Are you a noticer?

[Iwouldneverseetheminconcert]

Is that a word? I think it is

Are you observant in life or just in your own bubble?

I was sat by the pool in a hotel complex today, watching my Dc playing/swimming and noticed people coming to the pool, the sun-bed area really filling up. Families would come around, some were on the beds right in front ot me, talking away, some arguing, not even looking at me (not that they should!) just not noticing anyone around them, which is fine obviously.
I’m a noticer and very observant of my surroundings and probably a bit too self conscious, I’m envious of these people who appear to be in their own world.
Looking around, I could easily see the ones who were like me and the ones who weren’t

Does that make sense 😅

My daughter is a super noticer - recently diagnosed with autism she watches others so she can learn how to mask to fit in

Yes it makes sense OP I know what you mean

Im not a noticer and when I was 8 my mum told me off for not talking about the other kids in school enough - ie gossiping about them. All I wanted to do was watch TV abd read comics.

so she told me off for not being a noticer

I am hyper observant with people who are struggling.
I have handed over a few euro on many occasions when someone is short for shopping at the till.
I bought a school bag when i saw the mother counting coins and coming short, it was a bit awkward chasing her with the bag, i knew she really needed it.
I am definitely not made of money, but I grew up really poor, mortgage, one parent working, many recessions, it makes me hyper aware, similarly at an invited dinner, I'll always jump up to clear the place with the host, or help an elderly person.
I'm a bitch to people that I don't like too, just to balance it out

Yes I am a "noticer" and it is exhausting!

I think I'm a bit weird. I love people watching when I'm still (in a bar, beside a pool, eating in a restaurant etc) but I could walk right past someone I know and not see them. I'm terrible with directions and noticing things and places as markers that would help me navigate. I don't notice details about other people when I'm in motion myself, or thinking. But I can tell within seconds when someone is not OK, I notice interactions, subtleties in situations and other people's feelings in a way many of those around me don't seem able to. I think you'd called it perceptive as opposed to observant.

I am not good at people but I am a good noticer of nature. I notice the tracks in mud, the bird in the tree, the tiny flowers on a fragile stem, the fiddle head fern, the discarded half egg, the nest in the tree. I find it grounding and calming and joy sparking. I always notice (some) other people barging through their walk and not noticing things and wonder how they experience the same walk as me, does it feel different?

SapporoBaby my DGM, DM & I are/were sign spotters! DM reads everything out loud on a car journey!
I would say I’m very observant of people but when it comes to my environment, I can miss things eg I can walk into the kitchen & not notice a huge pile of dirty dishes. Quite handy actually! But I am very interested in people & places. Can’t imagine what it’s like to be completely self absorbed.

I keep myself to myself but I am a noticer.

I tend to catch people doing things that most of us hope nobody saw, like those embarrassing little stumbles over a paving slab or almost walking into a lamppost 😂 I feel bad when I make eye contact with them.
I blame anxiety and panic disorder. I’m very hyper-aware of my surroundings at all times.
Makes me a great driver and passenger, though! Long sightedness and being hyper-aware means no road sign goes unmissed😂

I’m just oblivious. I’m trying to be more observant and considerate but a lot of the time I’m in my own world. Not a great trait to have but I have a lot going on in my head!

My son’s autistic and notices any change to his environment unless he’s hyper fixating on numbers or something!

DH is very much a noticer. Aware of everything

I quite like to people watch sometimes but am mostly oblivious!

I’m very observant, but not in a self-conscious way. I write novels and am interested in how people behave.

You sound as if you resent your own self-consciousness, OP — or feel as if other people should share it?

That was meant as a compliment, just in case you didn’t take it as such!

I'm EXACTLY like this!

I described my best friend as someone to petite and blonde. We were living together at the time and she hadn't been blonde for 15 years.

However I will recall every detail of what a person tells me. Even if I've only met them once years or even decades previously (and I likely won't recognise them) once I make the connection I'll be able to repeat verbatim.

I actually have to purposely vague up my recollection as I know in the past people have assumed (very mistakenly) that I had a particular interest in them. No, it was all abo6j me and my weirdness.

I'm nearly 50 now though and my superpowers have diminished thankfully.

I’m 💯 not a noticer ..
I’m a bit scatty ( ok maybe a big bit scatty ) & I suppose the two go hand in hand 🤷🏻‍♀️

lol me too. I’m unfortunately permanently anxious about myself/my life/my surroundings so am of the stealth variety. To you I’d look like a chubby self absorbed sun soaker but more fool you ha! 😁

I am absolutely not remotely observant. I go through life in my own little bubble, often with headphones on or my nose in a book. I struggle to recognise people out of context too. So no, I am not a noticer! I'm gormless as the day is long

I’m usually very obsevant, since childhood. My lifelong friend is surprised at some of the things that I remember from our shared childhood, about her house, family and people we knew, nothing sinister - just small details. I’m quiet but not introverted and while others are chatting I examine my surroundings and other people. It’s just a natural thing I do, mostly not conscious of it

Never really notice anything much. My OH is the opposite - he sees everything.

He once put a large painting on the wall and I didn’t notice 😂

Not really sure! I ALWAYS notice people's eye colour, though! In fact I could say people's eye colour fascinates me.

I was amazed the first time I realised that DH didn't know the colour of his mates' eyes even though they've all seen each other regularly for over 30 years! How could you not notice??

well to me that sounds very peaceful!

@Iwouldneverseetheminconcert you aren’t alone. I think part of it’s my adhd - I am
hyper aware of my surroundings. The people the area. The noise. I take it all in.

i sometimes find it overwhelming and have some loop ear plugs to quieten the noise.

I think she meant in terms of observing or not observing. Chill out

I am AUHD and part of report said that a large amount of energy goes to observing things 😅 especially in groups

I notice a lot. I actually wish I didn't tbh, it's tiring being hyper aware all the time

I think your OP describes something different from the question in the title.

'Are you a noticer' suggests to me about how observant of things you are as you go through life (when someone changes something about their appearance for example).
Your OP seems to be asking if you are a 'people watcher'.

Me - yes, I am a people watcher. However, I'm not good at noticing small details about someone moving something in their living room or small details about people's appearance. I do notice if people seem quiet or worried or excited or sad or whatever though. Emotions are more noticeable to me than objects.

You have just described my favourite holiday pastime , people watching around the pool and in restaurants, my DH tells me off because I zone out of our conversation because I am watching / listen to other people.😂