Is it normal to wonder about people?

94% Normal
16 Comments

Let's say you're driving and you look to your right and see two people walking next to each other. Have you ever wondered who they were to each other or what sort of relationship they had? You could make a guess at things, like say that they are lovers, but the thing is is that it's impossible to know. They could be anything or anyone from cousins to friends, but the only people who would really know are themselves.

Have you ever looked at someone and wondered what kind of life they had lived, their interests, or what they aspired to be? Or if they were just like you and were wondering The same exact things about their environment too?

I hope this all makes sense. Is it normal to wonder such things about people?

Voting Results
94% Normal
Based on 16 votes (15 yes)
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Comments ( 16 )
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Constantly. I don't necessarily talk about it with others, but I'm thinking about it.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      I don't share it with others either, it's something that I can't resist wondering.

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      • [Old Memory]
        11 years ago

        This is one of those IIN stories (I am not the OP.) where I hope people think it's normal, but I don't feel confident in predicting that they will. I once told my father how I thought about people that way and he didn't say anything. He looked pale too. I don't know for sure though, maybe he spaced out for a moment. But he was making eye contact, so I thought I was getting through... Hmm. Let's just say I believed his reaction was too iffy to muster up the intestinal fortitude to tell anyone else. My ex husband knows that I do it because you just know a person that well when you're around them constantly for year upon years. He had figured me out on his own and he found it amusing. Again, not the most positive of reactions. I'm glad the OP has asked this question.

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        • Avant-Garde
          11 years ago

          I'm the OP:)

          I first realized this many years ago when I was in the car with my mother. We saw two young african men walking together and that's when she brought up the point. I've kept the concept to myself and thought about it more deeply over the years. I don't bring it up as it's often impossible to know how people will react over it and I've never been very close to anyone to talk about. I guess some people find it "unnerving" and "stalkerish".

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          • [Old Memory]
            11 years ago

            It doesn't seem like anyone does it as a way of thinking about others, eh.

            People are admitting to do it, but only consciously and purposefully... And usually for a source of entertainment.

            I wonder if there's a term for it. It must have something to do with a heightened sense of empathy or something. I get sympathy pain for people if I see them get injured or even if they tell me about getting injured. Do you?

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  • Francophile22
    11 years ago

    Actually, by reading body language you can tell.

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  • JellyLove
    11 years ago

    Please, you know good and well the answer to this question

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  • bigtoy
    11 years ago

    When I see someone in a seriously expensive car I start wondering too...like how the fuck does he earn the money to buy one of those? lol

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  • thecoldhardtruth
    11 years ago

    I always wonder about people. Especially when I'm in a car/bus/metro. Like were all united for a short period of time, in eachoers presence, but then we go off into our individual and unique life's. It's beautiful. We can learn a lot through each others lives.
    I also wish it were normal to talk to random people without being weird about it.

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  • Anime7
    11 years ago

    People watching is awesome. School is a great environment to people watch, same with the park. Sometimes, when I'm feeling confident, I actually go up to random strangers and strike up a conversation. They're usually interesting but I don't do that often.

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  • Captain_Kegstand
    11 years ago

    I do this quite often, people watching can be a great source of entertainment!

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  • NoraBaker
    11 years ago

    It is normal to me. I used to play that with a former boyfriend. We went as far as having a three-people jury who would deliberate when we had different views on the lives of the people we were watching. Oh, an invisible jury.

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    • Avant-Garde
      11 years ago

      You make it sound fun.

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      • NoraBaker
        11 years ago

        It is such fun! When the jurors started arguing it was quite hilarious!

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  • dappled
    11 years ago

    Sure. I kind of like playing "Watching" where you're sitting with another person in public and you both try to work out the lives of passers-by or anonymous couples.

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    • Captain_Kegstand
      11 years ago

      I love to do this, and speak out our own versions of the conversation that they are having with another person. It can get quite funny.

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