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November 10, 2009

george clooney, liquor, and a social media experiment that’s either totally amazing or completely fucking stupid. not sure yet.

So, during my three hour layover last night I thought it would be a good idea to have some pre-second-flight drinks at the airport bar. Or, more accurately, at one of the airport bars, because whoever designed the new jetBlue terminal at JFK is clearly a raging alcoholic and thought it would be killer to put liquor, like, EVERYWHERE.

With so many options, I just picked the closest bar, settled in with my laptop and free wifi, asked Twitter if getting loaded in an airport was a yay or a nay, laughed when a few too many people said “YAY!!” and then thought, “yeah alright,” and went for it.

By the time I was handed drink number 3, I had already started to formulate a plan for what might be the coolest social media experiment ever: spending an entire day letting Twitter make all of my decisions for me. What to eat, what to wear, where to go- and because of the up-in-the-air-ness of my life right now, bigger things too, like which jobs to apply for, which two cities to consider moving to at the end of the year, all of it.

After that third drink, as I was paying my tab and heading to the gate, I decided that my idea was out of this galaxy and that I had to do it, even though my tiny budget could be a potentially large hindrance. I mean, here I was paying $30+ for drinks I probably wouldn’t have had without the Twitter encouragement and it made me all, “What next?!” Because if I’m going to do the damn thing, I’m going to do it full throttle. No backing down.

Which probably means there would need to be some sort of limits placed on my questions. Because, like, what if I’m all, “Where should I go today?” and Twitter’s like, “Bangladesh!” and I’m all, “I cannot fucking afford Bangladesh” and Twitter’s like, “Too bad! Next question please!” and I’m all, “Fine, what should I wear to the grocery store?” and Twitter says, “A kimono” and I’m like, “The fuck?!” and Twitter adds, “Oh, and one of those remote control vibrators,” which of course means I need to ask, “And who’s going to hold the remote control?” and then Twitter tells me that I can choose between George Clooney, a Trader Joe’s employee, and my mom, and I kick and scream about how those are RIDICULOUSLY UNREALISTIC options and Twitter’s all, “Sucks for you, bitch.”

So… yeah. I’m still considering the “Twitter Rules My Entire Life For One Day” plan, but need to work out the details. Thoughts?

Posted in: girl gone nomad, life 2.0, wtf?!

{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }

Becca Faith November 10, 2009 at 10:02 pm

I say limit the crazy by opting for a choose-your-own-adventure style. Give Twitter choices instead of free reign; we already know Twitter thrives under limitation (140? 1fucking40??), so I see no reason not to extend the logic to this very awesome experiment. Oh, and Twitter? @beccafaith742 is holding the damn remote.

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Abby November 11, 2009 at 5:11 am

SO glad I follow you on Twitter.
Also, the jetBlue bars at JFK own me. We had a 7 hour layover there headed back from Ireland, I got loaded and thought it was a pretty damn good idea… I even had time to sober up before the flight!!

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jenniferalaine November 11, 2009 at 5:31 am

You should just let me make all of the decisions. My life choices are always full of win. Actually I take that back — don't trust me.

Life is hard.

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Mike Siete-Cinco November 10, 2009 at 10:33 pm

Ooh, cool idea. Maybe a rule can be any task that requires cash, like a plane ticket, the person who makes the suggestion has to make the purchase. Anything that is free, ya just gotta do it.

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Miss Dallas November 11, 2009 at 6:02 am

Good idea. I think it should be only with questions that you can provide two or three viable options on which the Twitterverse can vote.

I did something similar to this one night with a group of friends right after AT&T added MMS. We took a picture of someone in the bar where we were at and then sent it to another person and then that person had to find the person in the picture and give them a hug and run off.

It was a lot of fun, but very embarrassing at times.

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nicoleisbetter November 11, 2009 at 6:04 am

Ah, haha that's AMAZING. It's like a photo scavenger hunt, but… better.

FYI, I am totally mentally bookmarking this plan for later use. Probably in Vegas.

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Mersiha November 11, 2009 at 10:07 am

Best plan EVER. I think you should ask the ques and whoever responds with the most realistic and intriguing idea WINS. Also, you must twitpic proof.

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Doniree November 11, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Obviously, I love this idea.

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rachel November 11, 2009 at 3:01 pm

agreed. WIN.

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P. T November 11, 2009 at 1:29 pm

I say go for it! It sounds fun. :)

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That Kind of Girl November 11, 2009 at 1:46 pm

This is one of the best social media experiments I've ever heard of! AMAZING! After you do it, write a non-fict piece and shop it around to newspapers. (I will also tweet that to you on the day so it becomes an order!)

I think it's fair to retain veto power; just outline in the parameters for exactly which reasons you would veto (too $$$; illegal; against your ethical code) and make sure you don't accidentally because it to get out of doing something embarrassing or that's uncharacteristic, as those kind of seem like the point of the experiment.

Or you could build some parameters into your question. "What type of clothes (that I already own) should I wear today?" "What should I do today that costs less than $40?" Although I second George Clooney holding the remote, fwiw.

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Kyla Roma November 11, 2009 at 2:11 pm

Love this! I wish there was some way you could have the decisions on a site, like say 40 questions where each one leads to another question, so you can have everyone plot out a day for you, and then you could go live them out.

This sounds like the whole concept is perfectly up your alley.

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Ben November 11, 2009 at 2:20 pm

You shouldn't require any explanation when someone tells you to wear a Kimono. Just FYI.

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mmclaughlin November 11, 2009 at 3:26 pm

I like that you asked for our thoughts. It's like you are letting the blog decide if you will let twitter decide what you are going to do. One social media outlet controlling another. And of course you'll blog about what happens with the twitter thing, so it's all one glorious social media cycle :o )
Also, I LOVE the phone-photo-scavenger hunt idea from Miss Dallas!

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Matt November 11, 2009 at 3:30 pm

HA. This could be both good and bad… depending on how many guys are following you.

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Jennylynn November 12, 2009 at 6:43 am

…or girls! lol We are evil!

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Matt November 11, 2009 at 3:31 pm

Following you on Twitter, of course- is what I meant.

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Wonderful November 11, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Do it!!

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The Brooklyn Boy November 11, 2009 at 4:46 pm

There's nothing to stop you from cherry-picking the answer(s) you prefer. That way it's more like taking suggestions than blindly following random (potentially unreasonable) demands.

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Melissa November 11, 2009 at 5:27 pm

Oh I love this idea! I'm excited to see how you run with it.

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Leah November 11, 2009 at 6:05 pm

You should 100% do it! Just give Twitter choices so they can't screw up your life too much.

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Kdottie November 11, 2009 at 6:10 pm

You have to do it!!! lol Glad to be back in the blogging world reading your blog again! Makes me laugh ;)

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flippy November 11, 2009 at 6:13 pm

this is insane, but you have to do it. your brain works in truly magical ways…

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lani @ sanslimites November 11, 2009 at 6:47 pm

i should type something of use here but i seriously can't stop laughing…you are SO fucking hilarious, nicole.

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Jennylynn November 12, 2009 at 6:43 am

word.

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Ginger November 11, 2009 at 7:46 pm

If you choose to do this, it would be the only reason I would sign up for twitter!

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brad November 11, 2009 at 7:56 pm

do it. honestly. ridiculously unrealistic? don't you mean "the stuff of legends?"

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Erin November 11, 2009 at 8:34 pm

Love, love, love this idea! What an awesome social experiment.

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Gofahne November 11, 2009 at 8:54 pm

I got such a chuckle out of this I had to temporarily leave my desk to calm the EFF down:). I feel that's exactly the conversation you would have with twitter and my only suggestion is to let twitter give you OPTIONS for the day and you get to choose the best OPTION of the bunch. Bangladesh, Austin, or the North Pole? Checkbook says…. Austin. Now if Twitter universally agrees on Bangladesh with a kimono, vibrator, and George Clooney? Then there is a REASON woman, so get on it. And start begging for money :) .

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Nora November 11, 2009 at 10:10 pm

Hmmm… maybe you could tell us what your budget is for the particular question you're posing and then we could go from there so that we don't give you insane destinations or clothing options? Either way, I think this is a great idea and can't wait to hear more about it. Just be sure to let us know when you're doing this so I can be sure to be on twitter!

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Vanessa November 11, 2009 at 10:16 pm

I think that is a phenomenal idea!!!! haha of course with the boundaries. This literally made me LOL. :)

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DShan November 11, 2009 at 10:25 pm

Do it by committee. Twitter Committee. A team of five or so get to play puppet on your ass for a day.

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Elly November 11, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Wow! Sounds like a great idea! Perhaps give twitter a choice though, instead of asking opened ended questions- like: "pink shirt, or blue shirt?" Instead of "what coloured shirt should I wear today?" That way you won't end up in Bangladesh :)

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katelin November 11, 2009 at 11:40 pm

um twitter your day sounds like a fabulous plan. i will tell you to eat mac and cheese and drink a margarita the size of your head while wearing a tiara. see? winner plans already.

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Mel November 12, 2009 at 1:23 am

That could get very interesting. I wish I had your courage.

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tia November 12, 2009 at 2:19 am

i think it could totally work.

you just need to give twitter OPTIONS. like, "hey twitter, should i "option A" or "option B?" and then they pick.

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Susan November 12, 2009 at 3:07 am

You should do it!!

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Candice November 12, 2009 at 3:17 am

That is a kickass idea. Someone probably already suggested this, but just give everyone 3 options. I'm subscribing just so you can be my minion.

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juli November 12, 2009 at 1:39 pm

give realistic multiple choice options and have people vote on things you have already realistically decided you can do. maybe make the last choice a write in, so people can still volunteer an answer if they don't like yours, and you can choose it if you want.

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Cheryl S. November 12, 2009 at 2:15 pm

Could you just give choices for that stuff? Like Twitter, should I wear Jeans, skirt, mumu? Should I go to Central park, Empire State Building or Macy's? Cool Idea though!

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ShandaR November 12, 2009 at 4:28 pm

I LOVE THE IDEA! Yes please work out the details. lol

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terra November 12, 2009 at 4:31 pm

I say go for it, but set ground rules, or give twitter options. Without options or ground rules twitter will probably demand you put on a polar bear costume, hang from a ceiling fan and put your tit a bowl of green jello. And while that might sound fun, the logistics are an absolute nightmare and really, who has time to hunt down a polar bear costume AND make green jello?

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Coach J November 12, 2009 at 8:37 pm

I love how Twitter is suddenly this personified, fully fledged being. Awesome.

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ToKissTheCook November 14, 2009 at 5:31 am

Hilarious. The scenarios are legitimately endless. Dare you to try it for 1 day. Intercontinental travel barred. Partial nudity fair game.

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TherapeuticRamblings November 14, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Great idea….do it!

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Jenny November 19, 2009 at 2:22 pm

In a word. ingenious. That means smart, right?

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Mara J. November 19, 2009 at 6:32 pm

An excellent idea for an experiment, though there are some weirdos out there on Twitter. You might need a disclaimer: "I will base every decision I make today on Twitter. However, no matter what Twitter says, I will not, under any circumstances, stick any random objects into any of my body's orifices. I will not do anything that could land me in jail, unless I'm certain I won't get caught…."

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Ashley December 11, 2009 at 12:45 am

I know two people who worked on jet blue's terminal and I know for a fact they both like alcohol. So maybe that had something to do with the quantity of alcohol there? Who knows but i'm glad they designed it that way because that is a GENIUS idea. JUST DO IT!

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