Urbanites suppress obvious reconnaissance to shorten their exposure to settled observers

Evidence

Americans seem to feel constrained to take readings as quickly as possible and to do so in such a way as to suggest that they are not doing so. One might think that under the barrage of masses of new stimuli, the most sensible procedure would be to pause for a few moments just inside the setting in order to most adequately and efficiently assess the physical layout. But such frank, unabashed assessments are rarely observed. To prolong the period in which one is in view of all those already settled within the setting is to prolong the period of disadvantage. The approach sequence is difficult enough (since during it the individual is “in the spotlight,” as it were) even at its briefest; to prolong it is to prolong a period where the slightest error is visible to the largest number. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 851

Categorization

Category: Causal Relationships

• XREF: The ‘period of disadvantage’ logic shows the asymmetric visibility that marks the newcomer—resonates with the observer’s unmoored, unreliable position in Cole and with Simmel’s defensive stance.

Broader Connections

• The skill urbanites develop for public navigation is deployed defensively to avoid others #expands (0.75) — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 869
• Modern urbanites defuse situational ignorance by avoiding unprepared places #expands (0.70) — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 653
• Colonial knowing relied on inattention and adverted gazes more than surveillance #expands (0.55) — Ann Laura Stoler, Along the Archival Grain_ Epistemic…, 1384