Going Pants-less on the Subway! (Thing to Do #66: Be Part of a Flash Mob)

Completed! – Thing to Do #66: Be a Part of a Flash Mob

So just as I had mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago, I traveled to DC this past weekend.  While there, I managed to accomplish Thing to Do #66: Be Part of a Flash Mob.

The details of the 8th Annual International No-Pants Subway Ride-DC Edition were at Improv Everywhere .  All participants were instructed to meet at a park across from the Metro station at 3:00pm on Saturday and stood in sleet and freezing rain as we waited for the organizers to assemble the mob into different groups; the idea was to distribute as many people through as many metro lines as possible. 

Finally, it was decided who would go where and we started off toward the metro station.  At this point, we had been in the freezing rain for 30 minutes (still “pantsed”) but upon entering the station, we were instructed to “de-pants.”  The total group was around 100, but we seperated into two large groups and once we reached the platform, dispersed even more.  Looking around, there were far more people fully clothed than not, but we were definitely getting odd looks and quite a few giggles.

We were instructed to act like we were oblivious to the fact that we didn’t have pants on.  If anyone asked, we were supposed to be surprised to find that we had no pants on, or that it wasn’t that big of an issue.  As we waited on the platform, two guys approached me about what was going on.  They asked if I was protesting pants, to which I simply replied “No, I’m from out of town.”  Another guy asked “Why is everyone wearing their underwear?” to which I exclaimed “You aren’t wearing any underwear!?”  He laughed and said “No, I mean, why are you ONLY wearing your underwear?”  I just answered that it was just a funny coincidence.

A couple of trains came through the station and we could see the people inside pointing and laughing, several people just shaking their heads.  It was hard to keep a straight face when people were just so shocked.  I mean, no one was wearing anything you wouldn’t see on the beach, but some mothers hurried to cover their children’s eyes.  I got several compliments on my “bloomers” and I noted that most days I would not be able to get compliments on my underwear.

When our trian arrived, I got onto a car with two others of our lot.  We quickly found that we were not a welcome addition, as one man stood up to find another car, while telling us exactly how he felt (none of which I can repeat here).  I didn’t get to find out what other people thought about us because the Metro Police had arrived in our car. 

As we neared the first stop, an officer asked us to get off of the train.  We had been instructed to do exactly what the Metro Police asked of us; while we had their cooperation in this event, the Metro Police has a reputation for arresting first and asking questions later.  In the next station, the Metro Police held the train for a few minutes to insure every “pants-less” person was off the train.  After they had gathered us all, they announced “Someone has lodged a complaint.  This event is now over.  Please exit the station immediately.”  I was worried because I had no idea where I was and I only knew one way back via the metro.  I put my pants back on and seperated myself from the group.  As the still pantsless people tried to negotiate with the Metro Police, I managed to move down the platform and mingle in with other “regular” people waiting for the train.  As the train pulled into the station, I could hear the Metro Police making another announcement, but I was done. 

I had successfully joined a group of people in doing some wacky thing together, shocked some people, rode one full stop on the subway pants-less and managed to avoid accomplishing Thing to Do # 23: Get Arrested.