Thursday Thoughts: Halloween Adventures in DC

If you've spent enough time with me, you will probably be aware of my penchant for, to put it bluntly, "social experimentation". I enjoy pushing the envelope of social grace and behavior, usually at the expense of my dignity/psyche/physical well being. Some of my exploits in this field have involved the falling down/picking up* scenario, the douchebag in the elevator scenario** and the "Debbie Downer"(tm) does Dallas*** scenario. While my reasoning for getting into most of these situations has been mostly for my amusement, I've always been interested in the reactions of my marks in each scenario. I will admit that in almost all of the cases, I don't take a written account of the havoc/happiness my actions tend to bring. Today's thoughts however, represent my first foray into recording the events leading up to and entailing my most recent social experiment: "Operation All Hallows Eve's Eve".

As you're probably aware (based on my previous weeks' thoughts), I am currently staffed on a project in the Reston area (about 30 miles west of DC). Last week also happened to be the weekend that Halloween fell under. Upon the (strong) insistence of my supervisor, I decided to stay that Friday for the Halloween Office Potluck which had been hyped since the beginning of October. This meant taking the pieces of my costume and packing them along with my usual incidentals for the week. As for the party itself, it was relatively uneventful. Donned in my Mola Ram outfit (with the facepaint and all), I got numerous stares, compliments, and even smiles from the passerbys in the office corridors. I'll admit it. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Sorta like how Jay-Z feels when he walks through New York I imagine. Any more of a boost to my confidence and I would've been sprouting lyrics and beatboxing to passerbys.

However, like many other insubstantial theories that we know lack validation yet we still dogmatically adhere to their tenets, the karmic scope of the universe tends to balance these things out. Before long, I realized that I didn't have the time to change out of my costume if I was going to arrive in time for my train. Biting the bullet, I decided to live by the six words, which have yet to steer me in the wrong direction...

"F*ck it! We'll do it live!"

Now whoever complains about Philly/Delaware traffic has not seen the systematic chaos that is inner city Washington DC. Traveling 2 blocks took no less than 10 minutes, no small thanks to the drawn-out reds on the traffic lights. Eventually, time was getting short, and my patience growing thin, I decided to walk the remaining 3 or so blocks to the train station. Imagine this: you're a tourist in our country's capital enjoying the sight of the Capitol building in the background, and from the peripheral sight of your right eye, you see...Mola Ram pulling a suitcase, with a backpack on him. Getting to the train station, I only had two things on my mind. Coffee and getting to my gate. Unfortunately, donning a costume on the day before halloween doesn't exactly help one maintain inconspicuousity. To summarize, here's the list of reactions I get from the mildly amusing to the outright awesome.

A young couple leaving DC from a Immunobiology conference chatted with me in the line about the process in designing the costume and coming up with the idea for it.

In the line to Starbucks, the barista had a little chuckle to herself and thanked me for making her day a little more interesting with the costume.

A group wanted a photo opportunity with me. I ended up with two photos- one of me with the group of people (I think college students), the other one of me re-enacting the Mola Ram heart pulling scene with one of the group members.

An interesting discussion with an elderly woman about movies from the 80s and how marketing for movies has transformed since then.

Lots of other people complimenting me on my appearance

Getting to the gate, I took a set of seats which were empty around me. Noticeably, people were reluctant to sit next to me...though in my mind I try to justify that by thinking people just didn't want to accidentally step or sit on my robe if they sat next to me.Interestingly on the train itself, there was little to no mention of the way I was dressed. Except for the little baby I made smile and the other baby who started crying upon my approach. All in all, I can say that the operation was a success. I amused a lot of people, I wasn't arrested for attempted murder via impromptu heart surgery and I wasn't attacked by any anti-cultist, fake archaeologists. My only gripe is the photo opportunity that I foolishly took. Somewhere out there on the interwebs is a picture of me in a crazy outfit looking like I'm trying to fondle a male college student. So I leave you with this:


As usual- when in doubt: Doing it live always works

The 80s are still alive

Context in a photograph is an important thing to keep in mind

It's worth it to go out of your way to push the envelope a bit and get out of your comfort space
and get others to do so as well. Not only is it fun but you just might make other people happier.


*This involves going to a mall or any public place, and slipping on the floor on purpose. Act like you're having trouble getting up and gauge how many people actually try to help you up. The picking up scenario is where you drop a contact lens and pretend to look around on the floor for it. Gauge how many people try to help you in this situation. More often, people will help look for the contact lens rather than helping you directly from your fall since there's a reward associated with finding the contact lens (the pride in being the first to find the lens).

**Enter a crowded elevator and press all the buttons and close the door before people can leave the elevator. Gauge the responses from that. (Note: It helps if you have one or two plants of your own in the elevator just in case things start getting violent.)

***With a group of people you just recently met, interrupt each part of the conversation with a glib remark or pessimistic statement about the affairs of the world. When discussing anything related to the conversation, always be the first to point out the flaws or cons of whatever the subject is. After several days, ask your friend to bring up to the group what they thought of your personality and that you would be joining them for lunch/dinner later that day. Have your friend gauge the reactions. Based on the SNL sketch- "Debbie Downer" (played by Rachel Dratch) . Most people tend to cringe just a little bit when they hear that you will be joining them later. However, there are a select few who actually realize that you're evoking Debbie Downer and actually laugh and enjoy the experience. Those people are awesome and worth being your friends. Conversely, there are a select few who agree with your statements. Those people are creepy and should not be associated with. The Dallas in the name of this method was because I tried this out for the first time in Dallas.