A new study conducted by the Cornell Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences has found what researchers believe to be a demonstrable link between being struck with a banana cream pie and a sudden, significant drop in ones public standing. What we have observed is nothing short of astounding, Dr. Philip Shaw, a human sciences professor at Cornell and the studys lead researcher, said Monday. By having cream-topped pies forcibly applied to their facesor kissersmen and women of high regard were seen to immediately fall in both status and esteem. Whether the subjects were wealthy shopkeepers, pompous barons of British descent, or matronly women sporting tiny opera glassesour results were always the same, Shaw added. The study, which was conducted with the help of 25 dignified members of the aristocracy and three rather clumsy butlers, showed a direct correlation between unexpected contact with the custard-based stimulus and a loss of social statureincluding the respect of bystanders, the affections of untold gentlewomen, and any possibility of securing a sizable donation for ones struggling playhouse. Even more surprisingly, results showed that the drop in standing took place in mere seconds and not over the course of many weeks, as is generally needed for adjusting an individuals hierarchical status. Upon each pies delivery, we were able to detect a 12 percent decline in both privilege and hubris, said Shaw, who conducted further experiments on the airborne dessert phenomenon in a highly controlled masquerade-ball setting. However, much to our surprise, a host of secondary factorssuch as the angular velocity at which the pies were thrown, the length of time they stuck to a participants face before sliding off, and whether they were accompanied by the honking of a loud bicycle hornalso affected the overall reputation of our subjects. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src=http://onionimg.local/3674/original/600.jpg&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; According to Shaw, the location of the strike proved the most crucial variable, with the deposit of a cream pie to the crotch producing a 35 percent drop in entitlement on average. Timing was also cited as being pivotal by Shaw, who said that the sequence of introducing a pie into the face of an elderly countess, giving her time to clear the cream from the eyes and mouth, and then administering a second pie into her face generated the sharpest descent in stature. Response to the delivery of the pies was generally varied among participants, although we did observe nearly 15 separate threats of Why, I oughtta and roughly six distinct cries of Well, I never! Shaw said. A 12-minute black-and-white video recording released by the researchers documented some of the more acute reactions to face-first pie contact, including the rapid emission of compressed steam from a participants ears and, on three separate occasions, a fast-motion but ultimately unsuccessful chase around an elegant dinner table between participant and researcher. Isolated incidents of a cream pie causing ones dickey to fly up into ones face were also reported. Though the long-term effects of Shaws pie experiment are still unclear, a number of the subjects registered a strong psychological reaction within moments of completing the study. Why, I cannot remember the last time I was so insulted in all my life, said socialite Thomas DuBottomer, who on day four of the study ducked an oncoming cream pie only to have it land square in the face of a passing police officer. I demand an apology, you troublemaking so-and-so! Shaws report is not the first of its kind. Four years ago, a Princeton study attempted to measure the effects of discharged seltzer water on ones reputation; and in 2005, scientists determined that slipping on a discarded fruit skin, rolling down a circular flight of stairs, and landing face-first into an awaiting cart of horse manure could be definitively linked to being fired from a board of bank trustees. Though the report has yet to be published in any major journals, Shaw has defended his teams research. I strongly believe our study to be of the utmost importance, Shaw announced at a conference of behavioral scientists in Chicago on Tuesday. Whether others approve or disapprove of it is not my concern. We are serving a greater purpose here, a higher purpose. What we have accomp The outspoken Shaw was thereupon struck with a banana cream pie, his opinions at once rendered completely irrelevant. 