Friday, January 12, 2007

Call for Participants. This is serious.

Saturday, January 13
Sixth Annual No Pants! Subway Ride

Requirements for Participation: 1) Willing to take pants off on
subway; 2) Able to keep a straight face about it. This is a
participatory event. Do not show up unless you plan to take your
pants off. This includes news media.

Bring: A backpack and a metro card. Do not bring: A camera (don't
worry we are taking pictures) Wear: Normal winter clothes (hat,
gloves, etc).

How it works: We will assemble in Foley Square at 3p. Please be on
time. Feel free to be early. When we're organized, we will all head
down to the Brooklyn Bridge 6 Train stop together. Do not talk to
others once you enter the subway system. No one knows each other. We
will wait for a train to arrive on the uptown side of the tracks and
all board our assigned cars (follow your team leader). A man with a
megaphone will confirm that it is time to board the train. We may let
one train go before entering to make sure everyone is ready.

Sit in the car as you normally would. Read a magazine or whatever you
would normally do. Your team leader will have already divided you
into smaller groups, assigning your group a specific stop where you
will depants. Sit near your group.

As soon as the doors shut at the stop before yours, stand up and take
your pants off and put them in your backpack. If you'd like to use a
briefcase, purse, grocery bag, or whatever instead of a backpack
that's fine too. You are responsible for your own pants and they
should be with you at all times. If anyone asks you why you've
removed your pants, tell them that they were "getting
uncomfortable" (or something along those lines.)

Exit the train at your assigned stop and stand on the platform,
pantless. This is a new change for No Pants 2k7. You will wait on the
platform for the next 6 train to arrive. Stay in the exact same place
on the platform so you enter the next train in the same car as you
exited the last train.

When you enter , act as you normally would. You do not know any of
the other pantless riders. If questioned, tell folks that you "forgot
to wear pants" and yes you are "a little cold." Insist that it is a
coincidence that others also forgot their pants. Be nice and friendly
and normal.

We will exit the train at 125th street. Pay attention so you don't
miss this stop. We will then repeat the mission back down to Brooklyn
Bridge.

You can wear fun underwear if you like, but nothing that screams out
"I wore this because I'm doing a silly stunt." Wear two pairs of
underwear if it makes you feel more comfortable. Avoid wearing a
thong or anything else that might offend people. Our aim is to make
people laugh, not piss them off. If you haven't already, please take
a moment to read the previous mission reports for the last five No
Pants rides.

Meetup at Foley Square at the black sculpture/fountain
Between Centre and Lafayette, just north of Duane, Manhattan
3p sharp, over by 5:30p; $free
http://www.improveverywhere.com/missions.php

8 comments:

Pretty Lady said...

funny, but dumb.

That is the whole entire point. Check out the photos on the website from last years' action. It awakens people to the possibility that Life is Not Always So Bland.

Bob said...

Those people need to be kept busy.

Idle hands and all that...

But then again, us westerners have rodeos.

Pretty Lady said...

Bob, if you think it is POSSIBLE to live in New York City and not be kept frantically busy with the necessities of Basic Survival, particularly if one is the sort of person who is jadedly familiar with the subway system, you are a naive provincial without the right to an opinion. These sorts of actions are in the nature of Light Momentary Alleviation of Grinding, Tedious Struggle, not the antics of blithe, frivolous trust fund babes.

belledame222 said...

o, my.

but, what if the heat's not working in the train? what if...

i think i shall not participate in this, but will keep an eye out on the day, and on NY1 that evening, with interest.

Anonymous said...

Pretty Lady,

I do believe I understand, now anyway, what you are telling Bob. And yet, for my own purposes, I shall remain what you indicate Bob might be. The rat race isn't for lions, tigers, or bears, oh my! { : - (}roar{)

Anonymous said...

Now now.....

I retired in Texas. Spent my working years at Hanford, Los Alamos, White Sands, University of Washington MRU, PMR and other neat places full of very smart people.

However, the "provincality" of this place does seep into one's life.

I have--by the way--always been naive, so I guess Im now banned.

Anonymous said...

If you have not done so already, you may want to read Robert Heinline's theory and story on "the silly season" (as a sign that the end is nearing). I think we may be into it well and proper....

Anonymous said...

Truly amazing and depressing that people were arrested, with handcuffs, for wearing basically what people wear all the time outdoors, Shorts.

PT