The reluctant prisoner is first threatened with the sight of a fiendish apparatus, that is claimed can permanently shrink anything placed in front of its withering beam. Not convinced, a second prisoner (preferably friend of the first) is placed in another room in the path of the beam.
The uncooperative prisoner is then shown the after effects of his friend having been shrunk... i.e. looking suitably bewildered as he/she stands gazing at their bizarre surroundings in a corner of Ames room, their guards now looming over them. Additional props reinforce the effect. I suggest oversized food, like a jumbo can of beans with an equally large protruding spoon.
The net effect of all this should be enough to convince the stubborn prisoner that they too will be shrunk down, if exposed to the path of the deadly Shrinking Ray of Interrogation.-- xenzag, Aug 25 2007 (?) Ames Room http://www.dkimages...ws/851/20224974.JPGhow it looks [xenzag, Aug 25 2007] Ames Room http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_roomhow it works [xenzag, Aug 25 2007] Hall of Illusions http://www.psycholo...html/ames_room.htmlmore examples and explanations, plus some great links eg hall of illusions [xenzag, Aug 25 2007] Scalar Beam Diagram http://gard04.mc2.c..._files/image004.gifhow to make a real ray gun (name nothing to do with changing scale) [xenzag, Aug 25 2007] don't forget the croissant marked "Eat Me" http://en.wikipedia...Wonderland_syndrome [po, Aug 25 2007] G.R.S. (Koro in the Chinese culture) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_panicI knew those psychology courses would be useful some day. Amazing that I can remember this after 37 years. Maybe it struck fear into MY heart. [Klaatu, Aug 26 2007] I'd like to see this augmented with opther optical illusions, particularly one that will make 4 fingers look like five.-- zen_tom, Aug 25 2007 + ( I once knew a guy named Shrinking Ray)-- xandram, Aug 25 2007 This would work really well on short, stupid terrorists. "You don't want those 72 virgins _laughing_ at you when you get there, do you?"-- globaltourniquet, Aug 25 2007 One shrinking 'eat me' croissant coming up.-- RayfordSteele, Aug 25 2007 If you could do this just right, your could convince the prisoner that you were introducing Koro <link> to their co-conspirator and put them into a total panic. [+]-- Klaatu, Aug 26 2007 Too funny.
"Penis panics have occurred around the world"-- normzone, Aug 26 2007 "Penis panics have occurred around the world"
Imagine a very cold day...PANIC in the streets. [For those of you who may not know what we are talking about, jump into your unheated outdoor pool in the dead of winter. "Hang out" for about 20 minutes and then try to find any of your "bits".]-- Klaatu, Aug 26 2007 HEY! HEEEeeeeeeeeeeey.
this could be a whole new look for me.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Aug 26 2007 In addition, at one end of the Ames room, they could release enough Helium to further enhance the effect.-- zen_tom, Aug 26 2007 As a child I used to experience visual and auditory micropsia. Scared the bejesus out of me.
Thanks for the link, [po]. I now know what it was.
I wasn't crazy after all! <does little dance>-- Texticle, Aug 27 2007 random, halfbakery