aerama: (Glornak the Destroyer)
[personal profile] aerama
As a slight backlash against Talk Like a Pirate Day...

Here's the link to where it came from: http://forums.koalawallop.com/viewtopic.php?t=1719
Otherwise,

Guys, it's time for

Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

You must spend the entire day in costume and character. The only rule is that you cannot actually tell anyone that you are a time traveler. Other than that, anything's game.

There are three possible options:

1) Utopian/cliché Future - "If the Future did a documentary of the last fifty years, this is how badly the reenactors would dress." Think Star Trek: TNG or the Time Travelers from Hob. Ever see how the society in Futurama sees the 20th century? Run with it. Your job is to dress with moderately anachronistic clothing and speak in slang from varying decades. Here are some good starters:

- Greet people by referring to things that don't yet exist or haven't existed for a long time. Example: "Have you penetrated the atmosphere lately?" "What spectrum will today's broadcast be in?" and "Your king must be a kindly soul!"

- Show extreme ignorance in operating regular technology. Pay phones should be a complete mystery (try placing the receiver in odd places). Chuckle knowingly at cell phones.

2) Dystopian Future - This one offers a little more flexibility. It can be any kind of future from Terminator to Freejack. The important thing to remember is dress like a crazy person with armor. Black spray painted football pads, high tech visors, torn up trenchcoats and maybe even some dirt here or there. Remember, dystopian future travelers are very startled that they've gone back in time. Some starters:

- If you go the "prisoner who's escaped the future" try shaving your head and putting a barcode on the back of your neck. Then stagger around and stare at the sky, as if you've never seen it before.

- Walk up to random people and say "WHAT YEAR IS THIS?" and when they tell you, get quiet and then say "Then there's still time!" and run off.

- Stand in front of a statue (any statue, really), fall to your knees, and yell "NOOOOOOOOO"

- Stare at newspaper headlines and look astonished.

- Take some trinket with you (it can be anything really), hand it to some stranger, along with a phone number and say "In thirty years dial this number. You'll know what to do after that." Then slip away.

3) The Past - This one is more for beginners. Basically dress in period clothing (preferably Victorian era) and stagger around amazed at everything. Since the culture's set in place already, you have more of a template to work off of. Some pointers:

- Airplanes are terrifying. Also, carry on conversations with televisions for a while.

- Discover and become obsessed with one trivial aspect of technology, like automatic grocery doors. Stay there for hours playing with it.

- Be generally terrified of people who are dressed immodestly compared to your era. Tattoos and shorts on women are especially scary.

And that's it. Remember, the only real rule is staying in character and try to fit in. Never directly admit you're a time traveler, and make really, really bad attempts at keeping a low profile. Naturally, the dystopian future has a little more leeway. And for the record, I've already tried out all of these in real life, in costume. It is so much fun you want to pee yourself.

I've set the tentative date for December 8th. Who's in?


Date: 2007-09-27 03:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dolorous-ett.livejournal.com
I think this is a fantastic idea. It's the first thing to make me laugh all afternoon.

On the other hand, I'll have to check when my teaching ends before I commit to this. If I do it while I'm still teaching I probably won't be teaching for long!

Can I link to this from my own journal? I think this idea needs more publicity - especially the falling on knees in front of statues crying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Though I do understand if you don't want to play with strangers.

Date: 2007-09-27 06:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
Done! Public now, link away!

SO glad it could make you laugh. That alone makes this golden in my book. *hugs*

Date: 2007-09-27 04:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lualum97.livejournal.com
Pretend? Oh, um, yes, er, uh, I'll pretend. (Hides scarf.)

Date: 2007-09-27 06:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
*gasp* I KNEW IT!

Date: 2007-09-27 06:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kvistis.livejournal.com
That would be so cool to do! I just need to get someone else to do it with me..

Date: 2007-09-28 02:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
Well, let's see. December 8th...hmm...plenty of time to gear up for it. I'd probably be a wimp with The Past. Does it count if we're in different countries, which we are??

Date: 2007-09-28 09:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kvistis.livejournal.com
Yeah, I don't think I could be someone from the future either..I have watched far too little futuristic tv/movies to be really inspired for that.

Sadly I think for the "doing it together" to work you need to be in the same place. At least in this case.

Date: 2007-09-28 02:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] livii.livejournal.com
This is soooo adorable. I wold totally do it but I would never be brave enough. Plus, I might get fired, heh. :D

Date: 2007-09-28 03:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
When IS Dec 8, anyway? I bet it's a Tuesday or some other horribly public day. Hmm.
Well, there's no reason why you can't do it after work. Ja?

Date: 2007-09-28 03:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lualum97.livejournal.com
Here's a thought... Follow the instructions for someone from the past, gawk at modern technology etc,

Time traveler- "Your futuristic world is marvelous!"
Person - "Yes, we have achieved much. What time period are you from?"
Time traveler - "It was called the early 21st Century."
Person - "Pardon?"
Time traveler - "Oh, I guess you don't use that term anymore. I came from the year 2002."
Person - "But not much has changed since then."
Time traveler - "No! We had none of this back in Alabama."

Date: 2007-09-28 03:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
You've done this before. You can't fool me!!

*grin*

Date: 2007-10-01 01:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] so-severus.livejournal.com
LOL

but which one would I do? they all sounds fun

Date: 2007-10-01 02:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aerama.livejournal.com
It's a long day, Dec 8th - I say do them all!

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