Your talking about a society that will gather around the stare at a dead bird (I kid you not). So of course they will be curious/entertained to see a dumb laowai tie his own shoe, much less actually be able to write something down.

They always stare at my supermarket trolley, they do want to know what I buy.

They stare at my phone when i text message.  so annoying.

I get the pin-staring a lot. That's when I turn around and, in English, say "Hey, quit looking you stupid assh*l*". That usually does the trick.

Quite simply, the idea of privacy really doesn't exist here. People are just that way... I've learned to accept it... other than the PIN stuff...PIN Hulk doesn't like people knowing his PIN.

  Yeh, it's annoying, no doubt about it. People stare at your shopping, at YOU like you've got two heads, at what you're writing in an internet bar, people stop and just listen to your conversations, i've even had a group of home taught students follow me into the kitchen after a meal to see how 'laowai' do the washing up. Apparently we waste too much water. But then I have to compare things to the way they are back home, which is that staring is generally considered an act of aggression, and of these two (evils is a strong word) annoyances, i'd have to choose the one that doesn't end in someone getting glassed.

  I used to grind my teeth a lot and have been aggressive on many an occasion (you can take the boy out of London but you can't take London out of the boy) but i've learnt to accept the things I cannot change.

  When my wife has learnt to do the same with regard to my excessive flatulence, I will then 'truly' know peace.

So, it's a common issue! I thought it happened only to me for being a foreigner and the curiosity that I provoke about not being like physically . Maybe it's a sort of cultural issue: naturally invade other's privacy. Maybe they want to  know anything about anyone around them?! Or, maybe it's the lack of education and respect for others that bring to a violation of your own privacy. Or, is it that they show a childish and genuine curiosity?

Hi crimo,

                Oh, you're talking about the Chinese of course! It's just too much isn't it? :( * It's just related part and parcel to their ahem..general lack of manners,civility,respect,

maturity and courtesy! :( * Did I miss anything? * Oh yeah,,CLASS!

                Now see, I could just hear some Chinese nob saying "Do as the Romans do blah blah blah,etc." if an expat complained about how nosey the Chinese are. KA CHING! :(

I have noticed that my workmates just love to stare over my shoulder at my screen. Unnerving as all hell. Always saying "What's this?" "What's that?" 

By far the worst is at the hospital/doctor where people will come with "helpful" comments about your ailment, and the doctor will actually respond to them. 

Once at the eye doctor, a woman sitting in the room was told that she would probably go blind, she starts crying and all the people in the room start talking loudly about the diagnosis (well, normal talking volume) At the same time I am sitting with super blurred vision, which in itself is rather unpleasant when there is many people around.

Sending a parcel at the post office,some people go out of there way just to see where I'm sending it.

for me its when im writing something in chinese, a huge crowd comes along and when they realise im writing traditional chinese the cant believe it lol