Your perception of others

[J a c k]

I people watch. A lot. I pay attention to detail in their posture, mannerisms, tone of voice, the way they laugh, the way they treat their bartender or server, do they say thank you and in what tone, do they cross their legs or arms, does it look like they tend to bite their nails (like me), are they pretending or are they genuine, are they extra self conscious or are they confident, how does her lipstick wear off, how do they chew, how do they drink, are they trying to get drunk or just enjoying their drink, do they like ketchup, did they pray, their vocabulary, does she cover her mouth when she laughs and why, do they seem conservative or not, do they seem like they voted for Trump, are they people watching too, do they know I’m watching, did they lean back to look at her butt when she walked by or were they discrete, are they waiting for someone, are they waiting for something, can they win this staring contest, do they wear tube socks, their nose, chin, brows, cheek bones, hair, body hair, feet, eyes, eye lashes, how often they blink while telling a story, did they get the sniffles when lying, did they order a wheat, did they order a lager, did they order something I should try myself, will they tip well, did they hold the door while the others walked in, did they leave on a bicycle... oh.. oh... they’re gone. Next!

[Silver]

I people watch. A lot. I pay attention to detail in their posture, mannerisms, tone of voice, the way they laugh, the way they treat their bartender or server, do they say thank you and in what tone, do they cross their legs or arms, does it look like they tend to bite their nails (like me), are they pretending or are they genuine, are they extra self conscious or are they confident, how does her lipstick wear off, how do they chew, how do they drink, are they trying to get drunk or just enjoying their drink, do they like ketchup, did they pray, their vocabulary, does she cover her mouth when she laughs and why, do they seem conservative or not, do they seem like they voted for Trump, are they people watching too, do they know I’m watching, did they lean back to look at her butt when she walked by or were they discrete, are they waiting for someone, are they waiting for something, can they win this staring contest, do they wear tube socks, their nose, chin, brows, cheek bones, hair, body hair, feet, eyes, eye lashes, how often they blink while telling a story, did they get the sniffles when lying, did they order a wheat, did they order a lager, did they order something I should try myself, will they tip well, did they hold the door while the others walked in, did they leave on a bicycle... oh.. oh... they’re gone. Next!

You go, gurl!

[Mr.Obvious]

I don't people watch a lot, honestly. You do you, i do me. And when we talk, i'll try to understand you. And if we hit it off, i'll think about you and what makes you you, after you've left. If not; no ill will, but you fade in my mind

[J a c k]

I don't people watch a lot, honestly. You do you, i do me. And when we talk, i'll try to understand you. And if we hit it off, i'll think about you and what makes you you, after you've left. If not; no ill will, but you fade in my mind

Did you sniffle while typing this? I can’t tell, online limitations and all.

[Bahana]

Most people are prejudiced and size you up before getting to know you.That's why a lot of people ask the same boring questions when they first meet you. They make the most minimal investment possible until you prove yourself.

[Mr.Obvious]

I don't people watch a lot, honestly. You do you, i do me. And when we talk, i'll try to understand you. And if we hit it off, i'll think about you and what makes you you, after you've left. If not; no ill will, but you fade in my mind

Did you sniffle while typing this? I can’t tell, online limitations and all.

Crying and sniffling is my default setting, dontcha know?

[Seraphina]

When we're teenagers, we're rather preoccupied with how others view us.  As we become older, however, we realize that most people aren't even thinking about us because they're too preoccupied with themselves, their lives, their small daily worlds.

I am a people watcher, however.  Even as introspective as I am, I am also the one exception who is always thinking things of everyone I see around me.  When you look at me and think I'm just thinking about my own life, chances are that you're roughly ninety percent wrong.  Rather, I am thinking about you and how you live and making judgments based on how you look, etc.

Anyone else like me?

I'm the same way and I'd venture a guess that many others are too. But as a few alluded to in the thread, it's mostly fleeting thoughts about people who we briefly encounter. Since we Homo sapiens are a social species, it's completely normal. The differences lie in how we each perceive and judge others.

Worrying about what others think extended far beyond my teenage years. It's only in the past few years that I've freed myself from caring much what others think about me. In fact, sometimes I say and do things to provoke reactions - with no concern about whether it's good or bad - simply to see how others react.

-Teresa