Do people who do ‘people watching’ unnerve you ?

[TwoMonthsOff]

I see This a lot on here
i ‘people watch’
Why are you ‘watching’ anyone ? Are your bored or lack the ability to get a book a paper and respect peoples privacy and not feel uncomfortable being ‘watched’ are you an off duty store detective who just can’t let it go in your down time ?
most people I am sure don’t like being watched or monitored to alleviate someone else’s boredom

It would be an invasion of privacy if they were invading a private space such as your home or a toilet cubicle. People watching is literally walking around, or sitting, with your eyes open and noticing things like "that's a nice top" or "I bet she wished she had a brolly" you can't stop people from using their eyes and having thoughts about what they have seen. This is bonkers.

I'm doing it right now (in between reading Mumsnet threads). I'm in a cheap hotel overlooking a bus station so there are lots of people passing by or waiting for a bus. I've seen some beautiful outfits, some too-tight or ill-fitting clothing, I've wondered how some people can wear quilted coats zipped up to the neck in this weather, contrasted by someone else wearing a lovely floaty dress and sandals. All ages, old folk, children, babies, school kids, what look like office workers young, middle aged and older. All skin colours and religious dress. Beautiful and ugly. Slender and fat. Young and ancient. Long haired and completely bald. It's fascinating.

In what way do my private thoughts affect you?

If you're experiencing distress over what you imagine another person may hypothetically be thinking, that's an anxiety disorder and not the fault of the other person.

It's just sitting on a bench or looking out a cafe window and noticing the world go by.

Exactly! It's totally normal to just notice things around you. I love people watching, just watching the world go by and feeling part of society. Enjoying the buzz of being around other people and out and about in the world.

Humans notice things going on around them, they have since the dawn of time. People watching is no different in my mind to being out in nature in the middle of nowhere and thinking "that cloud is an interesting shape" or looking at trees, or grass, or ducks.

There seems to be a misunderstanding about the nature of ‘people watching’. It’s not stalking, staring, being intrusive or focusing all your attention on an individual. It’s literally, as pp have said, just watching the world go by.

If it's a choice between people engaging in a bit of people watching or mindlessly staring at their phones constantly, I'd take people watching any day.

Probably preferable to your style of going about your day and avoiding looking at anyone at all, as I find that a bit odd.

I people watch all the time.

If you're offended by that, that's a you problem.

Imagine if everyone thought the way op did. Crimes would all go unsolved because no one has descriptions of the perps as no one is looking around them. Missing people never found because God forbid you see another human in public with your eyes.

No, I don't like it either

I'm a Londoner. A glance that goes on too long is likely to be being sized up for mugging.

if not, it's rude to stare. I've got up and moved on public transport. You just don't know what they're up to. Last time was a racist rant.

If you have left the house today I can guarantee the 'last time' was a few hours ago (or however long you've been in)

I'm often amazed by witness descriptions. I wouldn't have a clue. I get sensory overload and spent my last Tube journey mentally making the people, the ads, the busy colours of seats, invisible or white. You have to learn to remove visual noise if you are like me mentally, but living in a city.

All ?? I mean the last time someone stared at me for suspiciously long. I was right by the door and couldn't move.

No, I haven't left the flat today. Not sure what you're getting at though.

That is not people watching. That is staring, or sizing someone up.

Totally different things.

I love it. I love sitting in a coffee shop window watching the world go by. All the people on here thinking people watching is weird staring and insisting they don't look at anyone else are mad. Everyone looks around otherwise we would all bump into everything

People watching isn't staring. As it's already been explained.

I mean that every time you leave the house someone will be people watching and notice you.

Ah, but dumpy middle aged women often pass unnoticed. Yay 😀

No one goes unnoticed. Unless there is no one actually there to notice you

Ah, I specifically mentioned on the eating out thread that I often get put at a window table to people watch. Busted!

I’m not being creepy. I don’t stare, or point, or judge, or get my phone out and take pictures along with detailed notes 🧐

Humans are social animals though, and we learn through observation. I think idly watching other people go about their day is hardwired in to most people’s brains. I’m not even thinking about what they are doing when I drink my coffee in a coffee shop and look out the window, it’s pretty instinctive really.

I think it’s less common to stare at the table or avoid looking around the room or out the window completely. I get some people don’t like being looked at, but unless you want people bumping in to you on the pavement, most humans are going to instinctively look at other humans.

What a batshit thread

I only do it in a foreign country or even a new city, to get a feel for the place. People in Berlin behave differently from people in Marseilles or Atlanta, and I like to see the differences.

I guess I just watch. If I'm alone somewhere busy with lots of people around, then I suppose it could be called "people watching". Sometimes I stare out of the window at passing fields, towns, cars. Sometimes I look at birds in the garden. Sometimes I look at my phone. I have eyes and take in information with them, but I don't make a point of staring at strangers and constructing an imaginary life for them. That would be weird imo.

It’s practically compulsory if you write fiction. The snatches of conversation are the best though.

“People Watching” is just a term made up about general life. It’s like “ baby led weaning” just another term for the natural progression of a baby.
Travelling is wonderful looking at different lives and cultures and getting an understanding of the differences and similarities we have as people.
How on earth would society function if we didn’t observe each other?

@EmmaH2022 Ah, but tube rules are different! - since you're stuck with those people for an unspecified amount of time, it's polite to read/phone /stare at the floor. It's not the same as people watching from a café window, for instance.

Actors, writers, artists all do this. Are they all weirdos?

I'm sure people have idly watched me in coffee shops, restaurants, on the beach etc. If it's not threatening or incredibly intrusive them it does me absolutely no harm whatsoever. If I have ever noticed people doing this, I can't remember it. So it seems a totally harmless pastime.

Your reaction to it seems excessive to me.