I must confess, I am a watcher. I watch the seasons change, I’m constantly chasing sunrises and sunsets, my eyes are always peeled for life’s delightful moments and yes, I am a people watcher. Not the perverted kind who peeps through bedroom windows or invade people’s personal spaces with a binocular, but I do enjoy harmlessly “watching” and “reading” people, their body languages and their mannerisms, especially in instances where my intuition tells me something’s off or different. Silence by itself speaks volumes but when combined with small gestures and peculiar behaviors, the things people don’t say can be just as telling as the things they do. I am a watcher of just about anyone, that includes the people I don’t know, and the ones I do, and in case you’re wondering, yes, I watch you too.
By watching people, I’m able to recognize the subtle signs of discomfort, the forced yawns of deception, the silent signs of disagreements, the feigned acts of confidence, that smirk you guys give when you’re digging a woman’s looks, and I especially pride myself on being able to “read between the lines” to get to the “real deal”. Still, that doesn’t make me unique or even creepy because let’s be honest, in some ways we are all people watchers. Technology and social media platforms have made it easier and more acceptable for us to pry into the lives and behaviors of others. For some, they even invite us to spy into their bedrooms without even needing binoculars. Now who’s the freak? The truth is we have become a generation of watchers. We love watching people. We watch the behaviors of real and fictional characters on tv, we watch what others wear, what they eat, how they live, what they think, say and do, and today all this watching is welcomed and even encouraged.
I guess there is nothing wrong with some innocent watching and exercising our “sixth sense”. I have used it to form relationships with people with whom I’ve observed and sensed we would “click”, and I have also used it to keep others at arm’s length. But when do we cross the line where “innocent” people watching becomes too much, especially on social media platforms? There is a difference and a delicate balance between watching others to get a sense of who they are and how they tick, versus watching them solely for the purpose of emulating or copying them. Watching and copying runs the risk of us compromising our identities and our authenticity trying to be something we see in someone else. Sometimes what we see is not even real because you don’t have to be a people watcher to see, the more we watch the more we want to see and those being watched, sometimes artfully and deceptively morph themselves into people they think we will want to see, just for the sole purpose of keeping us watching.
So, tell me have you watched anyone today?
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Sincerely Jan 
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I love people watching especially with someone, and we try to figure out what’s going on.
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Better than the soap operas 😂😂.
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It really is! I can do it all day. 🤷🏾♀️
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I enjoy people watching especially in New York City. The hustle and the bustle but deep down we all have some similarities.
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Yeah all rushing and getting no where🙂.
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Like having a coffee at a cafe in Paris. It has a long tradition.
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Ok 🙂.
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Oddly enough, “they” are watching me too. Often times, the thing I am thinking of purchasing shows up on my timeline on Instagram or Facebook.
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Yep those smart phones are always listening 😡.
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I too am a people watcher… I tell myself it’s to see how real people behave 🤓 how else do we create characters 🤣
~B
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Good point, we must watch the real ones to create fake ones 😂.
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I enjoyed the read. Watching people is a delightful experience. It’s more delightful when you do it without making it obvious and keep your remarks to yourself.
And yes, Janice. I watch people too. Watched one today 😅
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Yep undercover watching is the best 😂😂.
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People-watching is actually one of my favourite things to do. I love to grab a coffee somewhere and sit either outside or by the window, especially to do this ha.
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Windows work well in watching, we either peer in or out 😂😂.
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Oh boy, only one…hope it wasn’t me 😂😂.
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As a teacher and a mom I think it’s second nature to a lot of us. My favorite place to people watch is at malls and theme parks. I love to observe genetics at play. Don’t know why, but I am totally fascinated with how a father and daughter walk alike. Or a mom and a son have the same eyes or smile. The list goes on…😂 Love this piece…
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Thanks, 👀👀😊.
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HA! I’m always watching people, making up stories about their lives, etc. We’ve really turned into a voyeuristic culture because of social media, so I’m not sure where the line is anymore.
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What line…it’s anything goes now 🤣!
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Is it a black thing, or a Caribbean thang. As far back as I can remember, “watching” and “reading” people, their body languages and their mannerisms, especially in instances where my intuition tells me something’s off or different.” You said it exactly! Silence speaks, and this silent river, has deep thoughts! Blessings to you!
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Yep, nobody knows better than us Caribbean people that “silent river runs deep.”
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