5/14/08 3:21 PM – Field Report
This morning I went to Starbucks with my (male) friend, G. We got there slightly past 10:00 and we ended up staying until around 2:20, a total of at least four hours. I used the following mix before leaving the house:
- 2 drops A314 spread between forehead, upper lip and chin
- 20mcg P93 @ pectorals, under my shirt
- 60mcg TAA @ pectorals, under my shirt
- 30mcg TAA @ neckline
- 30mcg Alpha Androstenol @ lower abdomen
- 30mcg Beta Androstenol @ lower abdomen
I donned this particular mix in order to assess the synchronize-understanding vibe of A314/P93 as well as P93’s ability to tone down A314’s respect into a friendly approachability. In short, it was a marked success. I will omit a chronological narration in favor of a point-by-point hit description.
A dark-headed female barista named K, that I know approached G and I. She jokingly tried to give us a melted plastic cup, saying it was “Starbucks Art.” I was a little unsure what to say, so I tried to play along. I don’t recall my exact words, but she responded “Just having some fun, I’ll leave you to your business.” First and foremost, I seem to have come across as unfriendly or uninterested in conversation. With hindsight I should have been more engaging and showed more interest. The next time I see her I will make a cocky-funny joke about it. This may be an over analysis, but her use of the word “business”could indicate the high-status/respect signal that is characteristic of this mix.
Earlier, another one of the female baristas, whom I had not seen before, approached G and I with the offer of a chai tea, on the house. Just as she held it out towards us, A (a male barista I am friends with) said, “Give it to [FutureKill], he’ll drink it.” Even though he was making humor, his tone was definitely one of respect. At the risk of sounding presumptuous, it would not be outlandish to say it was one of placation or even hero worship.
Despite being the most pronounced, G’s hit has the shortest description. Most obvious was the fact that G sat and spoke with me for at least four hours. Moreover, I was the one that ended the encounter to go home, G having showed no sign of interest in leaving. Second, the whole time we were there G and I simply seemed to “jive.” This mix is most assuredly a socio-cognitive lubricant. Finally, there were several instances wherein G explicitly stated that he either liked an idea of mine or agreed with something I said. Moments of male bonding/sharing of revealing personal information (toilofday, nbully79)
The user effects of this mix were not as profoundly striking as with some other mixes, but they were present nonetheless. First was a feeling of “businesslike confidence” that was very different yet, at the same time, similar to the self-possessed suaveness that I get from Instant Gentleman. This businesslike confidence may not be news to regular users of A314. I find this so striking because I have never really experienced the confidence everyone talks about with A314. So, perhaps P93 acts as a sort of intensifier/sensitizer to A314’s user effects. Any thoughts? My interaction with K, when she tried to push “starbucks art” on me may have been due in part to user effects. This ‘no fuss, chilled out, task focused’ mindset can lead to a loss of patience of trivial things (MHarris, Sunny, tacitus). Clearly I would not be the first one this combination has made impatient with non-essential small talk.
i wonder if we could try some consumer pheros on the forehead like a radio station. hehe