Hooray for impulse control!

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I'm in a very very silly mood today, and in these moods, I think of a lot of really bizarre ideas of things to do to test the boundaries of social normalities and how far people will go to stay in conformity.

The types of things I think of?

Pretending to sneeze on your hand (make sure it's obvious to people) then walk up to them and extend your hand ready for a handshake. Keep a chart of how many people politely decline, walk away, or shake your hand in reluctance because they do not know what else to do.

Walk up to random people and act like you recognize them then give them a hug. Jot down how many people pretend to recognize you back just because of your warm greeting, and how many just walk away... or call the cops.

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Now, keep in mind I would NEVER do these things! As that is why I am happy for impulse control.

It would also require me to go outside of the house and interact with others which... well, since there is no way to know how anyone would react, would be nearly impossible for me to actually build up any motivation to do anything of that nature to begin with.

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Do any of you ever get into these moods, or get these thoughts? Do you actually imagine "what if someone really did that..." when you mistakenly take something literally before realizing the intended meaning after sorting through your database of phrases people use?

...or am I just a weirdo? lol.

Doh, I knew it... I am a weirdo, lol. Ah well, I'll welcome that with open arms just as I did the diagnosis

You're not a weirdo. I think that I do something similar, but the cause for me is because I visualize everything that's said to me. Like yesterday, my husband said something about me throwing him 'under the bus'. That conjured up such an image in my head that I started giggling. Then, I had to explain myself. I know throwing people literally in front of buses, and them getting ran over isn't really supposed to be funny. I think this type of thing causes me to start laughing inappropriately often, and I usually don't want to share with others what it is that I'm laughing about.

no. i have those weird "what if i..." thoughts all the time. mine don't really develop as a scientific study. they happen in a moment for me.

Yes, quite similar actually! Some things I think about are do-able, but others just simply would never be appropriate, lol. Still those things get me giggling like crazy at times, and my mood just remains in that silly state for the rest of the day. What set it off for me today was the idea b9 I think it was mentioned in the wet floor topic.

"i thought it would be funny to have a sign on the floor that simply says "warning! obstacle" with an arrow pointing at itself."

I first thought "that would be a fun shirt to have!" then I started thinking of all sorts of "what if" things, but mine tend to go to the extremes in thought... "what if I did this?" "what if that really existed?" ... "how would people react?" "how many of them would react that way?" "what if someone did a study to find out?"

lol, it never becomes a reality, just a thought usually, but I always find them very highly amusing.

lol, I know what you mean. It's the extremeness of it, and the randomness of the image inserting itself into a serious conversation that does it for me.

You speak as though being a weirdo is bad..

I'm a little confused. I didn't mean it was bad, just that I identify somewhat with her post, so she's not all alone in thinking that way. Of course, I've been called a weirdo a time or two, and trust me, it was meant in a bad way when it was said.

I do this as well. Several years ago I took an interpersonal communication class and had the chance to act out some of my 'what ifs' for a grade. I pulled up beside cars at red lights and tried to initiate conversations with the driver about any family problems they might have. I helped myself to the french fries of people sitting and eating in the food court. I stood next to people in elevators (so that my shoulder touched them) and followed when they scooted away. I walked around with large bits of food in my teeth and smiled at everyone I saw. I think the worse one though was when I spent an hour just sitting in a bathroom stall to see if any of the pee-ers would talk with me about the weather while they peed. I did a lot of experiments in the name of understanding boundaries. I got an A on that paper.

haha! Sounds like fun!

It was fun... it was really hard, but it well worth it.