Well, last year myself and a couple of friends started to document everything one of our classmates did in a “field notes” type of way. I will be periodically adding some of them to this thread. Enjoy!
(S2 stands for Specimen 2)
August 30, 2007
Cultural Learnings of Specimen #2
9:05 Subject mumbles answer to question that wasn’t asked.
9:07 Subject handing out tests; dances to music that doesn’t exist.
9:08 Subject begins to scribble strange figures.
9:10 Subject begins to wave hands around himself. Mumble-sings. Appears to be unaware of life.
9:11 Continues to tap foot to non-existent music; periodically raises hand.
9:12 Sneezes and pokes thumb into nose; pokes self in head with pen.
9:14 Appears to be paying attention, but may be self-unconscious.
9:15 Retrieves calculator from binder, begins to work with it; has no paper or book on desk.
9:16 Files papers vigorously; then quickly loses interest.
9:18 Teacher moves to recollect paper; subject seems to be confused; may have grown attached to paper.
9:21 Nonchalantly flips through book , mumbles something number related.
9:24 Chants under his breath; still appears to be number related. A joke is told by the teacher; subject obviously over-laughs – possibly to please teacher.
9:26 Answers question correctly; answer sounded like nothing more than gibberish.
9:29 Tries to pick nose in secret; does this several times.
9:30 Actually seems to be working; yawns far too often.
9:35 Answers question with a low tone grumble; works calculator with no apparent purpose.
9:37 Emits strange noise; may be mating call.
9:41 Is baffled by binder; comments on non-related joke by more mumbling.
9:44 Begins working assignment, continues to do bizarre foot maneuvers.
9:45 Uses calculator for 4th grade math; eyes bulge to some extent.
9:49 Hasn’t written anything for any of the calculator work; appears to be in a daze.
9:50 Goes into finger-popping tantrum, seems to black out for a few seconds.
Updated 2/19/09
Friday August 31
Cultural Observations
9:05 S2 mumbles at an alarming rate. Attempts to use ESP powers to grab object; seems to fail.
9:07 S2 raises hand and shakes it violently; goes into fluster when called on.
9:08 While checking assignment, goes into chanting madness; continues for over a minute.
9:10 Stares into book; most likely contemplating if it is edible.
9:12 Once again blacks out when popping knuckles.
9:13 Secretly tries to pick nose, the action is quite obvious however.
9:15 Stretches and appears to murmur “Mi mi mi mi.”
9:16 Rolls pen in hand, which seems to amaze him; he also answers 3 questions incorrectly, no one hears him anyway.
9:18 Uses calculator, which also dazes him; does this for over 3 minutes.
9:22 Asks himself a question, does not respond.
9:25 Hits self with pencil repeatedly. Observer feels this may be due to fleas; will monitor for this action in the future. More bizarre foot movements ensue.
9:27 S2 has been furiously punching countless numbers into calculator; has written down only primitive drawings.
9:30 Appears to eat pencil, sadly he fails in this endeavor.
9:34 S2 loses calculator interest, but compensates with excessive mumbles.
9:39 Scratches explicit area; S2 may be the missing link.
9:44 Stares intensively at the ceiling, may be hallucinating.
2/21/09 Update
September 4th
Tuesday
9:03 S2 begins with daily pencil sharpening ritual; pencil sharpener may be his god.
9:05 S2 tapping pencil and pen, laughing and spaced out; may have reached critical mass.
9:06 S2 again offers sacrifice to the pencil-sharpener god.
9:08 Checks paper while continuing his drumming on the desk; observer notes the same clothing worn for over 3 days, may not have access to water.
9:11 Laughs at joke; must have been at frequency unheard to normal humans.
9:12 Rubs pen and pencil together; may be working towards fire.
9:14 Grooms self; “flea theory” confirmed; drums on head – fleas have infiltrated brain.
9:23 Appears to have been working, but on closer inspection is only stroking calculator.
9:25 Stares at computer in room, may believe it to be another god.
9:27 Missed same problem 4 times, appears to be quite frustrated.
9:30 Finished assignment over 5 minutes ago, but is still hard at work on it.
9:41 Over the past 10 minutes, S2 has gone into a finger popping commotion, a yawning frenzy, snapping to what sounds like Ray Charles, and periodically phasing in and out of an unconscious state.
9:44 Stares at wall and taps foot; may be attempting to entertain cinderblocks.
9:45 Cannot describe latest movements; may have a mild form of Tourettes.
9:47 Is now undoubtedly on an acid trip.
9:50 More self-grooming, accompanied by desk banging. It would appear he is trying to be a caveman in every sense of the word.
9:53 Speaks to teacher in a mumbling garble of misconstrued letters and sounds.
9:54 Plays with nose then inserts fingers into mouth, appears pleased. More desk-banging ensues.
2/24/09 Update
Wednesday
September 5th
9:08 S2 begins class by dozing for over 2 minutes; S2 may need new batteries.
9:10 More staring followed by sporadic foot tapping; primitive Morse code?
9:12 S2 begins crossword puzzle for other class, appears bedazzled.
9:14 Quickly retries calculator for 4 x 5, math obviously not his strong point.
9:17 S2 jams finger into ear repeatedly, more evidence for the “flea-in-brain theory”; more half-conscious stares.
9:20 S2 starts homework early, nevertheless he won’t be finishing anytime soon- uses calculator for 5 x 2 and still gets it wrong; math at a 3rd grade level at best.
9:25 Subject begins to be very frustrated with simple 2-digit multiplication- may slowly be getting more stupid.
9:28 At this point it would have to be a work of God for him to pass this class.
9:30 S2 laughs, reasons still under discussion.
9:32 S2 goes into another talking spasm, yet no one heard him; I believe it was something about bees and honey.
9:39 Another sacrifice to the pencil sharpener god.
9:45 S2 works an assignment while periodically falling in and out of conscious; talks to self on occasion- “flea-in-brain” theory almost certain.
9:50 Has gained no ground on crossword puzzle since first observed.
(S2 stands for Specimen 2)
August 30, 2007
Cultural Learnings of Specimen #2
9:05 Subject mumbles answer to question that wasn’t asked.
9:07 Subject handing out tests; dances to music that doesn’t exist.
9:08 Subject begins to scribble strange figures.
9:10 Subject begins to wave hands around himself. Mumble-sings. Appears to be unaware of life.
9:11 Continues to tap foot to non-existent music; periodically raises hand.
9:12 Sneezes and pokes thumb into nose; pokes self in head with pen.
9:14 Appears to be paying attention, but may be self-unconscious.
9:15 Retrieves calculator from binder, begins to work with it; has no paper or book on desk.
9:16 Files papers vigorously; then quickly loses interest.
9:18 Teacher moves to recollect paper; subject seems to be confused; may have grown attached to paper.
9:21 Nonchalantly flips through book , mumbles something number related.
9:24 Chants under his breath; still appears to be number related. A joke is told by the teacher; subject obviously over-laughs – possibly to please teacher.
9:26 Answers question correctly; answer sounded like nothing more than gibberish.
9:29 Tries to pick nose in secret; does this several times.
9:30 Actually seems to be working; yawns far too often.
9:35 Answers question with a low tone grumble; works calculator with no apparent purpose.
9:37 Emits strange noise; may be mating call.
9:41 Is baffled by binder; comments on non-related joke by more mumbling.
9:44 Begins working assignment, continues to do bizarre foot maneuvers.
9:45 Uses calculator for 4th grade math; eyes bulge to some extent.
9:49 Hasn’t written anything for any of the calculator work; appears to be in a daze.
9:50 Goes into finger-popping tantrum, seems to black out for a few seconds.
Updated 2/19/09
Friday August 31
Cultural Observations
9:05 S2 mumbles at an alarming rate. Attempts to use ESP powers to grab object; seems to fail.
9:07 S2 raises hand and shakes it violently; goes into fluster when called on.
9:08 While checking assignment, goes into chanting madness; continues for over a minute.
9:10 Stares into book; most likely contemplating if it is edible.
9:12 Once again blacks out when popping knuckles.
9:13 Secretly tries to pick nose, the action is quite obvious however.
9:15 Stretches and appears to murmur “Mi mi mi mi.”
9:16 Rolls pen in hand, which seems to amaze him; he also answers 3 questions incorrectly, no one hears him anyway.
9:18 Uses calculator, which also dazes him; does this for over 3 minutes.
9:22 Asks himself a question, does not respond.
9:25 Hits self with pencil repeatedly. Observer feels this may be due to fleas; will monitor for this action in the future. More bizarre foot movements ensue.
9:27 S2 has been furiously punching countless numbers into calculator; has written down only primitive drawings.
9:30 Appears to eat pencil, sadly he fails in this endeavor.
9:34 S2 loses calculator interest, but compensates with excessive mumbles.
9:39 Scratches explicit area; S2 may be the missing link.
9:44 Stares intensively at the ceiling, may be hallucinating.
2/21/09 Update
September 4th
Tuesday
9:03 S2 begins with daily pencil sharpening ritual; pencil sharpener may be his god.
9:05 S2 tapping pencil and pen, laughing and spaced out; may have reached critical mass.
9:06 S2 again offers sacrifice to the pencil-sharpener god.
9:08 Checks paper while continuing his drumming on the desk; observer notes the same clothing worn for over 3 days, may not have access to water.
9:11 Laughs at joke; must have been at frequency unheard to normal humans.
9:12 Rubs pen and pencil together; may be working towards fire.
9:14 Grooms self; “flea theory” confirmed; drums on head – fleas have infiltrated brain.
9:23 Appears to have been working, but on closer inspection is only stroking calculator.
9:25 Stares at computer in room, may believe it to be another god.
9:27 Missed same problem 4 times, appears to be quite frustrated.
9:30 Finished assignment over 5 minutes ago, but is still hard at work on it.
9:41 Over the past 10 minutes, S2 has gone into a finger popping commotion, a yawning frenzy, snapping to what sounds like Ray Charles, and periodically phasing in and out of an unconscious state.
9:44 Stares at wall and taps foot; may be attempting to entertain cinderblocks.
9:45 Cannot describe latest movements; may have a mild form of Tourettes.
9:47 Is now undoubtedly on an acid trip.
9:50 More self-grooming, accompanied by desk banging. It would appear he is trying to be a caveman in every sense of the word.
9:53 Speaks to teacher in a mumbling garble of misconstrued letters and sounds.
9:54 Plays with nose then inserts fingers into mouth, appears pleased. More desk-banging ensues.
2/24/09 Update
Wednesday
September 5th
9:08 S2 begins class by dozing for over 2 minutes; S2 may need new batteries.
9:10 More staring followed by sporadic foot tapping; primitive Morse code?
9:12 S2 begins crossword puzzle for other class, appears bedazzled.
9:14 Quickly retries calculator for 4 x 5, math obviously not his strong point.
9:17 S2 jams finger into ear repeatedly, more evidence for the “flea-in-brain theory”; more half-conscious stares.
9:20 S2 starts homework early, nevertheless he won’t be finishing anytime soon- uses calculator for 5 x 2 and still gets it wrong; math at a 3rd grade level at best.
9:25 Subject begins to be very frustrated with simple 2-digit multiplication- may slowly be getting more stupid.
9:28 At this point it would have to be a work of God for him to pass this class.
9:30 S2 laughs, reasons still under discussion.
9:32 S2 goes into another talking spasm, yet no one heard him; I believe it was something about bees and honey.
9:39 Another sacrifice to the pencil sharpener god.
9:45 S2 works an assignment while periodically falling in and out of conscious; talks to self on occasion- “flea-in-brain” theory almost certain.
9:50 Has gained no ground on crossword puzzle since first observed.
