Sociology Experiment: Breaking Social Norms

Ok, OT, I need your valued input/ideas. I have phase 1 of an assignment coming up and it's a proposal of how I would go about breaking a social norm. I'll give you an example:

Breaking a social norm would be getting in an elevator but, instead of staring at the door, you stare at everybody else for the the entire ride up. It makes people feel uncomfortable and "out of their comfort zone."

That's my assignment--to come up with something (that I will have to do, eventually) that makes people feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the elevator example was used by my professor and I, therefore, cannot use it. I have a couple ideas as to what I might do, but I also figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to get other people's input as well. There's only one rule, really: whatever social norm I break can't cause physical harm to myself or anybody else or cause mental harm to anybody. It can't be something I could get arrested for, either. For example: calling random people "pedophiles" while I gauge their reaction would be something I cannot do. So, bearing in mind that I will actually have to do this in real life, what are some suggestions? What things do you find uncomfortable when in a social environment?

TL;DR: What scenarios make you feel uncomfortable in public? It will be something I must eventually do to people on a college campus or around town and then record reactions.

Drive through detroit in a prius.

Drive through detroit in a prius.

Peiner09

I know some people that get tenseif you watch them eat.

I actually did that to my friend once a few weeks ago. I wore my hood up because it was freezing and sat down at a table next to hers. She didnt recognize me, so i decided to freak her out and watch her eat for teh lulz.

wear clothes of the opposite gender.

wear clothes of the opposite gender.

Peiner09

Go into a sparesely populated cinema theatre, sit next to random person you don't know. Job done.MetalGear_Ninty

Drunken public urinationxaos

It can't get me arrested. I'll amend the rules in the first post.

Go all meta and conduct one in the soc room. Maybe start writing on the blackboard, if you guys have one, at the start of class and see how your prof. reacts.allnamestaken

That's a good one too, but I'm not sure how I could accomplish "shock and awe" reactions, especially on the professor, if I have to submit a proposal to him of what I'll eventually be doing. I'll have to think about that one.

Go to a Starbucks. Find someone surfing the internet on a laptop. Stand behind them and stare at the screen.inoperativeRS

I don't think you really need to make someone feel uncomfortable to break a social norm... unless it's part of your project.

You get on an elevator and, generally, the first thing you do is perhaps nod your head in acknowledging other people's presence

I've never done this or seen anyone else do it.

That's my assignment--to come up with something (that I will have to do, eventually) that makes people feel uncomfortable.edgewalker16

Is there any real purpose to this assignment?

Dance in a place were people don't dance even when there is dancing music

[QUOTE="edgewalker16"]You get on an elevator and, generally, the first thing you do is perhaps nod your head in acknowledging other people's presence

I've never done this or seen anyone else do it.

That's my assignment--to come up with something (that I will have to do, eventually) that makes people feel uncomfortable.Pffrbt

Is there any real purpose to this assignment?

Eat a bag of potato chips while walking around in a public area.

Oh, and don't use the straw the bartender provided with your beverage.

To study how people react when a particular part of their day/daily process is disrupted in an unorthodox, socially compromising way...at least that's what I understood from my professor's lecture.edgewalker16

I would think it would be blatantly obvious.

Go into any fast food resturant and when the cashier asks to take your order respond "No, I don't want you to take my order I want that (point to different cashier) employee to take my order."

It might be very similar to your professor's example, but you could stand in a spot (or walk down the sidewalk) and stare at everybody that walks by you, and then follow them for a little bit. I would only suggest doing this during daytime though. :P
Assuming you're a guy, you could talk to people in the restroom while you and other people are taking care of business, as well as purposefully using the urinal next to them.
You could ask people very impersonal questions too.

That's all I've got really.

Go to the store and ask strangers for permission to do things, like buy oranges.

Pick your nose, so simple.

I love doing these things. But, alas, I would be breaking the TOU by helping you with your homeworkrawsavon

observe how couples hold hands. I did a similar assignment in my first year. If you observe couples holding hands you'll noticed the male has his hand in the front while the females in the back. you'll also notice more guys opening doors for girls. Ummmm if you have a girlfriend you could try it with her.

Be a Black male with a college degree and no aspirations of a record deal.clayron

[QUOTE="rawsavon"]I love doing these things. But, alas, I would be breaking the TOU by helping you with your homeworkedgewalker16

Letting out a big fart while having my iPod earbuds in my ears. They think that my music is too loud for me to hear my own farts, but I know full well how loud the fart is.

wear clothes of the opposite gender.

Peiner09

You could try standing really close to someone when talking to them (inside their comfort zone or elbow space.)

Sit on top of the table at the lunchroom and eat spaghetti with your hands while playing patti cake with your feet.

Nobody likes a dick.