How to blend in with crowds.

Step 4 Stay in the middle

Stay as close to the most dense part of the crowd. It is easier to find people straggling about on the edges. It's harder to find people that are in the middle of everything since everyone is moving around you. If people are moving in small groups through the crowd, pick a random one and pretend that you are with them by following closely behind.

Comments

[zilliana]

Uhm, is there ANY way for a hijabi (muslim gal who wears headscarf) who feels stalked to blend into the crowd? I've got a friend who wears the scarf and she feels that there is no way for her to hide short of violating her religious policies. Can you help?

[barnowl12]

Your friend should wear a scarf that isn't bright and is an earth tone or kind of a dull color. I have seen dull colors on other hijabi's and it looks fine

[generalmayhem]

See also Harrison Ford's escape from Tommy Lee Jones and the rest of the Federal Marshalls by blending into the St. Patrick's Day parade crowd in the movie "The Fugitive". He obviously read this instructable first.

[Sypran]

why in every movie is there a St. Pattys day parade that the good guy can blend in to escape?

[cecilomar]

Because everybody is drunk?

[Spinning_Rings]

It's the writer's convenience.

[DeusExMach]

A Deus Ex St. Patty's day?

[Spinning_Rings]

Um... What?

[DeusExMach]

A "Deus Ex Machina" is a literary device in which an actor playing "God" would descend from the top of the stage, and fix the situation for the protagonist with a helpful and timely intervention. The term translates as "God out of the Machine", referring to the contraption used to lower the actor into place. It has since become synonomous with any random plot device that serves as a "Saving Grace" for the main character in a story. ...and now, you know.

[IkilledKenny]

people like green?

[Kulawend]

I learned that in 9th grade, and I attended an under-budgeted school. It's amazing what people don't know that they should.

[Spinning_Rings]

I think I can get through life just fine without knowing a couple of play terms, thank you very much.

[Kulawend]

Play terms? When you think of literary devices think story terms, but then again literary devices are only important to know about if you plan on reading a book.

[Spinning_Rings]

"The term translates as "God out of the Machine", referring to the contraption used to lower the actor into place." I'll also have you know that knowing literary devices and being able to read have nothing to do with each other. I can enjoy Terry Pratchett, Anthony Horowitz, William Shakespeare, Neil Gaiman, or any other writer without being able to write a three-page paper on the use of foreshadowing in one of their books.

[DeusExMach]

oh. I apologize for wasting your time. I thought we were here to learn about things we didn't otherwise know. Forgive me for trying to include a little bit extra in answer to a direct question. Unless it was a rhetorical question, and if so, I'll answer it with rhetoric. To whit: "Knowledge is power" "Deus Ex Machinas are overused in american cinema, literature, et. al." "You're makin' us look like jerks... READ A BOOK!".

[Spinning_Rings]

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to insult you, I was just arguing the point that how many literary terms I know has nothing to do with my ability to read. I am an avid reader, and I find it highly offensive and elitist towards scholars to say that I'm not good at it because I don't know all the scholarly terms. I'm not mad at you, I was quite grateful to you for explaining the joke, I liked it, it was funny, and I got to learn something new. But I don't like being told I'm a bad reader because I didn't already know it.

[Kulawend]

The term Deus Ex Machina may have originated from plays, but in modern times it's most observed in books. You know how it is, the main character is just about to die and suddenly he is saved by some magical force. I can't even count how many books (and movies) I know of that end like that. I'm not trying to say knowing about literary devices are essential to reading, but they are somewhat important for readers, and especially writers to learn. Knowing more about the subject you are working with is always important, eh?

[cd41]

A Dues Ex Machina is when the author just spontanieously fixes the conflict with an out of place event and ends the story, like in that Superman movie when he just flies counter-clockwise around the globe to go back in time, but i apriciate the fact that we both read the wikipedia article (and you are using the example about its use in greek plays)

[DeusExMach]

Actually, no, I didn't read the wikipedia article, I passed 10th grade English class.

[cd41]

well glad to see teahcers take examples from wikipedia ain't it? just btw not trying to fight but you should consider taking more time and adding in more details to your comments

[DeusExMach]

10th grade english class was 11 years ago. There was no Wikipedia back then.

[cd41]

Wow you had one amazing nice psycic teacher then..:)

[DeusExMach]

no.

[Udon]

And what does any of this have to do with Harrison Ford?

[cd41]

Not sure how but he can join the party

[Spinning_Rings]

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. You see, I wasn't arguing the point that it was only applicable to plays, I was trying to explain why I was confused. I totally agree that it's not just for play. When DeusExMach explained it, the first thing I thought of was the Emilist from the Animorphs book series I liked when I was a kid. So I wasn't trying to argue there. On the other hand, I am going to argue the second point on the grounds that: A.) If you weren't trying to say that, then you failed miserably because that's exactly what "literary devices are only important to know about if you plan on reading a book," sounds like it to me. And B.) I don't agree that it's "somewhat Important" for readers--refering back to those animorphs books, I liked them just the same before and after I'd heard of Deus Ex Machina--, but for writers... You see, the way I think of it (and I doubt many would try to argue this,) writing isn't a science, it's an art. Now on the one hand, learning the techniques another artist has discovered can help make an artist's work more vivid and detailed, like when an artist first learns of shading or one-point-perspective. But on the other hand, too much emphasis on studying the techniques of other artists and not enough on discovering and developing one's own techniques leads to a lack of creativity, a regurgitation of what's already been done. So while I'll admit it's of some importance, I think it's something you need to be careful not to put too much emphasis on.

[Kulawend]

You're totally right, writing is an art, but you are dead wrong if you think that using literary devices takes away any creativity from the user's writing. The device itself is simply another tool, it requires the writer to use it creatively.

[Spinning_Rings]

Interesting. So what this boils down to is that I think of literary devices as techniques, guidelines that enforce rigidity, whereas you think of them as tools, prompts that encourage thought. A rather simple difference of views, as far as I can see. Alright. We've both adequately explained or views, and neither of us has been swayed. Unless you have something else you think will persuade me, then it's time to either end the conversation or change the subject before the tension builds any more. ... ... ... So, how about this weather?

[killarowa]

and knowing is half the battle. G.I. JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeusExMach]

Sure, knowing is half the battle. And you know what? So is losing. Losing is half the battle. Let's focus on ALL the battle, here.

[Spinning_Rings]

Oh... I get it now. Funny!

[skunkbait]

I have a medical condition that requires me to wear only a blaze-orange bikini and a tin-foil hat. Any suggestions to help me blend in?

[stinkymum]

Have you been to California?

[skunkbait]

Yeah, What a bunch of weirdos!!!

[JJrulz]

you could take meds for said medical condition

[skunkbait]

They call them 'meds', but I think they are mind control tablets.

[Elfwreck]

If you can't wear blend-in clothes (and while I doubt "tinfoil hat" is part of your everyday apparel, some people have oxy tanks or other bulky accessories they can't get rid of, or are much taller than everyone they're going to be around, or something like that), you should go for camoflage. Give up on "don't be noticed," and move into the "Someone Else's Problem" category. Decorate your accessories so they look like a cluster of movie props, and carry a set of hokey printed fliers advertising a restaurant. Decorate the oxy tank like a rocket pack, and have the fliers say "Blast Off For Lunch!" Put on a labcoat & carry a clipboard with the tinfoil hat, and approach people to ask if they've got a few minutes to fill out your (12-page) questionnaire. People will notice the outfit, but damn few will remember your face or any other identifying details.

[Lithium Rain]

_{pssst, I think he was kidding...}

[Elfwreck]

You mean he doesn't have a medical condition that requires him to wear only an orange bikini? Someone *lied* on the internet? Say it ain't so!

I was playing on the idea of "what if I've got some situation that doesn't let me look like everyone else?" And the answer is, then don't try--instead, look like you belong to some category that people don't pay conscious attention to, preferably one they try to ignore.

Attempting to hand out fliers is great camouflage. It won't fool cameras, but it'll often result in nobody being able to describe your face. (And sometimes, it'll fool cameras. Because they're usually being watched by people, and they too tune out many categories while trying to look for trouble.)

Reading bible verses & handing out Chick tracts is another fine way to be highly visible and very, very ignored.

[Lithium Rain]

Um, I knew you weren't that dense, I was just being silly, pointing out the obvious. Not contesting the validity of this instructable, which I think was nicely done, by the way.