Eye contact with strangers

[Witterquick]

I only do that in parks. Mostly the connections improves my mood. But if I'm really feeling depressed, I'll just avoid it altogether. I don't do eye contact in the subway or on the streets normally.

Do you enjoy eye contacts or do you find it annoying when people look at you and you have to be polite and smile or nod?

How do you catch somebody's eye? Are you usually the person waiting for the other to look your way? I find it awkward to do that. I usually just glance at people when they get close and if they don't look up, I look away and that's it.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I often make eye contact with strangers usually because I mistake them for someone else I know.

I don't mind making eye contact with strangers to be honest - be it at work, in the street, etc. Some people find it quite disturbing when I make eye contact with them.

 

[Fer]

I don't intentionally make eye contact with anyone, but when I do I just smile and nod. Sometimes I feel a little weird about it, as if they've somehow "caught" me looking at them or something, even though it's always accidental on my part. But I figure, hey, it takes two to make eye contact, right?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Here's an odd culture shock I've noticed since moving to New Jersey.

In Indiana, it's actually rather customary to make eye contact when you walk past someone, even to say "hello" or "how's it going?"

Here (New Jersey), you do not make eye contact with someone you don't know and aren't interacting with. You sure as hell don't say "hi." It's an invitation for begging, or worse. Not that you'll get that every time, but people here are very touchy about it. It's been a hard habit to break, because I feel like a bad person if I don't acknowledge the presence of someone walking past me. But you're just supposed to keep your eyes cast down and avoid running into people. Other than that, you don't interact with Joe Blow on the street.

 

[Mr Light]

I never make eye contact with strangers. Even talking to someone I know, I'll look at them briefly, look away, look back, etc.

 

[Amaris]

I always make eye contact. On the street I'll make eye contact, nod and smile a hello. If someone stops to ask me a question (say for directions or something like that), I make eye contact while I'm answering.

J.

 

[RoJoHen]

I will look at someone's general face area, but it weirds me out when someone tries too look directly into my eyes.

 

[Joshua Howard]

Tough question. I definitely can relate to the awkwardness of interacting with strangers, or ignoring them as the case might be. Usually I mind my business and avoid casting stray glances at folks when I'm walking down the sidewalk. Often I will nod to whoever I pass without actually looking at them directly. In that way they may catch it out of the corner of their eye, but do not feel threatened or disturbed.

I occasionally go out of my way to start conversation with strangers, however, but that is usually in cases where we are both in close proximity for a while, like at a bus stop.

I tend to find grocery store lines a bit awkward at times. It is rude to stare at the person in front of you, and it is unpleasant to have the feeling that whoever is behind you is staring, but equally awkward to make eye contact or spark a conversation with them for no reason.

The funny element about this kind of thing is that most people are actually pretty sociable, but they are actually all afraid of casting the wrong impression by breaking the ice. It comes down to a respect protocol, but if we were all betazoid, we would probably quickly realize that the folks around us are not as potentially hostile as we imagine.

I'll tell you another irritating thing along the same lines though; living in a suburban neighborhood, having never really spoken to any of my neighbors, and being outside. It seems rude to completely ignore the people that live one door down, but on the same scale, it also feels like an invasion of privacy to stare at them when I walk outside. The only time I go out into my yard is to mow it, because I just don't relish the idea of being stared at by all the strangers in my culdesac.

 

[Tom Riley]

I feel awkward when I am near a stranger outside, regardless of whether I make eye contact or not. It's weird, I feel like I should make eye contact but at the same time feel like I shouldn't so I just end up worrying too much about it and making myself feel awkward no matter what I do.

 

[Kestra]

I make eye contact and strike up conversations sometimes.

 

[WillsBabe]

My natural inclination seems to be to make eye contact with people. It's something that's not a problem when I'm at home in Devon. When I'm visiting London, though, I really have to rein myself in. Noone seems to make eye contact there. As for talking to strangers, I strike up conversations from time to time.

 

[Red Ranger]

Just don't make eye contact with anyone on the subway in New York City, folks! Spells trouble! -- RR

 

[Amaris]

Just don't make eye contact with anyone on the subway in New York City, folks! Spells trouble! -- RR

I figure this is the best solution:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJ_1ZzgQkk



J.

 

[Pegaritaville]

I never make eye contact with strangers. Even talking to someone I know, I'll look at them briefly, look away, look back, etc.

I'm the same way. If I ever get asked to identify someone in a lineup, it ain't gonna happen.

 

[Red Ranger]

Just don't make eye contact with anyone on the subway in New York City, folks! Spells trouble! -- RR

I figure this is the best solution:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYJ_1ZzgQkk



J.

It's bad luck to hit a guy like that! -- RR

 

[Emher]

Don't make eye contact with people I don't know. As creepy as it sounds I've made an art out of looking at people I find intresting looking without them noticing.

 

[Yoda]

I'll try to make eye contact with hot chicks. Duh. If I'm walking by a dude or a fatty or something I'll stare at my feet or something.

 

[JonathonWally]

I thought this thread title said "Eye contact with Strippers"

I was gonna say, they don't like that.

 

[Deckerd]

You are aware that inability to make eye contact is a symptom of autistic spectrum disorder?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Just don't make eye contact with anyone on the subway in New York City, folks! Spells trouble! -- RR

Yes, so I've learned!