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Thread: Do you ever take notes in public?

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    Default Do you ever take notes in public?

    If so, how do people around you react? Do they eye you with suspicion? Do they ask you what you're doing?

    A lot of people read in public and no one thinks anything about it. But, I've never noticed anyone writing in public, other than maybe a crossword puzzle or in a library. I've thought about it, but I wonder if it would attract too much attention. I'm a little shy and wouldn't like that.

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    Senior Member mreeveshp's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    I do all the time, I always keep at least a notebook that fits in my back pocket for just such occasions. I know I can make a note on my phone but even when I had a note 8 I always found myself using a real pen and paper, nothing beats it. My memory is horrible so I'm always writing down things to remember, lyrics/poem ideas, etc. Plus studies show that writing something down gives you a greater chance of remembering the task or idea.

    I'm only 33 so most people my age think its weird that I always have a pen and something to write on, I don't always carry a fountain (which they think is even weirder) I might just carry my g2 depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going. And honestly I don't think anyone except my doctor has ever noticed. He always likes that I have fountain pens

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    All the time. Mostly on the train on my commute. No-one has ever reacted (not that I am aware of anyway, but I am focussed on taking notes, not other people's reactions).
    Vintage. Cursive italic. Iron gall.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Yes. I’ve done it for years in coffee shops, bars, parks, etc. No one pays much attention.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Yes, all the time. Never noticed I was being watched.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    I am shy and attention-hating, too, at least in person, and yet i have no issue with writing in public. I wrote in public often before Covid. Others do it too, it’s just that most people do it on a laptop now. I expect i’ll go back to working in public eventually. I work better outside than at home.

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    Senior Member jar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    I am truly amazed that we have reached the point where taking notes in public might garner attention. Kids these days.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    You're amazed, I'm skeptical. I think people lie awake at night dreaming these things up.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Quote Originally Posted by jar View Post
    I am truly amazed that we have reached the point where taking notes in public might garner attention. Kids these days.
    I'm taking a note of that.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Some people take offence to sketching and it is understandable...
    .....writing I don't understand why?

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Always until the pandemic. Cafes were my mainstay. Broke down in tears the other day, while running a safe space errand, when I could not stop at any of the locals.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Quote Originally Posted by Parsimonious View Post
    If so, how do people around you react? Do they eye you with suspicion? Do they ask you what you're doing?

    A lot of people read in public and no one thinks anything about it. But, I've never noticed anyone writing in public, other than maybe a crossword puzzle or in a library. I've thought about it, but I wonder if it would attract too much attention. I'm a little shy and wouldn't like that.
    All the time. No one notices, no one cares.

    So don't worry!
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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Like Sailor Kenshin I write in public spaces all the time. I once had someone enquire what I was writing, not aggressively, just curious. That was a long time ago and completely ignored since.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Thanks for the comments. This 81 year old kid appreciates them.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    I do all the time. If asked I just explain I'm a teacher and though of something that could help my students.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Yes. I was noticed only one time, that I know of. It was a teenager commenting on my fountain pen to her parents in a whisper. Did I mention I have really good hearing?
    Fountain Pen Sith Lord | Daakusaido | Everything in one spot

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Yes, and no one's ever inquired. Might be because my camera's also on the table or counter (pre-pandemic).

    During visits to Les Deux Magots in Paris, I've seen people at a table inside writing in a notebook, usually with a fountain pen.
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    Junior Member mathogre's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Quote Originally Posted by Parsimonious View Post
    If so, how do people around you react? Do they eye you with suspicion? Do they ask you what you're doing?

    A lot of people read in public and no one thinks anything about it. But, I've never noticed anyone writing in public, other than maybe a crossword puzzle or in a library. I've thought about it, but I wonder if it would attract too much attention. I'm a little shy and wouldn't like that.
    This is interesting. I always like to challenge the views of others...

    @BlkWhiteFilmPix mentioned having his camera on the table or counter. That was my "trigger".

    One of my pre-pandemic hobbies was street photography. I would do street photography in DC as it it next door to me, as well as in NYC. NYC was the best. No one cared, and it was a cool city to do anything you want. What I noticed on a fairly recent trip to Southern California, barely pre-pandemic, was that Southern Californians are in contrast paranoid of photographers. Street photography in my limited experience out there is Not A Thing. I got more than noticed for taking some street shots and got a considerable amount of Official Attention at one point. I've gotten "attention" here on the east coast, and while armed official attention in a couple cases, those people were actually overall chill. I'm often clueless, so it wasn't as if I was trying to push someone's limits; it just happened. SoCal was decidedly not chill.

    Now, back to the topic of taking notes...

    On the east coast the thought of taking notes being an issues isn't - or wasn't ever - a thing for me. Whether on the DC Metro, sitting in a public area, or even adding to my active grocery list in a grocery store (yes, now with a fountain pen!), it is a non-issue. @
    Parsimonious, I cannot imagine that note taking in public is an issue, but it could be an issue in SoCal or in other places. If you're getting bad vibes about note taking in public, there may be something you're picking up, whether you can put it into words or not. A "gut feel" is telling you something.

    Just my two cents...
    mathogre, aka The Mathemagician

    https://www.grahamglover.com

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    I take notes in public without any public reaction. In fact, I would be surprised if there was a reaction.

    Seemingly, the entire world takes little or no notice of what is going on around them.

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    Default Re: Do you ever take notes in public?

    Quote Originally Posted by An old bloke View Post
    Seemingly, the entire world takes little or no notice of what is going on around them.
    I think this is key. Besides, people really aren't interested in what you're doing. They have their own lives.

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