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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: Christina on January 09, 2011, 11:30:17 AM

Title: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Christina on January 09, 2011, 11:30:17 AM
Then take your pants off in January and then tweet about it.

http://improveverywhere.com/2011/01/01/global-no-pants-subway-ride-2011/ (http://improveverywhere.com/2011/01/01/global-no-pants-subway-ride-2011/)



Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Pidgeon on January 09, 2011, 11:33:36 AM
These guys make me so angry, and I don't know why.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Keith Whitener on January 09, 2011, 01:31:18 PM
These guys make me so angry, and I don't know why.

Self-righteous pranking?
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Denim Gremlin on January 09, 2011, 04:02:41 PM
These guys make me so angry, and I don't know why.

Self-righteous pranking?

because Tom hates them, we all must do as our lord and master commands.

also they suck
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Pidgeon on January 09, 2011, 06:25:17 PM
These guys make me so angry, and I don't know why.

Self-righteous pranking?

because Tom hates them, we all must do as our lord and master commands.

also they suck

See, I KNEW someone was going to say this.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Christina on January 09, 2011, 07:10:23 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: SJK on January 09, 2011, 07:20:43 PM
I can't disagree with this statement...Tom helps me know what to think, about most things. Wasn't it PFT who was the most vocal against IE. Maybe PFT is my new leader...
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Denim Gremlin on January 09, 2011, 08:48:45 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Big Plastic Head on January 10, 2011, 02:00:01 PM
IE bug me to no end but I will admit to liking what they did to a little league game in Florida (http://improveverywhere.com/2008/04/07/best-game-ever/).

Riding the train with no pants? Stay home, weirdo. You are only amusing yourself.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: davidgoeschatting on January 10, 2011, 02:14:07 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,5402.0.html (http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,5402.0.html)

I went here to cope with what you're describing. It worked out fine in the end. I listen to Best Show with adult supervision now.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: yesno on January 10, 2011, 02:35:39 PM
They do some funny stuff and some stuff that, on reflection, is kind of mean.  I think most people respond negatively to their making a whole movement out of culture-jamming stuff that used to be more spontaneous.  As an example of this, I think that the "cement cuddlers" story is funny--

http://la.cacophony.org/CS_cement.html (http://la.cacophony.org/CS_cement.html)

Quote
Unfortunate Child, do not mistake me for living thing, nor seek in me the warmth denied you by your parents. For beneath my plush surface lies a hardness as impervious and unforgiving as this World's own indifference to your mortal struggle. Hold on to me when you are sad, and I will weigh you down, but bear this weight throughout your years, and it will strengthen your limbs and harden your will so that one day no man dare oppose you.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: amiright?? on January 10, 2011, 06:33:17 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Denim Gremlin on January 10, 2011, 06:38:19 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Pidgeon on January 10, 2011, 06:49:12 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?

The "IE" in that post actually stands for "Improv Everywhere."
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Denim Gremlin on January 10, 2011, 07:57:08 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?

The "IE" in that post actually stands for "Improv Everywhere."

JOKES!

thanks though
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Pidgeon on January 10, 2011, 07:59:05 PM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?

The "IE" in that post actually stands for "Improv Everywhere."

JOKES!

thanks though

Oh, OK. Pretty funny!
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: amiright?? on January 11, 2011, 12:29:20 AM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?

The "IE" in that post actually stands for "Improv Everywhere."

JOKES!

thanks though

Alex, you just got IMPROV'D!
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: effecT on January 11, 2011, 04:01:23 AM
Yeah, because no one's heard of anything before unless Tom talks about it.

no, we just decide how we really feel once Tom weighs in.

My feelings about IE are actually Ira Glass's fault.

yeah Internet Explorer sucks

wait, what are we talking about again?

The "IE" in that post actually stands for "Improv Everywhere."

JOKES!

thanks though

Alex, you just got IMPROV'D!
MORE QUOTES!
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Louis Lame on January 11, 2011, 01:26:41 PM
IE bug me to no end but I will admit to liking what they did to a little league game in Florida (http://improveverywhere.com/2008/04/07/best-game-ever/).

Riding the train with no pants? Stay home, weirdo. You are only amusing yourself.

Haha this is actually pretty wonderful but yea f ze improvs
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Alex_from_the_woods on January 12, 2011, 08:31:17 AM
I've been doing guerrilla improv for a while but I tend to work alone. My latest piece is on the inherent nihilism of corporate culture. I begin the performance by showing up for work on time. Then I check my email in a disinterested way- responding to anything urgent with faux concern. Then I read Huff post for an hour or two, taking care to click on any headings with the words "outrage" "horror" or "naked". Items involving pets get clicked next. If any of the public approach I quickly click back to email- but not so quickly that they don't see what's going on. The hypocrisy of an employee of a company that makes huge sums of money from TV being ashamed of looking at crap is often lost on these philistines. I then fill out the day half listening to meetings and generally being as uncooperative and difficult as possible.

No applause at the end of a performance so far but that's not what this kind of art is about. Despite this I'm sure I'm making a difference.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: mostlymeat on January 12, 2011, 12:34:07 PM
I've been doing guerrilla improv for a while but I tend to work alone. My latest piece is on the inherent nihilism of corporate culture. I begin the performance by showing up for work on time. Then I check my email in a disinterested way- responding to anything urgent with faux concern. Then I read Huff post for an hour or two, taking care to click on any headings with the words "outrage" "horror" or "naked". Items involving pets get clicked next. If any of the public approach I quickly click back to email- but not so quickly that they don't see what's going on. The hypocrisy of an employee of a company that makes huge sums of money from TV being ashamed of looking at crap is often lost on these philistines. I then fill out the day half listening to meetings and generally being as uncooperative and difficult as possible.

No applause at the end of a performance so far but that's not what this kind of art is about. Despite this I'm sure I'm making a difference.

Well done! Subversive and eye-opening! Those cattle will learn their lesson someday.....
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Paydirt! on January 14, 2011, 07:06:13 AM
IE bug me to no end but I will admit to liking what they did to a little league game in Florida (http://improveverywhere.com/2008/04/07/best-game-ever/).
I have been looking through all the descriptions and photos of their missions (feel free to add quote marks and the word "so-called") just to try and figure out why I really like that Little League one but everything else makes my blood boil. I think I've worked it out! It's when these things are executed in a place where:

(a) somebody is doing their job, whether or not said job is being actively hindered; or
(b) somebody could conceivably be trying to stay in their own personal "zone".

Nobody is putting in a mind-numbing eight-hour work day at a Little League game; similarly, nobody goes to the Little League game just to eat their lunch and keep their head down and try and tune everything out. The same goes for this little thing on stage at the start of a Ben Folds concert (http://improveverywhere.com/2006/11/19/ben-folds-fake/), but only because the security guards were in on the whole thing.

But filling a Best Buy with fake employees (http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/), for example, is just tedious time-wasting, and there's something especially unpleasant about the "management and security guards as fun police" tone of the writing. The rest of them aren't quite so horrible, but still: live comedy is happening in front of you, at a time in your day when you are not expecting it or in the mood for it, and you cannot turn it off. I don't like it.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: senorcorazon on January 14, 2011, 09:37:17 AM
I've been doing guerrilla improv for a while but I tend to work alone. My latest piece is on the inherent nihilism of corporate culture. I begin the performance by showing up for work on time. Then I check my email in a disinterested way- responding to anything urgent with faux concern. Then I read Huff post for an hour or two, taking care to click on any headings with the words "outrage" "horror" or "naked". Items involving pets get clicked next. If any of the public approach I quickly click back to email- but not so quickly that they don't see what's going on. The hypocrisy of an employee of a company that makes huge sums of money from TV being ashamed of looking at crap is often lost on these philistines. I then fill out the day half listening to meetings and generally being as uncooperative and difficult as possible.

No applause at the end of a performance so far but that's not what this kind of art is about. Despite this I'm sure I'm making a difference.

Well done! Subversive and eye-opening! Those cattle will learn their lesson someday.....

Derivative! I've been doing this performance for over a decade in at least 8 different locations. I WILL SEE YOU IN COURT.
Title: Re: Feeling smug? Think pointless stunts help people appreciate life more?
Post by: Alex_from_the_woods on January 18, 2011, 02:17:52 PM
I've been doing guerrilla improv for a while but I tend to work alone. My latest piece is on the inherent nihilism of corporate culture. I begin the performance by showing up for work on time. Then I check my email in a disinterested way- responding to anything urgent with faux concern. Then I read Huff post for an hour or two, taking care to click on any headings with the words "outrage" "horror" or "naked". Items involving pets get clicked next. If any of the public approach I quickly click back to email- but not so quickly that they don't see what's going on. The hypocrisy of an employee of a company that makes huge sums of money from TV being ashamed of looking at crap is often lost on these philistines. I then fill out the day half listening to meetings and generally being as uncooperative and difficult as possible.

No applause at the end of a performance so far but that's not what this kind of art is about. Despite this I'm sure I'm making a difference.

Well done! Subversive and eye-opening! Those cattle will learn their lesson someday.....

Derivative! I've been doing this performance for over a decade in at least 8 different locations. I WILL SEE YOU IN COURT.

ah...but I perform it in my inimitable Pre-post-modenernistic-neo-dada-abstract-realistic style. Choke on that- finger painter!