“Let’s go out!”
The beginning of every outing is for someone to state that phrase. After that phrase is stated, people go through a series of phases. These phases that people go through, results in many different scenarios. Scenarios such as the actual event going through as planned; the event going through with problems; no event being halted right at the last minute; and the event just not being able to make it to the stage of being executed. The series of phases can be simplified to just 5 stages. They are known as:
1. State
2. Joke
3. Planning
4. Organize
5. Event
To further simplify these steps, the common outing of movie watching will be placed throughout the article (at the end of each stage) to enable a better understanding.
1. State
The stage of stating is simple. This is basically when an idea is suddenly brought up by one of the members of the group. The new thought is thrown around in the group, with all members having their own opinion on it. If most or all members of the group who are present at this time all agree, the act will move to the next stage.
Example -> J: “Hey guys! Let’s go watch a movie! Like… Happy Feet!”
D & K: “YES! Let’s Go!”
2. Joke
As the name of the stage explains, this is a part of the cycle where every member of the group (no matter if they agree or disagree to the idea, as long as all those of the sub-group who were present in the “State Stage” agreed) makes some sort of humorous comment on the issue at hand. These jokes can both be of the positive and negative nature. The criteria for the event to occur after this stage, if at least 50% or more of the group took up the event seriously, and transitions into the “Planning Stage”.
Example -> R: “I can imagine D coming out dancing like a penguin!”
D: “No way! More like J will!”
J: “Ha! Sure… Mr Happy Feet.”
3. Planning
This stage is the act of one member of the group (usually the leader [see post “Like a Snake”]) or more, beginning to seriously figure out what they will be doing the day of the event. The “Planning Stage” consists of methods such as, writing down or even just verbally communicating what the main event, travel method, sub-event, and other miscellaneous sections of the day of outing which group members would like to occur. Most events that are not literally been gone through with are stopped here. Example -> K: “Okay guys! Let’s get planning. So dinner and movie?”
T: “How about laser tag and a movie?”
A: “No no no, more like movie and another movie!”
4. Organizing
A lot of people have the stages “Planning” and “Organizing” mixed up. They are not synonyms, but in fact are just the physiological and psychological sections of the phases. As the “Planning Stage” is the section that deals with the psychological arrangement of events, the “Organizing Stage” is the sector which deals with the physical enactment of the events occurring. This involves a lot of research. Research involves: transportation, timing, meals, sub-event, main event, etc.
Example -> A: ”So who has a lift? I need one.”
C: “Yeah, I can give you a lift to there.”
H: “While you’re at it, can I get one?”
J: “Just come take public transport with us K got it organized.”
K: “I sure do! It’s for the 02:30pm show!”
5. Event
After the series of steps that has been undertaken, the day of the event arrives. The statistical evidence to the event being a reality is not too high, but when it does, it usually becomes a good experience and time for the group members. Every single person from the group usually has a lot of fun, and ends the event with a big smile.
A limitation to this, is that the person planning it may result in a great deal of stress if there were minor or major complaints throughout the event taking place. This is especially so, when the person mentioned above literally undertakes all sections of planning, with members of the group giving less to no participation in ideas and organizing at all.
Example -> A: “That was.. AWESOME!”
D: “Ha! Look at him dance like that penguin!”
C: “I’m joining in too!”
These 5 steps are not guides to how a person should organize and plan for an outing with their friends; but in fact, are steps that occur unintentionally and automatically. Probability of all of these steps being gone through is not as simple as it seems. The individuality of each member of the group can affect the results. Hence, those participating in such situations, should be helpful and not only give ideas to the person planning, but also help them out. If a person is put under positions like the planner, with planning that never gets accomplished, often there is an extremely high chance that they will undergo stages of “mood swings”. The continuation of working along these lines, until someone else temporarily takes over the position to let the first planner to relax, or the position of planner is given to someone else, the ability and will of the original person to attempt or even try with outings like such dramatically decreases. Therefore, adding another human being to the list of alienated individuals of modern day society.
