Ella

So I'm on a break at the beach, staying in a high-rise apartment block. I'm on the 13th floor and adjacent to me is another block of apartments. I was just on the balcony smoking a j and checking out the apartment block next to me.

A man in one of the windows caught my eye. He was tall, bald, well built, quite hairy and bare chested. He was at his sink, taking a drink, then he moved into his lounge and switched off his lights. I could see his image vaguely on the couch, smoking, and could see the flicker of the TV. I watched him...and others I could see in the block....and wondered if I was verging on the voyeuristic. Is it right to feed my voyeuristic urges, or am I being too much of an opportunist?

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"Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure."

maleficent

True confession time:
At the many apartments that I had when I lived in NYC, one constant fixture near a window was a telescope. There's lots of light pollution in NYC, so a clear view of the sky is pretty much impossible, but the telescope was rarely pointed at the sky, it was always pointed at other buildings, and I always spotted many other people doing the same thing.

It's people watching... Nothing wrong with it... That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I people didn't want to be watched, they'd close the blinds.

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bookerV

I think it's ok. If I was doing something where I didn't want to be seen I'd close my curtains. I live in an apartment condo (low rise building) and I don't really care if people see me. I think its ok...

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"That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy."

Lionel Hutz

Rodney

If it's somebody you don't know and are probably never going to meet, no harm done. Although probably you're better off picking up a good book.

If it's somebody you know or are likely to meet, pull the blinds. Otherwise, you'll feel awkward with them afterwards -- because there are things about them that you know that they are not aware that you know of; and you won't know whether they'd be comfortable with your knowledge, or not. At least that's my opinion from personal experience.

Y2KDREAD

People watching is fun, at the apartment I lived in over the summer I would often just sit with the window open and look around at what was going on. It was quite funny some of the stuff you see in an apartment parking lot in a college town in the middle of the night. And this form of entertainment is more realistic and much cooler than much of the stuff you can find on TV.

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Signatures are for chumps.

maleficent

Gotta watch the movie Rear Window, with Jimmy Stewart, great movie... He was quite the voyeur in the movie and was convinced one of the neighbors he spied on committed murder.

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stonegrody

I don't see anything wrong with it and I agree that if you don't want to be seen you should close your blinds. I mean, if you can see them, chances are...they can see you.

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chickentribs

Uh - I didn't even necessarily give it a thought here in my building. But I think in a place like Chicago or NYC there is almost that unspoken understanding that if you flaunt it, someone out there is going to be watching. Of course it stays unspoken because they're too far to speak to anyway, so it works well for me! Keeps me on the treadmill to...

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Oft expectation fails...
and most oft there Where most it promises
- Shakespeare, W.

Ella

Yup, good point, chickentribs. Some people like to be watched, for sure. I remember years ago my man at the time and I were having sex in the bedroom of his apartment, and I looked out the window to see a couple watching us from the window of their apartment. Didn't stop us at the time.

And malificent....'Rear Window' is indeed an excellent study of apartment living!

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"Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure."

skills1

I closed my blinds when I lived in my apartment.

radioguy

everything is cool, look if you can. if people didn't want to be seen, they would shut their blinds. happy voyeuring

chickentribs

I'm not sure what that says for him - but it makes you one heck of a multitasker! I was under the impression voyeurism was something done in lieu of pushing pine yourself... Never thought it was meant to be an "also"! Good Stuff!

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Oft expectation fails...
and most oft there Where most it promises
- Shakespeare, W.

maleficent

I believe that's exhibitionism -- a perfect match for the voyeur

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la petite moi

I love people watching. Since I don't live in an apartment or anything, I'll sometimes ask nwlinkvxd if we can just go to "The Marketplace" (a place where lots of kids/people go) and sit together. It's harmless. As long as you're not peeking into bathroom windows, you're just fine.

Cynthetiq

I've been fortunate to live in some good locations...

my long distance relationship started with us goofing off I was on the 32nd floor and she was on the 25th or something like that, but I could see right into her bedroom and bathroom.

One night she and her girlfriends played truth or dare and one of them jumped naked on the bed. that was funny because I saw it not knowing who's apartment it was but then later we hooked up and dated for a couple years. She used to tease me in the mornings before she went to school...then come over and we'd romp around before the bus came.

But here in NYC I don't have any apartments that face our apartment windows. Very nice!!!! We have no blinds or window coverings at this time because no one can see in easily... if they can see in from Brooklyn... more power to them.

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st33lr4t

i think its all good. i have zero curtains and always have the kawk out

mosha

I dont see a problem with it at all, I mean if people are going to be open and let me see in then its their own fault right?