Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The People Zoo

I like cheesy movies, one of which being Love Actually. The beginning and end scenes of that movie show heartfelt re-unitings at the airport. All sorts, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, little kids and grandparents, you name it.

I'm sitting at an airport right now, staring, and I haven't seen anything remotely sweet in 2 hours. Alex Rosamilia calls this the "people zoo". When you sit back and keenly observe human beings habits like you're a researcher at a zoo. Social habits....eating and smelling and scratching and moving. Sometimes the only difference I can see are that humans wear clothes, because of their lack of fur.

I try not to judge, but as an ameutur student of the human condition, I can't help but wonder what the stories are behind these faces and walks and attitudes. Is this German kid really a thug in his Yankee fitted and oversized cargo sweatpants, or did he just watch a 50 Cent video when he was younger. Is this upscale looking man in a suit really a succesful businessman? He could very well be a struggling beeper salesman or a drug smuggler, or not even a man at all. It would be fun if I could read people like the Terminator, just to get a brief synopsis of what I'm seeing.

It's impossible to know what people are all about on first glance, but I guess the little devil on my shoulder is pretty sure I have it figured out. I once read a book by Diablo Cody that detailed in memoirs her brief career as a dancer/stripper. When she would dance in the glass booths, her oddest recollection was a young, good looking businessman who entered the spank tank, paid his money, and got off by licking the semen off the floor and walls of the patrons prior to him. I mean, what the fuck. If I saw that dude at the airport, my interpertation would've been well off.

Just like I have to assume that most peoples perceptions of me would be well off if they based it from first glance. Because of that, I should probably stop doing it. But I don't think I will.

4 comments:

  1. People zoo is great on the underground/metro, because you can get so much closer. - As for perceptions, it's now hard not to think of Benny as Terminator, scanning the crowd at the next gig.

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  2. LAX and O'Hare are by far the the best zoos I've ever encountered, followed closely by Sea-Tac, but that might have been fueled by a plethora of Alaska Amber Ale. No matter, it's so true. Airports are full of great people-watching. I often find myself making up stories for people; especially those who look sad. I wonder who has had to book the flight out of desperation to get home to visit a dying loved one. Morbid, yes. But probably more often the true story. This is why I try not to have layovers.

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  3. Dude, what the fuck!? Why would someone lick the semen of the floor and walls!? That is just sick and wrong...it's wroouung.

    But you're right, like at the train station I never see happy familys saying goodbye like in the movies. All I see is a bunch of stressed people running around trying to catch their train...

    You're right too about judgin people from the outside. Whever I meet new people I'm for some reason allways scared that they're nazis or something.. Like when I first heard the Galight Anthem I was like: wow, this is amazing, I really hope they aren't nazis or something. But now that i have watched every interview you ever did on youtube I know that youre not..

    This is a really strange comment isnt it? Yes it is.

    I saw you guys at Pinkpop, you were really great!
    I was with that guy with the home-made patch:)

    I hope youre coming back to The Netherlands soon!

    Milo

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  4. "People zoo" perfect description!
    That's what I always do at airports or train stations. I like to make up stories that match the people I see: I try to figure out what their life could be about, where they are going right now and why! This really helps killing time when you're travelling alone.. ;)
    Probably gonna do that tomorrow when i'll be waiting for my flight to copenhagen to see you guys ;)
    so see you tomorrow!

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