Many people enjoy watching people. You can learn many things by sitting quietly in an inconspicuous place and quietly observe what is going on around you. I have a friend who does it daily to help her create characters in her novels. She is an excellent author, so I think it works for her.
Recently someone asked her why she was just sitting there. She said “I am observing human behavior so I can learn about.”
The man responded, “So you are a peeping Tom?”
She was a little taken back with the label. Her response I found interesting.
“I am sitting here in plain sight on a bench. I am not watching any one person. I am not sneaking around corners. I am not looking in windows. I believe I am being observant.”
The sad part is now she is fearful and doesn’t want to people watch. I believe that is sad.
Some time watching people by all mean is great fun
I am a watcher when I am alone in a public place. It’s my habit to observe people.
I was thinking about this very topic this morning as I sat in a café in Leicester to kill time before catching a bus.
The trick is to make sure that other people do not catch you doing it! I often wonder if the ones who do are playing the same game and you are being watched as well as being a watcher!