How Observant are You?

As a Teen, my dad didn’t like it if I walked or sat somewhere without looking left or right, once in a while. He always asked me to be conscious of my surroundings. I didn’t see the need. I only looked left and right when crossing the road, but he instilled it in me. I think being Observant is a very good skill and saves us a lot. A few instances below, to give food for thought.

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a) Terrorism - In Dec 2009, some passengers were observant enough to notice, when the terrorist tried to ignite the explosive on American Airlines. This action saved many lives.

b) Theiving Staff – I’ve noticed some companies have computers locked to the desk. It’s because computers go missing (not flat laptops). Security Officers don’t seem to be observant enough. I’m guessing people carried Pcs under a big overcoat, while smuggling them from the building and security assumed every man and woman was pregnant while passing by Reception.

c )Couples Tiff – E.g If a lady has a new hairstyle, the first thing she expects you to say when you see her is “wow, you look great” or something along those lines. So, "better-half", if you walk through the door and for a good 10 minutes haven’t noticed her new Hairstlye while she’s talking, chances are you’ll be having a cold dinner or none at all. :)

d) Shopping – for those trying to save. After paying for shopping, if you check the receipt, you’ll notice sometimes, you have been over charged or the deal (maybe "buy one get one free") didn’t register. If you check the receipt while in store, they’ll refund you the money but it’s a bit annoying when you notice while you are casually looking at it, half way through eating your pasta.

e) Bank Statements – I won’t go into detail. I know, that you know what I would cover here.

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f) Disguise - I feel Airport Security have a higher standard regarding observance. A Somalian murder suspect (murder of a police woman) left Heathrow airport, London in a full Niqab, using his sisters passport. He was spotted later on CCTV wearing it, carrying a ladies hand bag. In London, Security don’t like to check Muslim ladies in Niqab, but at least they should talk to them and make sure “She” is not a “He”.

g) Incest - I hope you don’t think I’m insensitive, but this is about the Austrian man who held his daughter captive in the base of his home, while living with his wife. Surely, if his wife had been observant, she would have spotted something. Her daughter was living beneath her for 24 years and Josef (her husband) fathered 7 of his daughters’ kids there. Yet, she was living with her husband upstairs.

h) Not wanting to leave a bad taste in your mouth after reading the above point – Some of my friends call me “X-Ray” eyes. Once, I was at the Train station and there were 2 queues to 2 ticket machines. I was in one of the queues and spotted a £20 note on the floor, with so many people standing around. I hope you won’t ask me what I did with it. I’ve also come back from work and even though it was dark, saw £10 just behind my car. That one got me curious, I picked it up very slowly because I was expecting someone to pull it on a string when I touched it.

I could go on and on. People visiting our houses with False I.D. Do we really check? The areas surrounding places we buy sandwiches/fresh food etc etc. but I think you have got the gist. I’m not saying we should stare at everyone for a loooong time or keep our head down incase we spot a bar of gold – but its handy to be observant in our own way. We stand to gain a lot.

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