For many years, I’ve thrown social experiments as part of a group I founded, called Ergo. Our rule: we can never repeat the same event format. Once we’ve used one, it’s dead, forcing each event to be experimental. Here are a few of our bizarre/entertaining past events:
1) Novelty party: each attendee brings something interesting (an experience, food, or object) that they believe other attendees will not have experienced before. A winner is crowned based on surveying attendees about how novel and interesting they found each thing.
2) Radical Honesty Gathering: the rules are that you can ask anyone about ANYTHING. It’s on them to state bluntly if they don’t want to talk about that subject. If they DO choose to talk about it, they must be completely honest in all their responses (but no being an asshole).
3) Elevating Conversations: an event focused on advanced conversational techniques – how to go from “having a conversation” to having an amazing conversation. After each such advanced technique was presented, participants split into pairs or groups to try/practice them.
4) Fight Club: we had a long list of fight types participants could engage in, from somewhat dangerous (e.g., wrestling or boxing with body blows, but no head blows) to safe (rap battles, dance-offs). You could fight anyone so long as you could mutually agree on a fight type.
5) Outlast: a “survivor” style event where attendees get voted out of the event by other attendees (then have to watch from the sidelines). It included a series of mini-competitions (team and individual) that altered immunity during the main game.
6) Our Shame: before the event, participants anonymously submit things they are ashamed of. Everyone sees these. Participants can advocate for why others shouldn’t be ashamed of a thing. Specific types of shame (with real examples from the group) were discussed in small groups.
If you’re in the NYC area and want to apply to join Ergo, you can do so here: https://ergoevents.org
This piece was first written on July 26, 2026, and first appeared on my website on August 13, 2026.
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