05-12-2011, 12:00 AM
Just watched something funny. I was in a taxi today, and in the back seat and they have TV screens mounted on the back of passenger front seat. Well, usually I don't pay attention to the TV becasue it's ads I always thought, but this one was a TV show. It was a western program and its those practical joke shows where they trick people on camera, out in public. Well, this one went like this...
Its filmed in a drug store. They have the surveillance camera mounted behind the cash register. The customers approaching the check out thus can see themselves on the screen. Its mounted to where there is no doubt they will notice it. The cashier is in on the joke. She has a lever to push that causes an image to appear on the TV screen so it looks like its behind the customer to the left. The image is the grim reaper. So, at a certain point the cashier says somethign like she needs to step out for a second, then she pushes the lever and the image of grim reaper appears on TV and the customer thus sees themselves and the reaper behind them. Then we watch them react. They stare blankly at the TV, some just keep staring, others turn around to look where the reaper 'should be' then they look back, dumbfounded. All the people shown in this...and I only watched a few because the cab ride was ending , but all people in this seemed to sort of freeze up, look a bit stunned. But it was funny to watch.
Why is it funny? Maybe because one...its staged and thus not really happening. The other reason is the person changes. They were all wrapped up in their thoughts, fumbling with their cash or shopping goods and then suddenly their concerns whatever they were don't matter anymore and they are totally in the moment and focused on figuring out what is going on. I still can't figure out why thats funny to watch but it is.
Its filmed in a drug store. They have the surveillance camera mounted behind the cash register. The customers approaching the check out thus can see themselves on the screen. Its mounted to where there is no doubt they will notice it. The cashier is in on the joke. She has a lever to push that causes an image to appear on the TV screen so it looks like its behind the customer to the left. The image is the grim reaper. So, at a certain point the cashier says somethign like she needs to step out for a second, then she pushes the lever and the image of grim reaper appears on TV and the customer thus sees themselves and the reaper behind them. Then we watch them react. They stare blankly at the TV, some just keep staring, others turn around to look where the reaper 'should be' then they look back, dumbfounded. All the people shown in this...and I only watched a few because the cab ride was ending , but all people in this seemed to sort of freeze up, look a bit stunned. But it was funny to watch.
Why is it funny? Maybe because one...its staged and thus not really happening. The other reason is the person changes. They were all wrapped up in their thoughts, fumbling with their cash or shopping goods and then suddenly their concerns whatever they were don't matter anymore and they are totally in the moment and focused on figuring out what is going on. I still can't figure out why thats funny to watch but it is.