Observant Solitude

So, I had a thought today, as I sat waiting for my friend at Chipotle. This is a very big "what if", so forgive me as I postulate from the less analytical part of me.

Imagine, if you will, someone locked in a dark room with food for 2 months, a chair and a large monitor. After their fit of panic, they sit down in their chair, turn on the TV and watch the show. The video is a fixated camera observing a random person of the opposite gender. A message scrolls along the bottom stating "Arrangements for your absence have been made, do not be alarmed. You will be compensated for your time and you are in utmost safety. If we deem your condition hazardous, testing will cease immediately."

When the person in the room has finally cleared their thoughts, they begin watching this person featured on the screen. It's apparent the person is not an actor, and is oblivious to any cameras or observation. There's not a moment where the first person is not right there with the second, though bathing and bathroom breaks use more modest camera angles to maintain the atmosphere of the experiment. This person hears every word, see every facial expression and gesture. We'll assume the first person is a male. He is there as she sleeps, presumably, sleeping at the same time. He might eat as she eats.

What might we postulate about this man as time goes on? How would he identify with the girl? How drastically would the man change in order to do this? Could he grow to dislike her? To hate her, or even to love her?

Putting myself in this situation, hypothetically, my guess is that the person observing the other will begin to feel very strongly about the subject, in one of two ways. I might grow to love every aspect of this person.. the way they smile, the way they eat their food, any oddity in their walk. Alternatively, I might grow to hate these very things. I believe these sorts of conditions simulate a perpetuated first impression. If the first impression lasts a whole two months solid, it would garner strong feelings. Imagine the negative repercussions if the first thing the observer hears or sees is something that differs from something he agrees with, say, politics or something similar.

So, I thought all of this in my stool at lunch, right? I turned the idea on its head; imagining myself in the position of the observed. I looked instantly up in the air as if I was being watched. I thought that this person could have been watching me for up to two months.. I wonder how she feels? Does she--love me? The thought was unbelievably heart warming. At this point, I literally sat there smiling until Matt showed up.