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Old Nov 14, 12, 7:27 pm   #1
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Does Anyone "People Watch" Anymore?

While at the airport, if people aren't walking to their gate, then they all seem to be looking down at their phones or computers.

I still like to people watch though. I usually try to find a seat near my gate that faces the busy terminal walkway, and.....

I love looking at people's travel totes and women' handbags. It's so embarrassingly that I can tell the brand name and price of so many of them. I loooove bags.

Or when I see a woman in very high heeled boots or shoes I wonder why she chose to wear them....as she looks so uncomfortable hobbling down the walkway. Suffering to be beautiful?

I admire the lone parent who is juggling 3 young children, a stroller, a carry on and 3 little backpacks. And still manages to be loving and sweet to the kids.

The service men and women. I wonder are they just leaving or coming home?

A big group of smiling teenagers all dressed alike. Are they a sports team? A touring group?

It really makes me smile when I see a woman (or her groom), with a raised arm, carrying a carefully wrapped wedding dress. I always wonder where they manage to put it on the plane.

I just like zoning out and watching the people coming and going.

Anyone else prefer people-watching to your phone, computer or book? What are the things you notice?
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Old Nov 14, 12, 8:45 pm   #2
 
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I love to people watch and more often than not find myself just observing my surroundings.
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Old Nov 14, 12, 8:58 pm   #3
 
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Absolutely. Entertainment at it's finest.
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Old Nov 14, 12, 9:14 pm   #4
 
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Yeah, I do, but if you read my post in "Checkpoints" forum entitled "TSA caused me to miss my flight", you'll see that it can get you into trouble....

but yes, I love to watch people
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Old Nov 14, 12, 9:28 pm   #5
 
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Absolutely. I love watching people appear lost as they're boarding the plane. I'm always amused of people looking at their boarding passes, then looking forwards - then back - then to their boarding passes - then asking someone next to them if they're in the right place. Finally, they'll point to their seats, turn to their companion to ask if they can see the seat, take three more steps, then repeat the whole process. It's as though numerical row numbers are just a foreign concept. Then again, the same occurrences happen when looking at people trying to find their gate.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 1:05 am   #6
 
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Of course I am vigilant at airports. Big Sis has admonished everyone to SEE SOMETHING....SAY SOMETHING. 9-)
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Old Nov 15, 12, 2:46 am   #7
 
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I do. I like grabbing a drink, and then watch people go by.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 4:24 am   #8
 
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I love to people watch!
I make medical diagnoses.
I wonder what stories people have.
I think about where they are going and where they are going and that makes me form my bucket list of places to see.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 4:35 am   #9
 
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I definitely do.

I believe that everyone does what they do for a reason (even if they don't realise it) and I like to see what they're doing and try and figure out why they're doing it. Like the example the OP gave with the woman in ultra-high heels.

The person who has 3 huge carry on bags. Why did they decide to lug them through the airport & aircraft, try and cram them into places they weren't designed to go, etc? Do they have an very tight connection and they're afraid of their luggage getting lost (this has happened to me many times)? Do they really plan on needing all of that stuff between the time they checked in and the time they deplane at their final destination? Etc.

Some of my workmates and I also like to play "spot the air marshall" on the planes. Although we all have experience in law enforcement, other emergency services and/or the military, the truth is we have no idea who the AMs are and can never say "Yep, that's the guy." but it's still fun to guess.

We will also make bets between us as to who will <whatever> first. Which little kid will go metal and run amock (sp?), which drunk will cause problems first, who will block the aisle the longest when boarding, etc. We even play the meal game sometimes. "3A: Gotta be Halal. 4C: Looks like a chicken guy. 5B: No food, liquid lunch." Etc.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 6:48 am   #10
 
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I love people watching!

Quote:
Originally Posted by ALittleSurreal View Post
Or when I see a woman in very high heeled boots or shoes I wonder why she chose to wear them....as she looks so uncomfortable hobbling down the walkway. Suffering to be beautiful?
The best are the late teen/early 20 somethings with that hobbling like it is their first day with their new legs. I always fear they will break an ankle!

My husband and I like to wonder where people are going and why.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 8:10 am   #11
 
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I love to people watch too, normally I'll find a place at one of the decent restaurant/bars and just browse a newspaper while watching people go by.
At the gate I normally look around the area and try to figure out if any of the cute women may get to sit next to me on the plane (hasn't happened so far).
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Old Nov 15, 12, 8:31 am   #12
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thomdis View Post
Absolutely. I love watching people appear lost as they're boarding the plane. I'm always amused of people looking at their boarding passes, then looking forwards - then back - then to their boarding passes - then asking someone next to them if they're in the right place. Finally, they'll point to their seats, turn to their companion to ask if they can see the seat, take three more steps, then repeat the whole process. It's as though numerical row numbers are just a foreign concept. Then again, the same occurrences happen when looking at people trying to find their gate.
Oh no. Was that me? In the span of 10 seconds, I look at my boarding pass for my seat number. Forget it. Look at my boarding pass for seat number. Forget it. Look at my...... and then I have to keep repeating it to myself until I reach my seat. Age.

(The George Carlin routine- you look at your watch for the time. You forget it. You look at your watch for the time. You forget it. You look....)

And yes, once I'm on the plane, I love watching people trying to stuff their big-%ss suitcases in the overhead. I am always amazed how most of them fit. Then the drama when they don't!
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Old Nov 15, 12, 9:03 am   #13
 
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I love to people watch. I make up stories about who the people are and where are they going and why.

Quote:
Originally Posted by medic51vrf View Post
Some of my workmates and I also like to play "spot the air marshall" on the planes. Although we all have experience in law enforcement, other emergency services and/or the military, the truth is we have no idea who the AMs are and can never say "Yep, that's the guy." but it's still fun to guess.
You would've had fun on a flight I took last month. Didn't guess that the guy in 4B was the air marshal until he pulled out the handcuffs.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 9:21 am   #14
 
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I really enjoy having ATL as my home airport. So many different type of folks come through that airport in mass numbers. It's also enjoyable to walk the aisles and look at all the different destinations that the airlines are taking people.
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Old Nov 15, 12, 12:38 pm   #15
 
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I love people watching at airports. Love checking out the good looking women.
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