Daily activity two
For this activity I visited the local library. I sat at a computer that overlooked a couple tables and the children’s section of book. The book checkout was towards my left and the door to get out the library was to my far right. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect about this activity, I have never actually taken the time to people watch. Was wasn’t expecting it to be as interesting as it was and it was fun to watch the way people reacted to the people that they were with and with complete strangers.
One of the interesting things that I noticed was when people would be in line waiting to get their books checked out, they wouldn’t stand right behind the person in front of them, instead they out be space a couple feet apart making sure not to over crowd. Also if two people wanted to look a certain section of books they would not stand right next to each other, instead I noticed that one would look around until the other person was finished looking at the section and then go over there.
The conversations that were going on consisted of the librarians giving patrons advice on what books they have read or have gotten good reviews. I noted that the librarian’s voice would change when she was talking to different types of people. At one point she was talking to a mother and her per teen daughter. When she would talk to the mother she would talk normal, however when she would talk to the daughter she would use simpler sentences and she would slump forward towards the girl almost as if she were talking down to the girl.
The universal rule that everyone should know about the library is that you talk quietly. I noticed that the people’s voices would change when they walked into the library. It was if they subconsciously lowered their voice when they came through the doors. At one point of my observation two middle school aged girls came in and sat at one of the tables. They began to talk in their normal voices not noticing the librarian and a few of the people around them giving them obvious looks that they were interrupting the rest of the people in the library. It was made clear to me after some observing, that they were aware that they were being looked at but the attention that they were getting for going against the crowd was amusing to them.
This activity made me more aware that the unwritten rules seem like something we do without even knowing it. Lowering our voice when we walk into a certain building, respecting others space, and using different tones when talking to different types of people are all things that we do and are a type of norm that we follow.
Doing this activity made me more aware of the what I was doing in my life, was I giving people space like the people in the library were, was I lowering my voice when I was in a certain building. Did you have these same feelings? If so what were you more aware about after the activity?
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I realized after the activity that context matters when it comes to communication. Where you are and what you are doing will influence how you communicate and use communication. In the library there are unwritten rules that we learn at such young ages; as time goes on it does become involuntary to follow these rules. It just happens. I observed at a grocery store and learned that with the context of this setting, there were certain conversations (if any) that were had while grocery shopping, and also certain distances that you allowed others around you. It is interesting to watch people follow the same general rules without thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteWhen people looked same section, they did not stand next to other is good observation! So, why they did not? Was it too close or feel uncomfortable? How about in a public bus in the Monday morning? When people stand or sit completely the same distance with others and do you think people feel the same way as in a library? I do not think so. People instantly interpret a situation they are in and change how they behave and we are doing this sophisticated communication every day! Do not think it is great?
ReplyDeleteThis activity made me realize that our behaviors are culturally learned. For example, before this activity, I would have thought that speaking quietly in a library was normal and something everyone did. Now I realize that all behaviors, even the ones that seem very "normal", are related to our culture and social norms. When you really think about it, some of our typical behaviors are very strange! I also like your observation that people communicate differently whether they are talking to adults or children. This definitely true!
ReplyDeleteI was more aware of being stared at for being different actually. I was rather entertaining in a way. The other thing I noticed is how much women talk. I mean it was like non-stop. I was looking at it maybe from a man’s perspective and I was like sheesh, is that really what we do. What stamina we have! The animation of the women’s face alone was amazing. When women communicate fully and really utilize all the elements of communication available to them. Not that men don’t, women just do it at a much larger level.
ReplyDeleteThis activity made me really think about how people believe they are in a bubble when they're sitting at a table, engaging in conversation with their table partner, not realizing that just a table or two away there is a person with a notebook sitting alone writing something and facing them. I had on sunglasses since I was sitting out on a patio which helped me look less obvious, but I was still alone, not talking to anyone. I sat there thinking about how if I sat here every day for lunch I would really see many interesting dynamics going on between parties. I also learned that I enjoy people watching when I slow down long enough to observe the world around me.
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