My Dad always People Watching

[wavesshore]

I like my Dad but he is such a people watcher always been like it, when I've been on holiday with him and DM he's always commenting on other people such as "Look at him he's wearing the same thing as last night", "Look at him dinking alcohol he doesn't look 18". I feel like telling him that I don't care and stop being nosy. Would this drive you mad or is just normal conversations?

@rosalie11

Don’t want to insult your dad but I had a friend like this she was so negative I care about making money not watching how others choose to dress or look

I'd rather sit with someone that has the ability to kick back and just observe the oddities of normal human behaviour than someone that just wants to make money

I looooove people watching!
Your dad and I would get on well! I love making up stories in my head about the people I see going about their day... wondering what they're getting up to.

@WomanStanleyWoman

I was very pretty, but very full of myself! I suppose it’s better than ‘She looks like a sack of shit, but doesn’t seem to care’!

That made me laugh out loud. 😂😂😂

DH and I love people watching. Nothing wrong with it, IMO. We aren't negative or bitchy, just like making up stories. It's harmless fun.

@wavesshore

I like my Dad but he is such a people watcher always been like it, when I've been on holiday with him and DM he's always commenting on other people such as "Look at him he's wearing the same thing as last night", "Look at him dinking alcohol he doesn't look 18". I feel like telling him that I don't care and stop being nosy. Would this drive you mad or is just normal conversations?

One of my friends and I make up absurd stories about people we see, entire, wholly improbable, lives. We don't comment on what they are wearing, except that it fits into the story we're telling. And we do NOT do this loudly, nor are we passing judgement. I see no harm in that.

People watching is common.

He seems to not just be watching but making judgemental/ critical comments which is a different thing.

We have made up stories about people or situations when out and about, outlandish stuff. I did a little commentary of two crows chatting as they ambled across the road recently. DH found it funny.

@Auntienumber8

We have made up stories about people or situations when out and about, outlandish stuff. I did a little commentary of two crows chatting as they ambled across the road recently. DH found it funny.

We have a couple of resident thug magpies that used to routinely rock up and tap the back patio doors with their beaks and annoy the dogs. Eventually dogs got wise to them and went round the side to catch them off guard so they hopped up on the wall and took to throwing stones, grit and bits of moss at the dogs from higher up. I swear to God they were almost laughing themselves stupid pissing off the dogs but nearly went home crying one morning cos the dogs crept out all sneakily and neither magpie was ready for them or expected to be outwitted I don't think.

Magpie yobs then decided to go bother the sheep in the field behind ours and would stand on their head for prolonged periods sometimes hopping from the back to head and back again.

I willed those goddamn sheep to just shake their head and get rid of them but they stood there dumb as a bucket of rocks all "What is this sorcery?"

Those magpies were the inspiration for two characters we created though so it all worked out in the end.

People watching is common. It is harmless day dreaming if done without criticism and judgement.

@EmeraldShamrock

People watching is common. It is harmless day dreaming if done without criticism and judgement.

If done without criticism or judgement being spoken aloud you mean? Can't help what your immediate thought, judgement or impression of something or someone is that's just normal human behaviour.

But yeah I agree as long as you don't blurt out "He looks someone hit him in the face with a shovel"

People watching is very different from giving a running, negative commentary about someone!

Could be worse. We used to take dh’s old aunt out for pub lunches and she’d say things like, ‘WHY DOES THAT WAITRESS WEAR SUCH A SHORT SKIRT WITH LEGS LIKE THAT??’

Shouting caps on purpose - the whole pub could probably hear!

@wavesshore

He still engages with the rest of the family, I think's it just part of his personality he likes to observe and comment on others.

And he's the sort of person people are grateful for, notices small details and peculiarities when doing a Crimewatch reconstruction

YANBU. I think it’s uncomfortably nosy too as he isn’t just watching, he’s voicing comments which sound a bit judgemental and involved. I’d never notice and comment on a stranger re-wearing clothes over several days. Too much busybodying about what everyone else is doing!

YABU. People watching is normal because we are interested in others and how they behave.

People do notice what others are wearing or doing, but the majority of the time they don’t care, they’re just curious.

I think there's a difference between people watching and judgey people watching. I like watching other people have fun, I don't like listening to people slag off strangers.

I don't like listening to people slag off strangers. Me too, it really annoys me I'm not paranoid it'll happen to me its a horrible trait to have.

Yes I try to avoid anyone who does this.

It's just pathetic and nasty.

Same here. Just makes me think they are narrow minded Little Englanders.