Kathleen Valenti

Nosy-O-Meter

I’m a big fan of BuzzFeed quizzes. Curious which Pink Lady you would be? Wondering what your dessert preference reveals about your inner animal? Ready to help decipher “which celebrity my dad is talking about”? 

BuzzFeed has your back. Or tells you which famous background you most resemble.

Either way, inspired by BuzzFeed, I’ve been thinking about creating my own quiz: a Nosy-O-Meter that measures a person’s degree of curiosity or interest in other people.

Call it a professional liability or (literally) morbid curiosity, but as a writer of mysteries, I find myself wondering how far the average Joe or Jane or Jess would go to see what someone is up to.

This curiosity was exacerbated by last weekend’s eleventy billionth viewing of Rear Window. Seeing the classic yet again made me wonder: Who among us is Jeff Jeffries, with binoculars and a telephoto lens–and who is channeling stay-in-his-lane Officer Tom Doyle?

So take my little quiz. Give yourself one point for “Disagree,” two points for “Kind of Relate,” three points for “Yup, Sounds Like Me,” or four points for “Heck Yes! Say, Have You Been Following Me?” Then calculate where you fall on the scale.

Quiz:

I have Googled a friend, coworker, boss, or potential date–and/or stalked their social media to learn more about them.

I have peered over someone’s shoulder to read a text, email, or book.

I believe eavesdropping is a natural response to people talking too loudly. They clearly want me to hear what they’re saying.

I regularly watch people from my window.

I regularly use opera glasses or a telescope to watch people from my window.

I know what my Facebook friends are doing at almost any given moment.

I peek into other shoppers’ carts or bags.

I have considered becoming a detective or private investigator.

I have followed someone who seems suspicious.

I provided valuable information to help solve a mystery. 

Scale:

Jane Marple Material: 31-40

Nancy Drew Understudy: 21-30 points

Proud Busybody: 11-20 points

Keep-To-Oneself-er: 0-10 points

Not to be nosy, but I’d love to know: where did you fall on the scale? Is there a bit of nosy-empowered sleuthing you’re proud of? 

38 thoughts on “Nosy-O-Meter”

  1. Hestia here.

    definitely Nancy Drew. 29. I should be Miss Marple, but a few things I I’ve never even thought of doing. But yes, pretty nosy. As a kid I’d go with a friend to Dulles airport sometimes, and why the aunt was watching planes take off and land, Pat and I would watch people. If we saw anyone with a briefcase, we knew they had to be a spy, so we’d follow them around. This was the age of 11-14, old enough to know better!
    anyone who gets 39-40 is a Gladys Kravits. 😝

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      1. Well, googling, but just once. Well, twice. Eavesdropping a lot and very often. Peering over a shoulder when I can. And watching out the window sometimes.

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  5. Nancy Drew here. I’m far too chicken to ever follow a suspicious character or become a detective, lol! But I sure to love being nosy when it’s perfectly safe! (And scoping out what other people have in their shopping carts is one of my favorite pleasures.)

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    2. I took those points, JC, even though binoculars was not one of the choices!

      Great quiz, Kathy. I don’t math by fours very well, but I’m AT LEAST a proud busybody! I pride myself on being the Gladys Kravitz of the hood. And it’s funny, I’m editing an anthology and one of the authors used the phrase “nosy Parker.” I couldn’t find a definitive answer as to how it should be capitalized so I crowd-sourced it. I was amazed at how many people had never heard that phrase, my husband included! Oh, and I have definitely followed someone acting suspish.

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      1. NOSY PARKER!! I think we need a follow up post about all of the great nosy names and characters.

        And, of course, I’m nosy as heck wondering who you followed–and if your hunch was right!

        A few weeks ago, I nosy-ed my way into a group of teen girls who were swimming in our local irrigation canal, which is not only illegal, but dangerous. I imagine I came across as a Nosy Parker, but I figured better nosy than sorry!

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  12. Keep to myself/Proud Busybody.
    I’ve googled a few addresses of a certain type of person *coughAuthors* to send them swag. They have gotten me through some tough times. And y’all invest so much money in Swag for Cons, it was about time some of my faves were treated to things I knew you liked personally.

    No need for anyone to google.
    their addresses are:

    1234 Deadline Dr.

    Bookend, PA 18018

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