I’d like to learn what people in their field think of when they see something good or bad when they’re not working.
I’m a health inspector, so when I am sitting at a table as a customer, I’ll watch people while I’m eating (not purposely staring, but having a look around the place). I recently saw someone swipe their finger under their nose then go to the self serve station to touch about 8 different handles before walking away. Thankfully, I was already done eating.
When I have to walk through the kitchen to the toilets, I take mental notes without meaning to.
As a ex-first responder, unconsciously doing an assessment of someone I’m speaking to (or not) and internally noting how nice and juicy their veins are.
What are some things you come across in your daily life and what do they have you thinking about?
Being trained in behavioral psychology and watching my girlfriend’s sister with her dogs is torture to me.
She’s got a good boi who barks for attention. She gives him attention every fucking time. He’ll be barking away in the corner while we try to talk, and instead of taking him outside or something, she calls him over to her and pets him.
I see this over and over again and think, “It’s no wonder he barks so much, when she reinforces him for it constantly.”
It drives me nuts and honestly makes me not want to go over to her house. I really want to say something, but I don’t want to be that person coming in and giving unsolicited advice to others about how to train their pets. So I just watch it happen over and again and suffer in (bark-filled) silence.
Edit to add: Also, my brother and his kids. This one hurts more for a number of reasons. He complains about how our mom raised us, but then does the same shit with his kids, never connecting the dots. Meanwhile I learned what not to do by watching my mom. Then through education and working in the field, not only have I been vindicated for the way I interact with kids, but I learned lots of new skills that could help the kids learn appropriate behavior while maintaining their self-esteem. But when my brother’s around, he’s all, “I’m their parent and I’ll raise them my way.” Even his own parents-in-law told him, “You listen to Whats_your_reasoning, she knows what she’s talking about.” But no, I’ve got to not do the things I do every day that could help his kids and his life in the long run because he doesn’t want to hear it.
Oh gods. I feel the same when I see people and their kids and dogs. I did a few psychology courses in school years ago, so I have some understanding of behaviour. I feel so bad for the animals and kids because they don’t know any better and they are guided by their owners/parents.
I used to stay at a friend’s house when I first moved to Victoria and stayed in Melbourne for a few weekends. It started to come out that the mum (my friend) was actually bullying her daughter to tears, and the dad would sometimes join in. They said it was “tough love”. I don’t speak with her anymore.
Some people will just do what their parents did to them, but it doesn’t make it right.