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 😅

I observe everything and it is exhausting tbh. I would rather be in my own bubble but alas I notice everything. I don’t know if my hyper vigilance stems back to when I was in an abusive relationship, I had to be constantly aware of my surroundings, but it seemed to start around then.

I suspect the other people around you are noticing a lot more than you think they are.

Chill out yourself!

It wasn’t a criticism. No idea why you have perceived it as such.

Likewise. I’m also a listener, people open up to me about the most remarkable things. I hear secrets that really shouldn’t be repeated, and I don’t. I think I have one of those faces. I also find people don’t listen much to me. They just start talking.

I quickly notice if something isn’t right. 2 occasions come to mind, the first was a car sideways in a deep ditch in our road. 5 of us in the car and I’m the only one who saw it. Made the OH go back to check it was actually what I saw.
No one inside, it happened the night before when the driver left either drunk or stoned.

the next was a woman being assaulted on the corner to where I worked. Not nice to see and not nicer to see cars going straight past her.

With that, I’m usually the first to report something amiss, and if I believe something is unjust, then I will speak up.

our area is having troubles with the power company here. 3 years ago I started researching some claims they were making and not one of our neighbours who would be affected or liable were interested. This week a new to us neighbour has picked up on the issue so I’ve been in touch and shared my stuff.

Being like this at times it’s felt a lonely place to be. I’m pleased there’s a few more of you !

I like to call it “people watching”. It’s fascinating 😁

Yes. I watch and listen a lot. Not to be nosy and no, I don’t judge, but I do pay attention automatically. I had a childhood with lots of drama and I think I learned to pay attention to anticipate what might happen and to “read the room”. If I try I can switch it off, by doing other things like reading, but most of the time, it’s happening and I’m almost unaware of it, I’m just unconsciously cataloging what’s happening around me.

I’m far more interested in other people’s conversations than my own sometimes. Therefore I’m a ‘noticer’. ( that’s a new one).
my work colleague puts it down to adhd for which I don’t have a diagnosis,yet!

Yes, I’ve always been very observant, but it’s much less so since I’ve had kids as I’m obviously focused on what they are doing!

Im not sure how Id be classed. I notice things that interest me, so nature, a small bird or cute dog, or a beautiful rose, any cat I see. I don't really notice people unless i see something that stands out. Maybe a nice dress or fab hair. I do notice and dislike rude people. I guess Im not a people person. Animals like me so Im happy.

As someone said earlier it may be hyper vigilance due to trauma of growing up in an abusive household. I had forgot this is a factor.

I’m definitely a noticer. I’m always astonished by MN threads where someone says they honestly wouldn’t have noticed someone in a wheelchair, or their age when they’re ancient or similar: do they just go about with their eyes closed?

I only notice people that annoy or affect me. Other than that, I tend to not notice other people like they are background characters.

Take no notice of responders who accuse you of looking at people & making judgements, OP. It’s hard wired into us from when we were cave dwellers; we had to make quick judgements on who was a friend and who was a threat. That’s why body language is universally understood. In ancient & modern times it’s no good being oblivious to one’s surroundings.

This is me! I notice everything - what’s going on behind me, in front of me, above me or around me. I see people/friends living in their own little bubble and think how boring their lives are.
I should have been a detective.
loads of people smile at me/say hi, they must feel the interest i have for them.

I'm similar. I will drive straight past friends and not notice them but I can recall what people said and I notice subtle things about people's behaviour/ mood.

I doubt it. I think people are frighteningly unobservant - heads down and scrolling whilst walking etc. Muggers paradise these days.

Gosh!

Judgmental or what? Pot, kettle?

Come on - if we're human we're all judgemental. It's hard-wired into our brains, or we couldn't have survived. But some people don't want to admit or acknowledge that.

Being judgmental is fine as long as you don't give voice to it or act to harm someone on the basis of a quick judgement.

I’m definitely a ‘noticer’, more so than I think most people I’m around regularly as I often say oh did you see/hear/notice xyz, just to be met with a blank stare 😅 everything from my surroundings to micro expressions, body language or details in conversation.

I am super aware and a definite ‘noticer’ which is amazing for a lot of things in my retail career and DPs business but it can be a curse when meeting people for the first time because I will judge their character and appearance very quickly and once I know, I know, if that makes sense? It’s not deliberate it just happens and once seen I cannot unsee.

I am always ‘on’ so visiting someone’s house and being offered a drink or food can be tricky if I’ve honed in on something whilst stepping through the door. The ability to take people and situations simply at face value must be great. I just can’t but I’ve learned how to be tactful over the years and would never offend or upset someone and I’ve worked really hard on my facial expressions 🤗😅

Are you saying you’re hyper-focused on a house’s cleanliness, and thus don’t want to accept food or drink if it doesn’t meet your standards?

I’m largely oblivious but have a very annoying habit of noticing continuity errors on tv. And an even more annoying one where I spot horrible table manners at 50 paces.

But I don’t recognise faces, remember names and I have no sense of direction whatsoever.

If I’m in a restaurant or a bar and a couple in a nearish table are mad at each other, not shouting more being off or sitting in silence it radiates off them for me and I start to feel physically ill. That’s a thing from childhood where it was good to know what mood people were in.

I am very (sometimes uncomfortably) aware of people and their behaviour, in public places it takes me a long time to relax and settle in to my environment. As others have said, I do link this to a traumatic childhood with an alcoholic parent. I'm always on edge about other people's (potential and often imagined by me) behaviour. It's fairly exhausting and stresses me out. In your sunbed/swimming pool scenario OP, I would be observing everyone!!

I am much less aware of my physical environment, for instance DH and I can go on a walk and he will remember the path, buildings we passed, hills etc and I won't remember any of those things. But he would be the worst witness to a crime, he can never remember what people look like or what they were wearing. He spends most of his time looking at his feet or the sky 😄

I'm both.
Love to people watch and do it all the time when out getting coffee etc, but if I'm stressed out then I'm in a bubble and just trying to get on.

I can also tell you what people were wearing when i first met them or last saw them, but couldnt recall a conversation to save myself.

Im far more visually observant than audibly.