Urban space can change character overnight without warning

Evidence

First-timers and customers are particularly vulnerable to unexpected and rapid takeovers since they either have never been in the setting before or go only infrequently, and are therefore likely not to be present as the change is occurring. But even patrons may be caught with their expectations down, as it were. Who is present and what is happening in any small piece of public space can literally change overnight, as when a large group decides, as a body, to “hangout” in this or that place. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 776

Categorization

• XREF: Feeds the reader’s question of how the observing self’s reliability is undermined — rapid takeovers defeat even attentive observers.