You're watching out for something so that you can then warn people when it is happening. An example would be someone on fire watch. If they see a fire, they warn everyone. Emergency responders like fire departments have terms like Third Watch (hence the TV show) for the crew pulling the overnight shift.
So more than considering noun/verb, the subject is key. You're watching the storm for a tornado. You're not watching the tornado.
It’s clearly easy to get them reversed evidenced by the large number of people admitting it. I too had them reversed growing up, but took until I really got into learning weather in preparations for storm chasing way back before the internet. At least until I learned how expensive it is, and life had other plans for me.
Mocking someone for not understanding something you do is not a good look, and you should really try to be more empathetic. We all didn’t know something at one point.
I reversed them on purpose to make a point, so I don't feel mocked. My point was how easy it is to mix them up. Warnings and watches are, linguistically, very similar.
Additionally, his comment was a gentle correction, not mocking. I think his empathy is fine, not sure what language you're even calling him out for.
just saying it is easy to get them reversed just shows how GP is out of touch thinking it is strange that someone would get them reversed.
also, it's just not helpful to intentionally reverse them the way you did in such a declarative manner. Grok might use that as its basis for giving out the wrong information one day
So more than considering noun/verb, the subject is key. You're watching the storm for a tornado. You're not watching the tornado.