Interactive Disengagement

Until now the only remedies for people unable to otherwise cope in social forums involved psychotropic drugs, surgical modification of the frontal lobe, or surprise assassination. But now there is hope even for those of extreme disadvantage through a revolutionary system called Interactive Disengagement, actually a practical art form that balances engagement with detachment.

Putting this system in an anthropological context begins with the understanding that humans are intrinsically selfish, solitary creatures. As we no longer find ourselves huddled under rocks batting at cavebears, our natural instincts have atrophied to the point where casual social gatherings seem almost inevitable.

Let us now take a look at some of the dynamics of social behavior, and at some things we can do, through Interactive Disengagement, to minimize disgrace. We will use a party scenario to illustrate.

Scamper finds himself, horrified, at a house party. Though he’s found a group to associate himself with, he is nervous and crosses his arms to hide shaking hands and damp palms. In doing so he has made his first mistake by inadvertently taking the stance of the aloof expert. He is not aware that body language is an important part of social interaction.

“So, like,” says Dave, initiating a group discussion, “what’s the wackiest thing your family ever served guests?” As the others cluck approvingly, Scamper smiles to hide panic and scrambles for something to contribute should the expectation arise. Revelatory anecdotes, that is what’s called for. The idea comes to him that he might at least look cooler if he didn’t blink. That’s just the thing, thinks he, to convey a more intense, thoughty appearance. He concentrates on not blinking as he roots for ideas. Maria is saying, “My aunt served bouillabaisse to the children for Thanksgiving!” Approval is awarded through polite, metronomic laughter. Around the circle it goes, each contribution serving to connect the participants emotionally, reassuring them in the face of mortality that they are not alone. Not tonight anyway.

And then Scamper feels the pressure to speak. Forgetting himself he blinks his eyes for the first time in minutes, but has no time to halt the momentum as tears suddenly stream down his cheeks. “Papa once made my retarded brother eat a hooker. Um, that he- he was. He found…” But by now the conversation has died. The quaver in his voice has drained his words of life. Members of the group who aren’t baring their teeth in revulsion are covering their childrens’ ears, and an elderly couple begins to vomit uncontrollably.

Scamper’s anxious fear has revealed him as the awkward outsider; an interloper who threatens convention with his ignorance of societal mores. Naturally Scamper lashes out with his fists, and the night ends on an awkward note.

Location
The first thing one must do in any social gathering is to find a comfortable place to exist, preferably against a wall. People standing behind one are to be considered threats, and will probably make rude comments under their breath or just stare at one’s neck. Sitting in a chair with one’s head hanging, though comfortable, may actually draw unwanted attention. Rather, when gatherings threaten to become overwhelming, consider sneaking off and curling up on the cool bathroom floor.

Next, one must find a group of people against whom to practice peripheralism. The aim with peripheralism is to stand close enough to the group to seem open and approachable, but far enough away so that one isn’t actually forced to think of anything witty to contribute.

Appearance
Body language and personal appearance are indeed the first cues people look to in order to assign both social standing and content of character. This being so, one should strive for a kind of social invisibility by avoiding visual contrast with the other participants. If Scamper, in the scenario above, had approached the same circle with matted hair, unfocused eyes, a slack jaw, and hunched shoulders, and been muttering something like “gon’ dig me a hole,” repeatedly in a hoarse, singsong voice, chances are he would not be the first person consulted to expound on current events. While this may seem like a good thing, it is not the best approach to achieving social invisibility.

Nodding on cue gives people the perception that one is participating in a conversation, and will allay their fear that one is just watching. Avoid nodding for more than thirty seconds continuously.

The “thirty second principal” can, in fact, be applied to most social activities. The idea is that doing anything for more than about thirty seconds attracts attention. Social functions are not places for doing anything for prolonged periods of time. Being in society means moving, changing, being busy, and appearing more or less excited about the whole idea.

Behavior
Discouraging engagement requires both attention skill and quick thinking. One must identify the direction of conversational tide, decide on a plan for unsolicited attention, and execute the plan as required by the situation.

Avoiding eye contact figures heavily in this endeavor. Staring into someone’s eyes, especially if one hasn’t been blinking for several minutes, is often the only invitation others will need to engage one in conversation, or a fight. To avoid eye contact, focus on a spot directly between two adjacent people, or, in emergencies, over everyone’s head. If discovery seems imminent then one must remove oneself from the field of view entirely. Dropping to one knee to tie a shoe is heavily recommended. Alternately, one might look at one’s watch as obviously as possible, and then look laterally across the room as if in expectation of the rest of one’s party. This is called the “Where could they be?” technique.

When fear wets the palms of the sensitive one, it’s important not to hide them or to make fists. This will only make matters worse, especially if one must shake hands. Batting at phantom flies is a possibility if the palms are a little damp, but flailing in general should be avoided if the palms are soaking. For such occasions the best plan is to wear gloves.

Behavioral props such as not-blinking usually end in disaster, and should therefore be avoided at all costs. In order to “look cool” Scamper is sacrificing this bodily need, and that’s never cool. A more relaxed look might be achieved by lowering the eyelids slightly. Other bodily functions, such as breathing and urination, are best approached in a natural way, as too much or too little of either may draw attention. Another popular behavioral prop is speaking with an accent, but unless one has prepared a detailed fictional history, this is actually a behavior best avoided. However, speaking another language entirely is highly encouraged.

It is also important to avoid the rustic and unclean act of shaking hands. Shaking hands allows others to gauge one’s strength should a gathering turn ugly, and is also a great way to spread disease. One way handshaking can be avoided is to hold something in both hands, such as a cat or a baby. This is best done before one is asked to shake hands. Magazines make excellent props, because one can pretend to browse as needed, distancing oneself from the conversation. Avoid holding flaming objects or weaponry, which are looked upon as conspicuous in most circles that don’t involve white hoods. Pretending that there is something vile covering one’s hand works occasionally, but is enhanced greatly with a visual prop such as molasses or mustard. Sneezing into one’s hands will also do in a pinch. Preemptive blows to the requestor’s head should, in general, be considered only as a last resort.

Conclusion
The lesson in Interactive Disengagement, finally, is that participation is failure and to be avoided at all costs. In our next lesson we’ll talk about girls and how to avoid scaring them off by using the technique known as Gynocentric Disantisocialivism.

Related Tales

» “What the Other Hand Is Doing” (26 of Apr, 2003)
» “Terminal II” (03 of Apr, 2003)
» “Terminal” (31 of Mar, 2003)

Comments

• This is really going to help me with my new “shut-in” lifestyle. I believe it will allow me more time for my imaginary relationships.

  quoth lala on 21 of Oct, 2003



• I like the idea that “humans are intrinsically selfish, solitary creatures”. In line with that, shouldn’t we just abandon children that are too young to take care of themselves?

  quoth Emil Durkheim on 28 of Oct, 2003



• I believe Kohlberg was a proponent of eating babies, actually, citing their soft foreheads in particular as being a buttery delight on croissants. That’s another chapter however.

  quoth scamper on 28 of Oct, 2003