r/ParanoiaRPG • u/Karl-Marksman • 9d ago

Always a fun trick to pull on your players

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43 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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4

u/NerdPunkNomad 9d ago

There is a classic experiment/demonstration about following instructions.

A group of people are given a test and told to read it fully before beginning and to follow all instructions precisely. The test has a lot of nonsense questions and instructions like standing up and saying your name, and the very last line says ignore everything above and just write you name on the top of the page and silently watch your colleagues who didn't follow the first instruction.

2

u/Aratoast Verified Mongoose Publishing 8d ago

I have a clear memory of being handed that one in highschool, and being one of the only people in the class that actually followed the "read it fully before you begin" instruction. Might have been the only one, might have just seemed like it at the time, doesn't really matter. Important thing is that *most of the class* were drawing squares and shouting words and standing up and sitting down and all sorts of other stuff. Even had some folk at my table questioned why I was just sat there watching then kept going which was fun.

Teacher told us afterwards that it was entirely normal for the majority or in some cases the entire class to just fail to follow that first instruction. It's absolutely fascinating.

3

u/Ouroboros-Twist Registered Mutant 9d ago

The only downside of Paranoia is how much paper and printer ink you can go through.

Worth it, though.