MsBrightside
Well-Known Member
Do you ever inadvertently make people uncomfortable by staring or become uncomfortable when someone stares at you?
I have to admit I'm terrible about this. If I see a big, lovely man when I'm out and about somewhere I almost always end up staring at him (appreciatively :wubu:, of course). Sometimes he doesn't notice, but sometimes he does and looks a bit uncomfortable. Smiling almost always relaxes him, and so does a friendly greeting or bit of conversation. I've even made friends this way on occasion, but I still feel guilty about making someone uncomfortable for even a short time. I can't seem to help doing it, but then people in general interest me. I'm the kind of person who enjoys striking up conversations with strangers to pass the time on airplanes, in waiting rooms, queues, etc. Only if they seem amenable to it, though; I try not to be too annoying.
In an effort to be fair, I've attempted to consider this from the flip side. When a man that I don't know stares at me, it usually doesn't bother me unless he looks hostile, makes an inappropriate comment about my body, or starts to follow me about, although that kind of thing doesn't happen too often. But then I'm pretty unremarkable physically: 5'7" or so, nondescript brown hair, brownish eyes, medium size, so I don't really stand out in a crowd. Unless I'm staring at someone. :doh:
I have to admit I'm terrible about this. If I see a big, lovely man when I'm out and about somewhere I almost always end up staring at him (appreciatively :wubu:, of course). Sometimes he doesn't notice, but sometimes he does and looks a bit uncomfortable. Smiling almost always relaxes him, and so does a friendly greeting or bit of conversation. I've even made friends this way on occasion, but I still feel guilty about making someone uncomfortable for even a short time. I can't seem to help doing it, but then people in general interest me. I'm the kind of person who enjoys striking up conversations with strangers to pass the time on airplanes, in waiting rooms, queues, etc. Only if they seem amenable to it, though; I try not to be too annoying.
In an effort to be fair, I've attempted to consider this from the flip side. When a man that I don't know stares at me, it usually doesn't bother me unless he looks hostile, makes an inappropriate comment about my body, or starts to follow me about, although that kind of thing doesn't happen too often. But then I'm pretty unremarkable physically: 5'7" or so, nondescript brown hair, brownish eyes, medium size, so I don't really stand out in a crowd. Unless I'm staring at someone. :doh:
