People Surfing
Okay, this is a repost from WAY, WAY, WAY back in the day… enjoy, seen! And BIG UP to Jamaica for that spectacular one run defeat of Barbados in the 20-20 tournament! One freakin’ run! That must be hot no rass, star! Don’t hate, Jdid!
It can be really interesting to people surf. Sometimes you have to gather in a group with other people, and it is often fun to just put your mind in neutral and observe… You can watch the other people in the group, watch their mannerisms and how they interact with each other, and come to conclusions about them. This can be fun whether you know the people well or not. I do it a lot in clubs, for example. I will describe a representative experience for you.
For a good night of people surfing, you go alone to a club, (best you get there early, so that you can pick a good seat from which you can survey most of the club). You purchase a drink and sit at the bar, and try to fade into the background… maybe you put a scowl on your face, so you look unapproachable. Eventually, you will disappear, and the people around you will not notice you. They will begin to act as though you’re not there. When that begins to happen, you know the show has begun.
You watch closely. Observe intently. You will be able to tell many things about the people you are watching, like which women think they are hot, and which feel uncomfortable, because they’ve put on weight, or they don’t like how their outfit looks, or they don’t like how they look. You’ll see the man plying the young woman with alcohol, as he hopes to score later. You will see when the hookers arrive. You’ll see who pays them attention. They will survey the room, momentarily they will be interested in you, thinking you might be their meal ticket tonight. Don’t move, they’ll soon lose interest. You’ll notice the couple in the corner. The girl looks like she is in love but the guy looks like he’s cruising the other women in the club, like he’s bored with her… He’s watching the other ladies in the club, hungrily, practically drooling. Oops, his woman notices his wandering eyes. They begin to argue, even though they are pretending not to. The argument gets a bit more strident… Oh, they’re taking it outside. They might just as easily have really had it out right there in the club, you’ve seen that too. Ok, there goes that gentleman whos been drinking a lot, most likely to build up his courage for this moment. He approaches and strikes up a conversation with the hookers… oh look, hes dancing with one of them…
And this is what happens throughout the night. A friend of mine pulled a new one on me recently, he peoplesurfed a manager’s meeting. He watched all the other managers in attendance and then placed them into categories. I basically agreed with the way he categorised them. There were those who felt they were better suited to lead the group than the leader. There were those who sought to prove they were ultra smart and way cool! Yet others were there simply to endure. They really didn’t want to be there, but had to be. Some were concerned with survival, justifying every decision and cost incurred. Yes, when he was done, they were all pigeonholed. I’ve never done an meeting at the office before, at least not so I’d remember. I’ve never even thought of it. Let me tell you though, try people surfing. It’s really fun!
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it doesn’t work at meetings, at meetings your are “attached” to the crowd. its harder to be invisible.
I disagree, Owen. Sometimes in IT for instance, there are meetings with the customer department where a gifted programmer/analyst is invited to the meeting mainly to say which of the managerial types decisions can be most effectively translated to code. In meetings of this type, often the programmer / analyst is not expected to say much, except to validate the final decisions. At meetings such as these, it is easy to be come invisible for most of the meeting. I am sure that other opportunities exist in the corporate world.
Interesting post on people surfing.This technique,methodology, or paradigm is constantly utilized in the Social Sciences ,with respect to various types of research in the collection of sundry data regarding people in various cultures, settings, and environments.The technique is referred to as a detached or unobtrusive observer. Indeed, its applications are quite broad and can be utilized in various settings including business, providing the integrity of the observer or the individual doing/conducting the surfing is not compromised. If the integrity of the observer is compromised in any manner or form, where the observer becomes obtrusive, then the group, culture or organization being studied or observed may elicit different responses or behaviour patterns in contravention to their normal or conventional way of behaving and functioning.Mad Bull, I tend to do the same thing,i.e.,people surfing, as you did/do when I patronize the local night clubs in my area, and it is interesting what is noted observing the various and sundry patrons.Excellent posts! A suggestion nonetheless, you may want to do more extensive research utilizing this paradigm and publish your piece in a sociological or academic journal.I can assure you that I would read it. RESPECT STAR!!
actuallyi thik you guys beat guyana, we got beaten by trinidad
jdid’s last blog post..Oil of Obay
I think the best place to pplsurf is in an international airport while waiting to board a flight.
hahaha not the meetings I’m involved in
It was Guyana wunna beat by one run, not Barbados. And look how you get mash up by Trinidad last night! The match start, I went in the kitchen to get a little mauby and crackers and cheese, and come back and see innings finish and Jamaica all out for 91! What is that at all?
@ Jdid : You right, is not Jamaica beat you.
@ Titilayo : You are right too, T&T fling dust in we face, to rahtid!
mad bull’s last blog post..People Surfing
Interesting post…goes to show how much you notice when you actually care to pay attention…so many times in life we just walk around caught up in our own little world…..
cranky putz’s last blog post..Couple’s Night