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...
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novelty
Run Your Own Organic No-Prep City Scavenger Hunt
Looking for a fun but unusual and somewhat boundary-pushing activity to do with a small group of friends that requires almost no preparation? I made a little collaborative scavenger hunt designed to be done in any city. I completed it recently with friends, and it went well! Depending on the city, it may be more difficult or less difficult, but we did it in Manhattan. It's designed so that no on-the-ground preparation is needed (i.e., the city itself provides the scavenger hunt for you)!
Her...
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Eight ways you can get more enjoyment from the same activity
A. FOCUS
1. Attention: focus on every detail of the experience much more intently than normal.
Ex: with each bite, notice as much as you can about the flavor and texture
Ex: try to hear every distinct instrument in the music as it comes in and fades out
2. Savoring: try to extend and enhance enjoyable moments by using "metacognition" - become aware of how much you're enjoying the thing and how great you feel it is, even as you're experiencing it.
Ex: rem...
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Stability vs Acceleration
Written: September 30, 2018 | Released: August 13, 2021
I think one of the big choices to be made in life (once basic needs are well met) is whether to try to optimize more for a life of stability or for a life of acceleration. There is a tension between these two types of lives because they imply making different decisions in many realms.
From what I can tell, the significant majority of people on this planet (even among those who have their basic needs already well met) seek a life that...
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