People's view on 'abnormal behaviors'

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So, Im currently in a psych class called Introduction to Abnormal Behaviors (very ironic, I know). One of our assignments is to do something 'abnormal' in public and present our finding about peoples reactions. Its supposed to make us feel uncomfortable and wrong and teach us the consequences of not adhering to the social norm. My friend (one of only two people in the world who know I have aspergers) told me it'd be easy for me since Im essentially a "walking mental disorder" and it got me thinking.

What exactly counts as an 'abnormal behavior'? Some examples the teacher gave us were: dont make eye contact with someone for an entire conversation, get into someones personal bubble, interrupt people while they're talking, jump up and down while talking to someone, speak too loudly/too softly, etc etc.
I mean, I cant be the only one who read that list and thought it sounded vaguely like a 'common traits' list for aspergers, right? At first I thought they weren't good examples. Surely, she expects us to do something much more outlandish. My teacher is expecting us to be publicly ridiculed for things I've probably done before! And Ive always thought that I didnt behave all that different on a daily basis from an NT....

People are just so quick to be judgy these days that they are brushing off people who might actually have something debilitating that prevents them from being able to adhere to the status quo. (cue HSM) After all, people naturally like to put others into neat little labelled boxes. It makes me sad and angry to see people-in a restaurant for example-complaining to managers about the adorable special needs kid behind them disrupting their dinner and how they "shouldnt allow people like that in places like this". People quote and praise individuality and "Always be yourself!" and then turn around and are mad at the people who dare to be different. Ugh.

So what do YOU think counts as an 'abnormal behavior'? Where does society draw the line? Should we teach kids these days to be more accepting of others differences?
What things have you maybe done that are probably a little abnormal? And did it ever get an odd reaction?
Has there ever been a time where you have witnessed something that immediately made you judge the person?
Do you feel as though you are being watched and judged every time you go out into public? Has it ever made you try and change your behavior to fit in?

(also if you have any suggestions for things i can do for my project id appreciate it! Sorry for the length!)

There are so many possibilities, for instance wearing summer clothes in winter, wearing childish clothes and a pacifier in the mouth, any kind of cosplay. Hidden camera TV shows may give you, as well, plenty of ideas.

Walk into a coffee shop dressed like a Victorian. I've done things that would be considered "abnormal" in this context, and nobody seems to care, but I'm not aware enough of other people to notice.

Wear a self-made toy German helmet in public in order to pass as Male.

One thing I have on my mind that would be abnormal is wear a diaper out in public with nothing covering it, or make it so obvious you have it on and make sure it is visible.

Start shouting out profanity in public and make weird sounds and say random things and shout them out and randomly yell at people for no reason.

Go out as an adult baby and have a pacifier with you and have it in your mouth. Wear over sized baby clothes in your size.

Hit your head randomly with your hands and make funny sounds like a mentally handicapped person.

Sniff random people

Go to Gamestop and stack all the game cases on the floor and see how high you can stack them.

Go to a bookstore and do the same I said to do with game cases.

If you are in Portland, this is a bad area to be weird.

Do the Monty Python Silly Walk in public. Make sure to dress respectably and maintain a straight face.

I think your teacher is looking for something more subtle that creates an uncanny valley feeling in others.

Differences are interpreted in our brains as a danger and we automatically put up our guard. Our brain is trying to protect us. People aren't necessarily unkind, their first reaction to things they don't know is fear. It's how our brains work.

Even subtle differences set off alarm bells and we feel uncomfortable.

There may even be a feeling of schadefruede. We know the other's behaviour is off and we feel embarrassed for them.

Something like making a clicking sound with your tongue after every sentence when having conversations would work.

It would be more fun, and more instructive, to do something subtle, rather than something over the top (like dress like an Elizabethan in public).

Elevators are rife with all kinds of unwritten social rules.

Just get on an elevator. Be the first on board. Then when you get two other passengers ( they will fall in step with the rules and both stand behind you, and both face toward the door like you are), just turn around and just stand in the elevator facing AWAY from the door, and towards the two other people. That ALONE will cause massive discomfort.

But the actual topic that the OP is talking about is the sad fact that she already feels like she has been doing this very assignment all of her life.

And the goal of the assignment is to get "normal" students to sympathize/empathize with folks with disorders, and the OP already has a "disorder" in a sense because she is on the autism spectrum.

I don't actually feel like I am being watched and scrutinized every moment. But I get what you're asking. A few years ago I was going through some emotional stuff, and I had to constantly fight the urge to talk out loud to myself. So during that phase I did feel that way.

I think the only reason people face the door is so they know when to get off. Of course if the elevator has a mirror you can see on there when you've reached the floor you want.

If I had to do that as an assignment, I don't think I would be able to do it, as I wouldn't have the guts to do something abnormal in public.

I have one though: Go out with unwashed hair. People HATE that. I generally keep myself well-groomed, but sometimes I might have a "bad hair day" and haven't had time to wash my hair and so had no choice but to go out with it a little bit greasy, and the looks I get, jeez! If I see something unpleasant about something, I prefer to look the other way, or look at them when they don't know I'm looking.

Yes, elevators are a perfect place for this study as you will have people that cannot easily walk away (until the door opens again). One behavior that could be done is to press every floor button when you get in the elavator. It will irritate someone almost every time. Another is to introduce yourself to your fellow riders over and over, including those on their smart phones. Some people literally will not communicate with others around them if they are playing with their phone.

This made me remember a practical joker that I used to know and what he liked to do to others.

Back in college, the joker loved to bring a woopie cusion (hidden) into the elevator and made fart noises when people got in with him. He said he did this just to see how fast people would get off the elevator.

The same could be done using “fart spray” that has a particular offensive oder. That one may be more of an issue as you will also have to smell the spray. If you do that one, lightly spray a cloth to bring into the elevator. This will prevent spraying too much in a confined area.

Have an autistic meltdown if and when you truly need to. Don't mask your emotions or hide your anxiety. You might need someone you trust to shadow you and record what happens.

You know I don't like your prof based on what you've told me so far. I don't like the assignment either because it invalidates and objectifies your daily experience with ASD. I'd write my paper on autism or PTSD instead, and focus on the examples you told me this morning (e.g., your social discomfort of meeting people who claim to have OCD and / or PTSD when it seems that they don't, and the way these terms and invisible disabilities are so poorly understood). You also have a wealth of examples from your own life with autism, which you could use to educate this professor. No need to reinvent the wheel.

peak 'ike you have no 'ongue while waving your arm' aroun'.

"'op 'aughing a' me! I 'aid 'OP I'!"

I did this for my AbPsych class back in college.

Its funny cause Ive actually done that before. I do it anytime Im in a clear elevator. I like to look down at the ground as we rise. I HATE elevators with a passion, but I like the clear sided ones much more.

People on the NYC subways don't view "abnormal behaviors" too well. They don't like it when I meow and howl.

Above the subways, though, people don't mind so much.