Well, there was that time I saw that dude walking around downtown wearing a bikini.
And there’s a bloke in the suburb I used to live who wears footy shorts and knee-high, lace-up, red patent leather boots…in all weathers.
He was in public and I talked about him…for about 2 minutes.
Does that count?
No, and no one really worries about this, either.
This happened to me, I knew Zardoz was not the perfect cosplay inspiration too late.
I can see Jennifer Garner worrying about this sort of thing.
Every minute? No. But you do see people of note in a big city like Chicago, and discuss them with other people. I had a guy flirt with me at a bus stop - he was not a transsexual or transvestite, but straight up a guy in drag - beard, greasy brown hair, hairy legs, wearing an orange and yellow sundress and orange pumps. The bus came, everyone else got on and he remained on the bench - we passengers had a little chat speculating on what he was up to.
Yes, they do. That’s why I started this thread.
The only time that people I see out and about ever come up again in conversation is if they’re REALLY out of the norm.
I mean, someone with a toddler that’s throwing a fit doesn’t even register 5 minutes after I’ve seen them, but someone who’s really out of the norm may- like say a forty-something woman dressed all in Hello Kitty clothing and accessories. (haven’t actually seen that IRL, but it’s a good example)
In my experience, the very concern that people are going to look is probably a good indicator that nobody will give them a second glance; the people you notice are the ones who are either intending to be a spectacle, or the ones who are so oblivious that they have no idea.
Mind. Blown.
When I was working in New Jersey, I went to NYC one weekend and saw Jennifer Aniston shopping at a store. Several people (myself included) recognized her , but I didn’t note that any of us were “following” her around the store. I did, however, see her when I checked out and I tried NOT to look at her.
Unless the person the OP is describing has a mental or emotional illness, then they were likely brought up to believe that the world noticed the presence. The majority of the time , this not the case and in fact unless you call attention to yourself, you are often unnoticed when you travel in public, even if you are famous or abnormally attractive/ugly.
And this is from a large Black man who is used to having store security follow him around while he’s shopping.
Even people like this generally do not attract attention unless they do something to garner it.
The concern the OP describes as lots of folks having somewhat resembles that feeling of “omigod, everyone knows I’m stoned!”.
Other than that, I’ve never heard of this particular worry.