John Y’s Musings from the Middle: People Watching

I love people watching. And engaging in subtle people interaction.

On the streets of NYC, there are lots of confident accomplished people. They just look they are someone important. They know it and we do too. They may even be celebrities. Of course, only a tiny percentage can be real public celebrities, whatever that is. But we tend to look for celebrities and famous people instinctively. And many on the workaday streets of NYC are happy to invite speculation that they are, indeed, a little more special than others walking to either side of them.

Today alone walking on the streets of NYC for several hours I saw –or thought I saw– George Clooney, Jamie Foxx (twice), Kurt Vonnegut (even though he died a few years back, but not his visage in NYC), George Peppard, George Ross (the elder general counsel and senior adviser to Donald Trump on the Apprentice), Kelly Rupa (3 times) and possibly Elliot Spitzer (although I’m pretty sure he was in Albany today), and finally at least three business execs who looked like no celebrity in particular but carried themselves like they had been (or should have been) featured on this month’s cover of Fortune Magazine. Or GQ. Sometimes it’s hard to tell those two types apart.

I’ve made up a sort of game I’m enjoying playing. When I see one of the “special looking” people of the streets of NYC—-the ones with a certain sheen and air about them who look like they are ready at that moment to be snapped by paparazzi— I make eye contact with them in a knowing and ingratiating way as if to say, “Oh my gosh. I know who you are!”

People really like it. Even though they know they aren’t the real celebrity I am confusing them with, they feel, deep down, like they could be. And maybe should be. And may even suspect they have a few things on their celebrity look alike but just didn’t get the same breaks.

It’s endearing and believable for us both. And leaves us both feeling a bit better. One of us is being admired and the other is thrilled to see someone special.

But today I began throwing in a new twist.

I look them in the eye again– a bit more seriously and solemnly as if to say, “You do remember me, don’t you?”

This all happens in just a few seconds. But it’s an amazing back and forth of communication and information. All expressed in the eyes and a few subtle facial gestures.

Sometimes the person being thought a celebrity will play along as if we somehow really do know each other in some tangential way and sort of tips his or her hat as if to say, “G’day.” Others are a little confused and withdraw. Or disengage. Still others play into the whole game either knowingly or unknowingly. But are happy to be engaged –either as a game or fantasy.

This new twist adds an extra layer of positive reinforcement. Now both individuals have been suspected of being someone special and having a special sort of bond to the other. And even having had a pleasant exchange.

Which made me wonder: Is it a game I am playing? Is it a fantasy? Does it have to be either one? Maybe….and I’m being serious here….we should look at all people in this way. As special and having a connection in some way to us and having a pleasant, albeit perfunctory, exchange.

Why not?

Why not?