People watching

The airport is the best place ever to people watch. I don't watch in judgment rather curiosity. Does anyone else make up stories about people they see?

There was a woman, suuuuper tan with a pretty dress on, and she was crying. Immediately thought she went on her honeymoon alone. Lol I watch too much tv.

Haha! I do this all the time. I always make up stories for people lol

People watching is great. I looooove that you make up back stories. Wish my brain worked that way. Wish I could be in your head and people watch your people watching.
My people watching is the opposite.
I'll see someone crying and then think of all the reasons I've ever cried (in a blur) and all the reasons anyone I know has ever cried (also a blur) and wonder in awe at all the reasons to cry. Just as an example.

Sometimes wish I could touch a person's shoulder and see their world, you know? All their feelings, thoughts, hopes, pain, and wounds that make up who they are in any given moment. People watching makes me feel like understanding everyone would be impossible.

I thought I was the only one to do this....for years I assumed I was a 'closet' people watcher haha!!! What a relief :)

Making up stories about people in transit has been a pastime of mine for years and...a most enjoyable one I might add.

Hhahahahahaah were all out in the open now. I wonder what people make up about me lol

Jane that'd be kind of scary. Sometimes it really freaks me out that other people have lives, emotions, thoughts. Does that make sense?

I'm currently in North Carolina (and I've used the restroom, and didn't even look at another person in there lol). The red eye was a nightmare sleep wise... oi. 15 mins and on my way to Detroit!

Haha I people watch all the time like you not judgemental though. I'd love to know peoples thoughts on me haha

If I didn't people-watch I'd have lost at half my poems. It's fun to make up the back stories.

I also love people watching

Lol, love it Larry. So true!

It is neat to people watch just out of curiosity and how different people respond or react to certain situations. I probably overhear conversations more often than people watch but you can tell so much about a person by seeing how they react, their body language, expression, etc.

I guess part of my job requires a bit of people-watching (in the least possible creepy way haha). Because I hate when I'm that pushy sales associate or feel pressure to "perform", I have to read people's cues. Like if a group of teens come into the shop sometimes it's quite impossible to break their conversation if they're so into it and I can only say hello. Other times it's so easy to converse with someone about product if I'm (again not in a weird way) see where they land so they I can engage them.

Oh sales. Always something interesting going on!

People watching is fine until you get caught out haha

I was watching someone in my shop earlier and they caught me and got quite defensive and left, oops. Makes for great poetry though definitely Larry.

When you get caught, smile genuinely and look away. Maybe they thought you were keeping an eye on them suspiciously if they were shopping in your store.
A good trick to fall back on is to say, "I was just admiring your ______."
Hair-- I love your waves.
Style-- I love your boots.
Radiant skin-- it's flawless.

Any number of ways to fill in that blank, but try to be genuine. Pick out something you really do like! Always works for me.

The reasons why we people watch differ, though I think it's much less natural to not people watch at all. If anyone says they never people watch, I'd love to pick their brain. Even infants people watch.
I like how many of you make up back stories though. I wonder if that is the most common type of people watching, or just more common for poets?

Oh my, this is just funny I was talking about this with my sister the other day! I people watch the WHOLE time. At class, on the bus, while I'm shopping, at the lab... etc. Yeah I'm creepy like that. And yet I get very insecure when I catch someone watching me.

Lol,

so many of my poems are about people i see and not me!
heheh

people watching is the best specially in the bus or the train..
its just sooo

I think I people watch but I don't make up stories or at least I'm not aware that I do. lol

I mean I watch people when I'm on the bus or at college, or at the store, etc, but my attention is usually captured by their gestures or how they walk or behave ( my mind remains blank)... then I look away as I'm captured by dots on the floor, the ceiling, or the clouds... or the buildings moving ( of course they are not moving but it seems like they are when I'm on the bus) then it feels like I'm watching a movie.. and due to that I almost miss my stop.

Living in New York has been very interesting for me, many times my people watching has prompted me to write,quite a bit....

My job requires me to watch my folks, to keep a close eye on their facial expressions and body movements...many of them (living on the streets as long as they have) don't talk much ....

One night I was keeping my eye on a gentleman who I could tell was having issues with voices in his head...my co-workers were not worried, because he was smiling....I sensed within thing wasn't right, walked closer to him and he punched the guy next to me....out of nowhere.....

I had to talk him down, calmly....while my workers took care if the other gentleman. He never said a word to me, but as I talked in a whisper....he began to relax....and I was able to get him to the hospital without police force.....

People watching , being observant is key with my job.

It's not in what people say, it's what they don't say....

People watchers:
Insecure find clues for conformity;
Enforcers watch for deviance;
Fearful assess risks;
Lonely hunger for invitations;
Confident enjoy the panoply;
Exploiters sniff out weaknesses;
Rescuers are attuned to the needy;
Merchants seek clients;
Poets see them all.

Jane I'm going to use that next time. Thanks for the idea lol

I people watch all the time

When driving I will see somebody in the car beside me and make up their life story in my mind.
The dad desperate for promotion before he loses his home,
or
The arsehole driving a flash car that his parents bought him, or leased. Never really knowing what a days work looks like.

Then there is the old man, back in the day they didn't have driving tests, yet he is driving safer than any of these yobs around him.

I am careful who I watch, in this climate it can be creepy to be watched by a man my age........
(I think I overthink everything)

On the other side of the coin...
I don't like being watched.

If it was possible I would stay inside, with the power of the internet that is becoming more possible.

Do any of you wonder what's inside people's carry on luggage? I mean, some people have HUGE bags!! and...they are constantly up and down throughout a flight plucking them up and down from the overhead locker. It drives me nuts...why not take what you need out before you stow your bags?... you know.....

Darren good point on being careful who you watch though that could apply to women our age too haha

Hellon, yes very often I wonder what people are carrying and i agree on long-haul flights they should take out what they need. It's pretty scary some of the scenarios people could come up with lol.

There's a guy who passes my shop every morning with a suitcase full to the brim and I'm so curious as to what's in there. I suppose it's something to do with his work but who knows...

It's body parts Em...just has to be, I mean, every day it's bulging..he's trying to slowly get rid of his wife!!

Either that or his workload is off the scale......

^^ Someone sounds like Miss Marble here :P

Haha Hellon. It's possible around here.

It's not just his wife, it's also her insufferable family

Oh no.. i'll never look a him the same lol

I actually love bus stations, and train stations, especially in NYC....but I am an observer anywhere, parks, parties, anywhere and everywhere

I bet NYC is fab for watching.

Parents are in NYC now visiting my older sister, who just graduated from FIT. My sister would agree with you. She tells great people watching stories. NYC is a strange place.

The Toledo Zoo is a pretty incredible people watching place... lol

One of my favourite places to take pictures of people in Edinburgh is Waverley train station. People are there expressing the full range of human emotion in a very iconic location. For a photographer it's bliss.

I agree. I could spend an afternoon at Waverly.

I agree waverley is fab for it.

Manchester airport is great for people watching too.

Haven't been to Manchester, but I'll vouch for most pubs in Ireland.