11 Comments
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Seth Barnes's avatar

What a great post! I laughed out loud multiple times. You're as observant about the actual practice of people watching as a good people watcher is in his watching.

BTW, you can see a great example of people watching at the beginning of the recent movie "Past Lives." There are 3 people sitting at the bar. 2 of them are having an intense conversation and the 3rd person is silent. What is their story? That's what the movie is about. That scene sets us up to unravel the mystery and the payoff is worth it - one of the best movies of the year.

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Michael Young's avatar

Oh thanks, Seth! Much appreciated. And yes, that movie has been on my list for a while now and I'm desperate to watch it. It sounds very intriguing, can't wait!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

I think it's very brave of you to admit to being a peeping tom this way! You do you, Michael, damn the consequences!

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Michael Young's avatar

There's a whole of lot of peeping that needs doing, so someone's gotta do it.

P.s. that's a nice blue shirt that you're wearing.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

I' be freaked out my your comment except I'm always wearing a blue shirt so....

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Michael Young's avatar

Haha. A good guess.

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Marco & Sabrina's avatar

Quite! I can categorically state that I have never participated in such a nefarious pastime 👀

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Michael Young's avatar

Let's bring up your record, M&S. I'm betting you've got quite the rap sheet!

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Sarah Crowder's avatar

This is a great guide, I'd buy an Observers Guide to People Watching in a heartbeat. My best people watching was done in the Balkans too. The other day I found some scraps of paper I'd written on while taking a train in Serbia, two pages all focused on a father and son in the same carriage as me. Smell (vinegar and sweat), appearance, invented backstory, and general observations - "son takes dads mobile phone, pretends it a machine gun, shoots everyone in our carriage"

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Michael Young's avatar

Haha! This is brilliant. Thanks for sharing this, Sarah. I love these notes. Some grade A people watching right there. Thank god you had some paper handy.

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May 9, 2024
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Michael Young's avatar

Thanks so much, Van. Yeah yours is a lot more hectic than mine haha. You didn't really have a choice in the matter either. More of it being forced upon you!

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