its patrons. If you see a bunch of people waiting for their questions, feel free to mingle and get yourself a drink, and we will get to you as soon as we can. Many of you have already responded that you plan on coming. If that has changed, let us know. If you have not responded but think you will show, email us, as the number of people we get affects the deal with the bar management. So, we hope to see you and yours on Thursday. 7:30 PM means you’ll have time to grab a bite to eat after work or break whatever other plans you have. Yours in all that is fun, Bo, Brady, and Will

SOCIAL EXPERIMENT QUESTIONS HI: In school, did you ever cheat on a test or allow someone to cheat from you? If so, describe it. If not, exchange for another card. When was the last time you threw up in public? Who was the last person you lied to and about what? What do you fear most in the world? When are you most dangerous? What is the biggest mistake you've made? Who is your secret crush? Who are you most afraid of? What is the worst punishment you ever received? What's the thing you most regret having done while drunk? Have you ever shoplifted? If so, what did you steal? If not, exchange for another card. What makes you cry? Have you ever spied on someone to see them in some state of undress? If not, exchange for another card. If so, who was it and what did you see? Why did you never call him/her back? Have you ever gotten in an argument with a total stranger? If so, about what? If not, exchange for another card. Under what circumstances have you kissed a total stranger? If never, exchange for another card. What disappoints you most about your best friend? What's the most evil act you can see yourself committing? What is your biggest failure? What lie do you find yourself most often telling? What the fuck? What is the biggest lie you've ever believed? What is your biggest flaw? What situation do you most often avoid? LO: Where did your first kiss take place? What is your most memorable subway experience? Why did you come here tonight? Who is the stupidest person you know personally? What living person do you most want to emulate and why? What is your dream job and why? What do you hope for, more than anything else? Who is your mortal enemy? What food makes you gag? Who was your first love? Where did you meet? How old were you? (And we mean love.) What is the one thing someone can give you that you are unable to refuse? Why do you live in New York? What is the largest number of people that you have ever dated at one time? What is the one adjective you hope people use to describe you when you are not present? What are you refusing to throw away? To you, what is the most attractive quality in someone? What are your weekend plans? What is the biggest age difference between you and a lover? What is the best thing you've ever done? What was your favorite toy growing up and why? Whom do you wish you never lost touch with? What song do you always look for on a jukebox and why? What annoys you most about the world? What do you dislike most about the president of the U.S.? What two words do you find most displeasing to the ear? What do you want your last words to be? What was the lowest grade you received, and in what class? Top