The Chiefsplanet Peoplewatching Thread

[Rain Man]

I often see or hear people saying or doing things that I find intriguing, but it's not quite worth making a thread about. I figure that other people might have the same experiences. Therefore, I hope that this thread can become a clearinghouse for those little observations that might not otherwise make the cut.

My first two would be:

1. I went to the optometrist today to get my eyes checked. In the waiting room, a family came in and sat next to me: a mother, a girl of about 13 or 14, and two young boys. The mother is talking on the phone and scolding the boys who are out of control, and then the teenage girl came over to her mother. She's got both hands up near her face, and asks the mother, "What is this?" My initial thinking was that it was something in her eye since we were, after all, in an optometrist's office. Then the girl says, "I thought it was a pimple, but I'm trying to pop it and nothing's coming out."

Where is your shame, young girl? Where is your shame?


2. I came back to the office, and got a cell phone call while I was in my lobby. I was standing there taking the call when this skanky, meth-looking woman in a tank top came in. She got in the elevator and departed toward the heavens. The thing that was most noticeable about her, other than the skanky part, was that she was wearing no supportive garments above the waist, and she badly, badly needed to be wearing them. (Not large, either - envision an inverted champagne flute made out of Slinky.) I finished my call and rode the elevator up myself, and when I got off on my floor, the woman was in the front lobby of the other company on my floor filling out a job application. I really think that a skanky-looking person with bosoms befitting a National Geographic photo should consider wearing a bra or something whilst going in to apply for a job.

Please feel free to post your own minor observations here in the future.

[Dark Horse]

I saw a homeless guy a while back holding a sign that read " why lie I need a beer"

[Rain Man]

This might actually be worth its own thread, but I don't want to be presumptuous.

I got a cab ride today, and the driver was a friendly German fellow. I was making small talk with him, and asked if he could drop me off at a Chinese food restaurant. I got a long discourse from him about how good a person his Thai ex-wife was, and if I followed the conversation correctly he more or less said that she was a Thai prostitute. He was discussing the thought processes of Thai prostitutes and how they want to marry white men and then started telling me how a person goes about attracting Thai prostitutes when in Thailand. Short story - be white and tell them they're pretty, though I personally question whether the second part is really required.

The funny thing is, when we went to the Chinese place he actually parked the taxi and went in and checked out the hostess at the Chinese place. No other reason as far as I could tell. He and I agreed that she was attractive.

[Mr. Kotter]

This is suspiciously like the...

"People of Walmart" website....I'm just sayin'....heh.

[Rain Man]

I was on the bus yesterday, and two people behind me started chatting. They didn't know each other, but were just killing time. One of them was a woman who was not a knockout, but not unattractive. The other was a guy with some piercings and stretched-out earlobes with big hoops in them.

I wasn't listening for the most part, but at one point I think they were talking about being in jail. Then the conversation went as follows:

Woman: The last time I was in jail, I was so bored that I read the bible. The whole bible.

Man: Really? The whole thing?

Woman: Yeah, start to finish.

Man: That's a really long story.

Woman: Actually, it's a bunch of stories.

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah, and you know what? Adam and Eve had butt sex.

Man: Really?

Woman: It's on like page 2 or something.

Man: It says in the bible that they had butt sex?

Woman: It's right in there. It says it.

Man: I didn't know that.

[ChiefsrGood]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I was on the bus yesterday, and two people behind me started chatting. They didn't know each other, but were just killing time. One of them was a woman who was not a knockout, but not unattractive. The other was a guy with some piercings and stretched-out earlobes with big hoops in them.

I wasn't listening for the most part, but at one point I think they were talking about being in jail. Then the conversation went as follows:

Woman: The last time I was in jail, I was so bored that I read the bible. The whole bible.

Man: Really? The whole thing?

Woman: Yeah, start to finish.

Man: That's a really long story.

Woman: Actually, it's a bunch of stories.

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah, and you know what? Adam and Eve had butt sex.

Man: Really?

Woman: It's on like page 2 or something.

Man: It says in the bible that they had butt sex?

Woman: It's right in there. It says it.

Man: I didn't know that.

[kysirsoze]

I saw two guys were chattering to themselves on the subway. It started to turn into sort of a competition but I'm not sure what the rules were. Then a third guy hopped up and started doing it but in French and playing violent percussion on the train door. He won.

The first two competitors were nearly shocked out of their rants by the power and intensity of the Frenchman. It was really something.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I was on the bus yesterday, and two people behind me started chatting. They didn't know each other, but were just killing time. One of them was a woman who was not a knockout, but not unattractive. The other was a guy with some piercings and stretched-out earlobes with big hoops in them.

I wasn't listening for the most part, but at one point I think they were talking about being in jail. Then the conversation went as follows:

Woman: The last time I was in jail, I was so bored that I read the bible. The whole bible.

Man: Really? The whole thing?

Woman: Yeah, start to finish.

Man: That's a really long story.

Woman: Actually, it's a bunch of stories.

Man: Really?

Woman: Yeah, and you know what? Adam and Eve had butt sex.

Man: Really?

Woman: It's on like page 2 or something.

Man: It says in the bible that they had butt sex?

Woman: It's right in there. It says it.

Man: I didn't know that.

[rockymtnchief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

This is suspiciously like the...

"People of Walmart" website....I'm just sayin'....heh.

I got one of the "People of Walmart" e-mails yesterday. In it was one of my co-workers! I wanted to forward it to other co-workers, but I was informed the guys wife died that morning. Now I feel guilty for laughing at the poor bastard.

[Hammock Parties]

This is probably morbid, but I gotta add hospitals to my list.

There are some fascinating looks on people's faces going in and out of hospitals.

Yesterday I saw this guy come in and he was just grinning ear to ear from the moment he walked through the sliding doors until he rounded the corner 10 seconds later and out of eyeshot. Very odd. Maybe he was there to get a viagra prescription?

Also saw some really grumpy old people.

There's not as much traffic in a hospital as some of my other favorite places to peoplewatch, but I think the quality over quantity rule applies. More entertainment per stranger.

Best peoplewatching:

1. Airports
2. Malls
3. Dance Clubs
4. Hospitals

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Homeless people really are the most interesting people around.

My first night in New York City, I didn't want to get a hotel, and the buses to Wayne had ended, so I walked around Manhattan all night with my big suitcase. I went to a McDonalds near Times Square at about 1am, and a homeless black guy asked if I would buy him a sandwich.

I said okay, because I didn't want to die on my very first day in NYC. So I ordered a McDouble off the $1 menu. He ordered some specialty meal for $7. And then we sat down and talked about the election of Barack Obama for about an hour. He actually didn't have much hope with him. It was a decent hour or so. He asked me at the end for $40 for a Scientology screening for himself, and I declined, despite the inticing promise of a full refund if I gave him my PO Box.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

I went to a McDonalds near Times Square at about 1am, and a homeless black guy asked if I would buy him a sandwich.

I said okay, because I didn't want to die on my very first day in NYC. So I ordered a McDouble off the $1 menu. He ordered some specialty meal for $7. And then we sat down and talked about the election of Barack Obama for about an hour.

You are such a pussy.

You gave a bum $7 for no reason.

You should have told him to go **** himself, he might have learned a lesson.

[Jenson71]

I felt it was legitimate charity. With my bags, I considered myself to be in a bit of vulnerable position, and I certainly would not want to be confrontational.

I know we were great 'people watching' material.

[frankotank]

I ride a bike to work as much as possible. I’m always checking out the other bikes when I park, especially this one particular silver Harley. I’m driving to work in my truck and I see that Harley up ahead of me and it looks like a girl driving it. Cool! I dig a chick on a bike. She’s got long black hair in a pony tail and has black chaps one with a matching black jacket, it has those fringe/tassel things running down each arm and across the back. I just gotta see what she looks like! I carefully maneuver through traffic until finally I come up along side her…..and she’s got a full freaking beard! Wow. How very disappointing. Never seen a dude sport tassels like that. Seriously, that had to be a girls jacket.

[frankotank]

the quote from the thread entry has had me chuckling all day "(Not large, either - envision an inverted champagne flute made out of Slinky.)" a perfect desription of meth hooters. awesome!

[burt]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

1. I went to the optometrist today to get my eyes checked.

I am NOT reading this entire thread, but I like my eyes in just 1 color. Checked would look wierd.