# The feeling of your life being watched over **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833 "2025-05-03T17:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/21 "2025-05-05T01:18:30Z")
It’s an interesting thought but no, I don’t feel like I’m being watched over. However, when I screw-up my ever-present and most thoughtful inner critic is Johnny-on-the-spot to ensure I punish myself thoroughly. If I do a good deed or do something well on occasion I only have myself to congratulate. Either way, no one and no thing notices or cares. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/22 "2025-05-14T08:28:59Z")
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking —Led Zeppelin, “Stairway to Heaven” If you don’t like the feeling of being watched, stay away from the [Santa Lucia Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Watchers). ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/23 "2025-05-14T11:09:00Z")
When I was a child I had a gang, seven of them, of imaginary friends. They were always by my side Giving me advice, warning me not to do certain things. And if I did something right, they would cheer me on. Of course I grew out of having imaginary friends. But by doing this I think I did something to my brain. Perhaps develop certain synaptic pathways that causes me to feel like I’m being watched over. Fortunately, in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/24 "2025-05-14T11:34:28Z")
That reminds of the time my husband and I visited [Petroglyph National Monument](https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm) in NM. I don’t remember which we went to, but it was just a short walk from a visitor center, and a fairly short circular path. It was obvious that some of the boulders had been moved to create the path and make things more visible. It started as an interesting walk, but about 1/2 way through I suddenly wanted OUT of there. I can’t really explain it, but I was seriously twitchy and uncomfortable. I was unwanted, an interloper, and the further along the path we went the worse it got. I quick-marched myself out of there. I’ve never experienced that before or since, and it was creeeeepy! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/25 "2025-05-14T11:40:56Z")
Well, when I’m having a conversation on the phone that doesn’t have the name “Alexa” in it, and Alexa suddenly comments on something I said, it creeps me out. 😳 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833/26 "2025-05-14T11:44:34Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I grew up and to some degree still imagine that I am the star of my own movie. I know I am not alone in that. Pretty sure there was some thread here with people sharing what they imagine their soundtrack is like … > > It’s not a Truman Show fantasy or a being watched over? But still. This is closer to how I may sometimes feel. Like in a very abstract manner. Sometimes I feel like more than 90% of the people in the world are NPCs and act like one. But I don’t feel like I’m being watched over in any meaningful or even impressionistic sense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feeling-of-your-life-being-watched-over/1017833.md?page=1)