Week 4 (Extra Credit): Project 1 Interaction Observation (Everyday Life Class)—BAISHIQI

Observation Time: 7:00 PM, March 24, 2025 (Rush Hour)

Observation Location: Subway Line 2

Observed Individuals: A young man (wearing headphones, black jacket) and a middle-aged man (gray suit, carrying a briefcase)

(1) An Accidental Bump and Quick Adjustment

When the subway suddenly braked, a young man lost his balance and lightly bumped into a middle-aged man next to him. The older man frowned a little and shot him a quick glance. The younger one immediately looked down and mumbled, “Ah, sorry.”

The middle-aged man didn’t say anything, just gave a small nod and went back to looking at his phone. And that was it. A tiny moment of awkwardness, solved in seconds. That brief eye contact and subtle nod worked like a mini reset button—no drama, no tension, just an automatic social fix that kept everything moving smoothly.

(2) Subtle Adjustments – Negotiating Personal Space

As the train kept moving, both men adjusted their positions a bit without saying a word:

•The young guy leaned slightly to one side, trying to shrink into his space.

•The older man casually switched his briefcase to the other hand, creating a little more distance between them.

It wasn’t coordinated, but somehow it worked. They were quietly “talking” with body language, finding a balance that made things more comfortable. These micro-adjustments are so automatic we barely notice them, but they’re how strangers manage to share tight spaces without things getting weird.

(3) “Pretending Not to See” – The Etiquette of Urban Life

A few minutes later, a woman standing nearby took out a compact mirror and started putting on makeup. The young man noticed her in his peripheral vision, but instantly looked away, pretending not to see.

It wasn’t about being uninterested—it was more like an unspoken rule. In packed public places, people tend to “look away” on purpose. Goffman calls this kind of behavior “civil inattention,” and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. It’s how we avoid making others feel watched or judged when we’re all just trying to get through our commute in peace.

(4) The End of a Temporary Interaction

As the train neared the next station, the older man glanced at the station name and stepped toward the door. Without needing to be asked, the young man shifted slightly to give him space.

Just before stepping off, the older man gave a small nod. The younger one nodded back. And that was the end of it. The train moved on, and this short, silent interaction came to a close.

Was It Interesting?

Actually—yeah. It kind of was. Watching how strangers interact without speaking made me realize how much communication happens without words. From adjusting posture to quick glances or polite nods, people constantly read each other and adapt, even in super short interactions like this one.

What’s especially cool is how this ties into Goffman’s idea of the “dramaturgical approach.” The subway becomes a stage, and everyone’s playing the role of a commuter, sticking to an unwritten script. No one’s directing it, but somehow the show goes on smoothly.

After doing this assignment, I’ve started to notice these little “performances” a lot more. It’s kind of like realizing you’ve been in a play the whole time—you just didn’t know it.