Positive norm-violation experiment?

Question

I have to write a paper about norm violations. I need to commit a positive norm violation and write about it. Anybody have any suggestions on what norm I could easily violate?

Answer 1

I'm not sure the difference between a positive and negative norm violation but assume that it is about the professor preferring students challenge a norm in a value adding way rather than being the source of random malicious deviance.

  Maybe an idea would be to go and help the waiter/waitress get your drinks and food at a restaurant. Holding the door open for everyone behind you instead of just yourself and the person immediately behind. Pushing all of the shopping carts in from the parking lot at a grocery store would also be a violation. There is a strong norm in the US, (as probably many places) against helping people to do the activities for which they get paid.

Answer 2

A norm is an expectation or rule of behavior, thus it seems that almost any "positive" norm violation would have a negative side to it as well.  If I were writing a paper about it I would maybe try this:

Speeding in a car is a norm violation, because it is against the law.  It is positive, however, because I was able to get to class on time, and not disturb other students.

Or maybe this:

I sped in my car, breaking a social norm, to pick my friend up on time.  It was his/her EXPECTATION to have me there on time, thus I made life predictable for him/her by committing a norm violation.

That's the best I can come up with, because I can't really think of any norm-violations that are completely positive in nature.

Good luck on your paper!