I liked looking on at other people in crucial situations. If there was a road accident or a street fight or a baby pickled in a laboratory jar for me to look at, I'd stop and look so hard I never forgot it. I certainly learned a lot of things I never would have learned otherwise this way, and even when they surprised me or made me sick I never let on, but pretended that's the way I knew things were all the time.
The speaker shares a fascination with observing others in intense situations, whether it be accidents or conflicts. This voyeuristic tendency allows them to gather experiences and knowledge that they might not encounter in ordinary life. Engaging in these observations teaches them lessons that, despite being shocking or unsettling, shape their understanding of the world around them.
By maintaining an appearance of composure, the observer masks their discomfort and surprises, as they...
