Are you a people watcher?
People watching is observing other folk’s physical peculiarities, interactions, and social behaviors.
Watching people is a natural phenomenon that occurs when we share a common space or proximity. If you’re a good people watcher, the subject is none the wiser about being watched. It’s not like peering at someone around or over an open newspaper or book. It’s more like casually walking or sitting around and sightseeing—observing the human dimension. And what people garner or learn is often interesting.
But is it okay to speculate about someone’s personality or outlook on life in a glance?
No one can answer this question for you. But know that everyone’s answer isn’t the same. Some people don’t mind being casually observed, but others do.
Whether we’re in a car, park, church, restaurant, or in a doctor’s waiting room, we observe people, and people check us out.
Recently, my husband couldn’t wait to tell me, “That woman was just watching you chewing that gum.” He talked as if she stared and studied me for several minutes. We were at a service station. I was in the car while he pumped the gas. I didn’t feel surveilled. But you usually don’t.
You never know when someone is watching you.
Was there something peculiar or socially unacceptable about how I chewed the gum? If you ask my husband, he would say, “Yes.”
He proclaims my smacking is ravenous, and my gum popping is a decibel too loud. He is mostly annoyed by my chewing when I’m reading or writing.
A piece of sugarless, bubblemint Orbit gum is my favorite. And chewing gum fuels my creativity and imagination.
I know my husband was watching the woman who was watching me. But I wonder who was watching my husband watch the woman who was watching me? There are multi-levels of people watching.
Of course, I didn’t like being watched. I slowed my gums for a few minutes but soon resumed the frenzy as I read my book, Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith.
No apologies from me. We all have quirky behaviors. Right?
I admit I have a few quirks. But maybe you don’t have any. I read faster and write better when I chew gum. By the way, I’m writing this post, gum-less. I’m not chewing gum. I went dumpster diving in my purse and came up empty. No chewing gum. Anyway, I hope this peppermint helps me through this post.
No one likes being watched. But we’re all people watchers even when we don’t realize we’re doing it.
Before I forget, let me interject this alert or notice as an emergency awareness announcement.
In the age of people wielding hatchets, AK-47s, and pipe bombs, we should all be aware of our surroundings. We should all be people watchers. Our safety may depend on it.
But to continue on a lighter and non-cautionary note, watching people is an amusing pass time. If you’re bored, and there are worthy subjects, have at it. But don’t be too obvious. Watching others in a shared space must be done discretely without the person’s knowledge. Or someone will be in your face telling you to mind your own business.
Have you found that people watching in elevators can be tricky?
The space is too limiting. And people can tell when you’re checking them out. Some people don’t mind the attention and will even put on a show for those watching. We’ve all witnessed people who get louder and obnoxious when they have an audience.
Forget about being a fly on the wall. You can be a fly or spectator anywhere there are people in proximity. People reveal oddities about themselves through their body tattoos, eccentric clothing, jewelry, and mannerisms.
Our family is familiar with our idiosyncrasies. And many of us don’t like publicly displaying or revealing them. People unconsciously twirl and pull their hair. Have you seen someone who can’t sit still? They are continually tapping their fingers, feet, shaking their legs, or moving some other body part.
What about people whose clothes are a conversational piece? They want everyone to know their tribe, team, or other affiliations.
My brother-in-law always sports a University of Alabama golf shirt. He never leaves home without his crimson and white regalia, cap and shirt. On one occasion, a stranger approached him and asked if he was a part of The University of Alabama football athletic staff. What a spin the stranger contrived from watching my brother-in-law. The stranger thought he looked the part.
People make personality and character judgments about what they see and hear.
If you observed two female friends talking to each other, could you tell at a glance which one is the sidekick? Things to check out include facial expressions, posture, clothing, jewelry, and social overtures.
Observed behavior and physical characteristics are the basis for many assertions from watching people.
People watching is okay, but it should be natural and un-intrusive.