Do you people-watch?

[Italiahaircolor]

I usually lunch at my desk...but today was so beautiful in the city, I decided to venture out and grab a quick bite to eat...

I went Panera Bread and while I was enjoying lunch, I took the opportunity to engage in my favorite hobby...people watching..

I saw a woman, head to toe in work out gear...we''re talking everything...and then, I had just to stare, she actually had Junior Mint sweat wrist bands.

I saw two Mom''s out lunching together...one mother had two little boys and the other mom only had one little boy. The singular child mother had her hair in two cropped pig tails although she appeared to be past the age that pigtails are acceptable (they actually made me feel uncomfortable, for some reason), an overly tight top with her bra showing clear as day, and completely ignored her boy as he proceeded to squeeze his milk box all over his lunch in between screaming bouts. The other mom, with her two sons, proceeded to rip bread chunks off for her 2 (?) year old while her older son ran around scream and slamming his hands on the table. Meanwhile, the mothers discussed how they met their husbands. When they finally took a Mommy-break and noticed their two sons had created milk-caos all over the table, they both said "sweethear, no no, milks for drinking" they wiped up the mess promptly and returned to talking...the boys, meanwhile, returned to squeezing their milk boxes all over the table. The Mom''s ended up pretending not to notice.

I loved it...best lunch in a long while. I find people so interesting...the way they openly "under parent" their children, or the way they simply must get dressed in dark.

Am I the only one, does anyone love to watch people in their natural habitat?

 

[~*Snow*~]

This is one of my favourite pass times too! I work in the downtown core, and we have these little mini-parks skatered through out, just filled with benchs. At lunch they are prime people watching locations. During the summer my girl friends and i frequently lunch there. The most interesting thing i''ve ever seen was

- An undercover operation (cops or might have been federal?). looked like two business men in suits having lunch on the benches then all of a sudden they both jet off and tackle some guy and cops come swarming in.

But you always see the usual suspects, the first date lunch date, the group of friends, always random construction men, it''s really great. You don''t have to be in ear shot to even know what people are talking about. Just by watching you can get the whole conversation/situation.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

I love to people-watch. I especially enjoy it at intermissions when I go to a show or a concert. Other great people-watching places are the King of Prussia Mall, Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue.

 

[Kelli]

I love people watching. Downtown Disney is a great place to sit down and watch people. SOOOO FUNNY, ''cause some people are so strange!

 

[lesco]

I love to people - watch! When I was a smoker, I used to spend a whole lot of time watching people strolling up and down 6th ave ( that's where my office is), while having a good old ciggie. It was my own personal escape.

 

[joflier]

I find people to be very fascinating......and sometimes just to remind myself that I''m really not all that strange after all!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 10/9/2008 1:59:55 PM
Author: Kelli
I love people watching. Downtown Disney is a great place to sit down and watch people. SOOOO FUNNY, ''cause some people are so strange!

Hahaha...I always tell people this too. I don''t even need to go on any rides at Disney...could sit on Main Street near the entrance and watch people forever.

Vegas is another great place for people watching.

It''s one of my fav things to do. I travel alone because I love to people watch and some people just get bored with it.

I was bummed after 9/11 when terminals were restricted to people with boarding passes because I loved watching reunions and goodbyes at airports. I never even needed a book to pass the time.

 

[bee*]

I adore people watching!! One of my favourite hobbies. People really are so strange.

 

[Linda W]

Yep, I love to people watch too. I love to watch the little kids. I used to think it was so funny to watch them eat. That is... until DH and I took our two grandboys out when they were 2 and 3 years old. OMG, now I think people were watching US. ha ha ha ha ha.


Linda

 

[diamondfan]

I do it a lot too. If someone catches my eye I like to look and see why. Sometimes I see people fighting or looking sad which bothers me.

 

[dragonfly411]

I''m a constant people watcher. I hate to be in an area where I can''t see what''s going on. In the car, I prefer the windows down. And at work I like to open the blinds. People fascinate me. SO is the same way and we always give each other this look when we see something interesting hahaha

 

[joflier]

Date: 10/9/2008 2:58:27 PM
Author: diamondfan
I do it a lot too. If someone catches my eye I like to look and see why. Sometimes I see people fighting or looking sad which bothers me.

This got me thinking about when I''m at a restaurant and I see an elderly man or woman eating alone......It always just makes my heart ache, just because then I sit and wonder, "why are they eating alone?" Did they lose their spouse, or are they too ill to get out?" And I think about how lonely they look, and I just want to go eat with them.......granted I don''t, as the world is a strange place, but that always gets me.

 

[diamondfan]

I know! But sometimes I grab a bite while waiting for a kid to finish an activity, I bring my book and I actually enjoy the peace.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

people watching is the best. Airports are good for that too.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 10/9/2008 2:05:25 PM
Author: joflier
I find people to be very fascinating......and sometimes just to remind myself that I''m really not all that strange after all!

Amen to that!

I love to people watch as well. So interesting to see how other people go about their business.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 10/9/2008 3:02:28 PM
Author: joflier

Date: 10/9/2008 2:58:27 PM
Author: diamondfan
I do it a lot too. If someone catches my eye I like to look and see why. Sometimes I see people fighting or looking sad which bothers me.

This got me thinking about when I''m at a restaurant and I see an elderly man or woman eating alone......It always just makes my heart ache, just because then I sit and wonder, ''why are they eating alone?'' Did they lose their spouse, or are they too ill to get out?'' And I think about how lonely they look, and I just want to go eat with them.......granted I don''t, as the world is a strange place, but that always gets me.

This just reminded me of a time when I was working at a mall. I was walking in to my store that day, and saw a little old man just sitting on a bench by one of the fountains. He looked a little sad, and I smiled and said good morning on my way to my store.

A few minutes later, he came in and walked up to me. He said, "I just wanted to thank you for saying hello this morning. My wife and I used to walk the mall everyday, and she passed away a few days ago. I was feeling very alone, and then you smiled at me and reminded me that I''m not. Thank you."

He didn''t even give me a chance to say anything before he walked away.

Just goes to show how far a smile can go.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

One funny people watching story:

My DH and I were on our flight to LV. There was this guy sitting next to my husband on the flight...he looked about 18 or 19 but was probably younger than that. My DH and I were watching a movie on our IPod and chatting...basically passing time. Suddenly, the boy stands up (he must have had a bathroom emergency) and begins to literally climb over my husband who had his tray down for his drink...all the while the boy is still holding his own drink. As he finally squeezes past us, he proceeded to just hand my husband his drink, and walk away towards the restroom. We were shocked, and then we collapsed into fits of laughter. Completely random.

While in LV, we were waiting for our ride near the rear of the casino where we were staying. There was row windows and doors...some automatic, some manual. This must have been a popular spot for people to meet, since it was rather busy. All of a sudden this gentleman who was probably in his 40''s comes charging up from the casino floor...not running, not jogging, but definately speed walking. He doesn''t pause or anything before reaching the exit, and literally pries open the automatic handicapped door with his finger tips, which opens only with the push of those giant silver buttons normally and forces himself thru as it only opened about 40%. The old lady standing next to me said "I bet he just pick pocketed someone"...again, I couldn''t stop laughing.

 

[kcoursolle]

Oh Definitely...but I''m a demographer, so my populations fascinations don''t seem that strange to me. I would be perfectly happy watching passerbys for hours.

 

[Daydreamer7130]

People watching is the funniest thing to do in the world. I love to sit in the middle of anywhere with a nice tea (hot or cold). People in public do the most amazing and outrageous things! It''s like when I was younger and going to parties and NOT drink because it was more fun to watch everyone else get drunk and stupid!

 

[diamondfan]

Gecko, I almost started to cry reading that. I sometimes so someone (usually older, and I do not know why this makes a difference to me) looking a little lost or sad and I want to say hi or chat. Some times older people have just lost a spouse and are a bit lonely, and just want someone to talk to. So it is nice that they have that, even if it is a stranger. A kind smile, a moment of chatting, really can make someone''s day.

 

[radiantquest]

i love love love it and do it every chance i get. sometimes i even do it when i am supposed to b working. once SO and i went to an early dinner and ended up staying there drinking drinks and watching people for 3 hours! i especially like to people watch with other people watchers and you can comment to each other.

 

[Elmorton]

DH and I do this all the time when we''re out and about. We don''t even mean to, but then I''ll notice that we''ve stopped talking and we''re watching people around us or listening to them talk.

 

[pinkstars]

Are you kidding?! This is what my friends and I do!!! When we go out at night or whenever, this is what we do. I love it so much!

 

[jewelerman]

I love to people watch...especially at the mall.when i worked at jewelry stores the staff would watch the people walk by and we would play the celebrity game...when a person would walk by we would have to say what celebrity or movie star they looked like most...it helped time goe by until the next client came into the store.

 

[arjunajane]

Wow, I love that you that bought this up - this is seriously my favourite hobby.
I love it though how other people do it too but pretend like they don''t - like when you''re on the train, and everyone''s trying really hard to act like they''re minding their own business, when actually everyone is checking everyone else out!

 

[nytemist]

It''s my husband''s and I favorite activity at the bar we always go to. We love to watch the Friday night pick-up missions.

 

[purrfectpear]

I guess you feel better about when you call it people "watching" but based on the OP''s description, it sounds more like people "judging"

Own it. We all do it.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 10/10/2008 9:32:23 AM
Author: purrfectpear
I guess you feel better about when you call it people ''watching'' but based on the OP''s description, it sounds more like people ''judging''

Own it. We all do it.

LOL. I like to people-watch, but then I get paranoid that people are people-watching ME!!!

 

[Bia]

I was doing this last night during intermission (GYPSY, starring Patti LuPone!!! Def a-must-see). Intersting characters walking around and plenty of not-so-great hairstyles haha.

One woman changed seats and sat behind my BF and I. Then she had the nerve to tell us not to get too close when the show starts because we'd be obstructing her view. She ended up moving...

 

[princesss]

I love doing this! BF asked me one time if I could be anywhere, where would I be? I said I''d be in a cafe in Paris or Florence sitting with a cup of coffee and people watching. I could sit around and watch people for hours. I love just seeing how they behave, or making up little stories about the people around me. You know, the guy in the corner is a spy who is having an affair with the woman at table 3, but she''s a double agent and he doesn''t know. That kind of thing.