You’ve heard of train and plane spotters; even bird watchers, but the art of people observing is a rapidly disappearing pastime.
I was listening to the radio the other day when the DJ spoke about the art of waiting in a pub, pre-mobile phone days. You would have to arrange a time to hook up with your friends and more often than not you would be left waiting on your own for a period of time.
This time was often spent observing others. Initially you may feel awkward sitting by yourself, especially if you don’t have a newspaper to keep you busy. If there are groups around you may feel the need to glance at your watch every few minutes to signal to others that you are not ‘Billy no mates’ but that you are in fact waiting for someone. Once you relax and become one with yourself you enter a state which I like to call observation mode.
This state can’t be reached if you are listening to music of if you are doodling with your mobile phone. Once in this mode, as far as you are concerned you are now invisible and you can view passers by, and try and estimate their motives for being there, by their dress acquaintances and actions; just like Columbo or one of the many CSI crew members.
The observation game can be played solo or with more than one player. I think the best location for it is most certainly an airport due to the constant flow of individuals to keep you on your toes. However, with the latest security concerns involved with air transport these days, probably best to just plug in your ear phones and keep to yourself.
Some examples of what you might see are the organised dad with his wife and kids straggling behind as he surges forward with supreme confidence to the departure gate. Only to dash by in the opposite direction minutes later in a frantic panic to make their flight.
Then the cuddly couple off on their first holiday together all love dovey, not a care in the world. They almost miss their flight but no stress either way.
The airport staff, live a dual existence, having a bit of fun with their work colleges as they pretend when a lost tourist asks them a question about their flights, that they haven’t been asked the very same question over a hundred times that day.
Then a gang of lads off on holidays together, each trying to be coolest, all dressed for the beach already, hours spent gelling the hair. So many people with those over sized head phones, bags bulging for the overhead racks.
Groups gather at the screen that displays the flight information. Everyone looks confused, necks stretched back; no it’s not a touch screen. Suddenly, as an announcement sounds over the intercom about a change of gate, like a startled wilder-beast heard on the Serengeti plains they all dash in different directions.
Older generations seem to be more at home with themselves when it comes to sitting by themselves and observing, more so in the airport environment. They wander from shop to shop, stop off for tea and chat with random passers by telling them about their pending vacation. They know how to converse with others while waiting without sounding desperate or completely mad. Another art that many have lost these days.
