Social Experiment #1
My co-worker, Adam and I decided to conduct a social experiment at work. What do you get when you take a handful of trading cards and a Post-It Note with “DO NOT TOUCH” written in black marker on it? We found out by placing both of the above on the break table in one of our office kitchens.
Here is the pile of cards as we left it.
Here is the pile of cards when we came back an hour later.
As you can see, people we work with have very little regard for following instructions. Perhaps they find it hard to resist a pile of Magic: The Gathering trading cards. Perhaps the cards were in the way of their roast beef sandwich. Perhaps someone spilled a Diet Coke and someone else was trying to rescue said cards from being eating alive aspartame. Or, perhaps, I work with a bunch of anarchists who live to defy authority on every level. That seems most likely.
Pam, our wonderful receptionist and witness to our experiment said people were getting downright mad at the pile of cards with strange instructions. They stood leering over the pile of cards like they were the pissed off parents of a four year-old who just caused a ruckus at an Olive Garden.
“Why can’t I touch these? What’s wrong with them?”
“Just because it says not to touch it, I’m going to.”
“Don’t tell me what to do! I won’t wear the red coat! I hate it! Not the red coat!” (Not sure if that one was in regards to this experiment or not.)
And finally, “Is this a test? This has to be a test.”
Ah, yes, you are correct. This was in fact a test. And you all failed! Good to know my fellow humans are so insubordinate. That being the case, I’d like to ask you all to stop reading this entry. In fact, don’t ever come back to this website! And don’t you dare even think of buying my book when it comes out on September 18th, 2007.
