People Watching

People watching is an interesting (albeit slightly creepy) way to pass the time. Of course, the best places to people watch are theme parks and other touristy locations because they put the subjects of your gaze in new and uncertain circumstances. They often stop, equally excited and panicked.

"Where are we going?" one will always ask.

"To [attraction here]," another will always reply. "It's this way."

You sit and chuckle softly on your bench because you know good and well that that particular point of interest is in the other direction, and you look forward to watching them pass again, this time bickering wildly.

"Why didn't you read the map?" one will always ask.

"I did, I just got confused!" another will always reply. "The print is small."

"It's not hard to read a map! Pay attention!" the first will most certainly chide back, regretting the family vacation location of choice.


We all people watch. It typically happens without our even realizing it, but it happens. We collect data on one another, even as complete strangers. You can tell a lot about a person by just watching them for a few seconds of their lives; you learn their race, gender, height and weight, sometimes their name or where they're from, other times what their plans are, or who they're with. We process all this without even realizing it, taking it as observations instead of information.

People Watching: Natural in daily life, terrifying on paper.