Why do people stare?

Anyone here know why? I'm serious and this particular thing has bugged me for a long time..Why do we stare? I know there could be numerous reasons, but you as the staree can only try and guess why the starer is staring at you. Most times people don't *ask* and people don't stare at you then walk up and tell you why either.
This is a mystery to me as I don't usually stare at someone, I think it's rude. But, if you've ever stared at someone and you know any reasons as to why..I'd really like to hear them.

I mean, glancing at someone is OK, but flat out not releasing your stare from them for a long period of time, is disturbing and makes one feel very uneasy. Don't you think?
Magestica

Ummm,

Without staring at each other I don't think anyone of us would be here.

I think your parents as well as mine had to stare at each other at least once before procreation occured, unless your really wasted at the moment.

Staring is just a form of understanding what you are perceiving nothing more. If you feel uncomfortable, say " WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STARING AT".

Problem Solved

Then again, you might get your kicked, who knows????


[Edited on 7/16/2003 by FoxStriker]

I know what you mean magestica. I usually dont stare at people either... or at the very least I try not to. But sometimes I like to look at people. You can tell a lot about a person just by the way they cary themselves and interact with others and their environment.

Originally posted by Ocelot
You can tell a lot about a person just by the way they cary themselves and interact with others and their environment.

I dont stare at people. That is annoying as heck, thats why I dont go into public very much. I think its different when you are the "stare-ee". I get stared at alot or maybe im just paranoid. But everytime I go somewhere I can feel people watching me and I look and there is always someone standing there looking at me. It freaks me out.
People are fascinating. watching how they react to everyday life is very interesting. I think you can safetly say that people stare for many many reasons but in the end its because they are curious. just my 1/2 a cent.

I call it body snatcher syndrome Theres your answer.
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Falcon

That is hilarious! you figured it out!
Thats what they do to me or at least thats what it feels like....

Sometimes people may stare and not even realise they are doing it. However, others may stare due to the following.....

They see a person and either think, god, their good looking or oh, aren't they bloody ugly and just stare at them for ages.

Another reason for staring could be jealousy or maybe just plain old curiosity.

Of course, you get your regular nutters that just enjoy staring at people for ages. I personally find that extremely freaky and it makes me feel so uncomfortable.

I hold my hands up, I have stared at a few people in my time. Occasionally, I don't even know I'm doing it. I only do it out of curiosity though.

I would never stare at a disabled or physically challenged person, THAT REALLY GETS MY GOAT when I see people doing that!!

I think the wierdest thing is that if you sit somewhere and for look at someone for some reason.. The person always, and I mean ALWAYS, turn around and look at you.. You don't really have to know you're staring, you could also be staring right past at the person. But somehow they always look back after a short period of time.. Must be some kind of 6th sense :-)
Try it out! Sit in a train and look at someone. If they are not occupied with anything I guarantee they will look back at you.. :-)

Yes, that's all to do with instincts I think.....

You kinda know when someones looking at you...

I have a great method in order to tell if a girl wants to meet me.

I know this is off-topic but is somewhat related.

Whenever im out with my friends at a bar or a club, somtimes I would notice (obviously) the pretty girls in the place. And one sure fire way to know if they want to meet you is look in their direction a couple of times during the night. If at the moment you look at them their looking at you then thats the opening.

Trust me. Works for me 95% of the time. So you see staring has its advantages. If you know what signals to look for.

I try not to stare at people...considering it as rude. But as been said, sometimes you might be staring at someone and not even realise you are...like ya mind might be away somewhere completely different with a fixed gaze, and the person ahead of you thinks you're staring at them, when in fact they couldn;t be further from the truth.

But...that said...I do find people facinating...the way they interact with others and such. Sometimes I just like to watch people walk past...think to myself "Wonder what they are thinking" or "Wonder where they are going"...or you might notice someone and 'sense' an emotion from them, which might have you thinking "Wonder why that person is so sad" etc etc.

Yeah...I'm wierd...pays to wear sunglasses sometimes...

But I also know what its like to have people stare at you...as people often stare at me...hell, you know, I ain't small ...so in a way I'm used to walking down the street and having people eye-ball me.

I don't normally have an issue with that...what does get me sometimes tho' is when little punk-azz idiots try to 'staunch me out' by giving me 'the stare-down' thing...hahaha...ahhh, little puppy-dogs, so lucky they didn't try that 5-10 years ago...now I just laugh on the inside and walk away...



Peace,
ALIEN

Originally posted by Pocket
Sometimes people may stare and not even realise they are doing it. However, others may stare due to the following.....

They see a person and either think, god, their good looking or oh, aren't they bloody ugly and just stare at them for ages.

Another reason for staring could be jealousy or maybe just plain old curiosity.

Of course, you get your regular nutters that just enjoy staring at people for ages. I personally find that extremely freaky and it makes me feel so uncomfortable.

I hold my hands up, I have stared at a few people in my time. Occasionally, I don't even know I'm doing it. I only do it out of curiosity though.

I would never stare at a disabled or physically challenged person, THAT REALLY GETS MY GOAT when I see people doing that!!

Staring at a disabled person isnt any different than staring at a "normal" person. atleast not in my mind.

stare because he/she is goodlooking, ugly, disabled, stupid looking, its all the same.

i was once stading at a bus stop looking at a commercial. suddenly this disabled guy started accusing me of staring at him. fs i hadnt even noticed him.

But it still makes no sense to me..If you are interested in the person you are staring at *romantically* then why not just strike up a conversation with them? I don't think staring would make me want to *have relations* with someone..it bothers me and it can make one feel uneasy at times. Sometimes you may think the person is finding you attractive, but that's not always the case.

And I'm sorry, but I never just gaze off in public and/or in the direction of someone, because it makes me feel uneasy, so therefore I refrain from doing it myself. Yes, I've caught eyes with someone a few times, that's different then what I'm talking about. I'm talking flat out staring for longer then a minute at someone, several times..

And YES, I have walked up to people and asked them what the *F$#K are you looking at?* but that was years ago and sometimes they would claim they weren't looking or whatever...then I felt bad about being so rude. So I don't do that anymore Plus, I'm not as bold as I was 5-10 years ago..

I thank you all for your opinions..some make alot of sense, and it could also go back to another thread about feeling or sensing something from the person..though you still don't need to stare
Mags

I think that if there is something we are consciously noticing, we tend to do it in quick glances and hope we aren't "made". But I think think true staring is an unconscious involutary action and proabaly why people deny doing it. They may not even be aware of it and if they become aware, they may be embarrassed by their lack of control even though we all seem to fall victim to our unconscious mind from time to time. Now, I'm merely speaking of stares that seem misplaced and don't seem to have any reasoning...not the drunk redneck who either wants to fight ya or hit on ya and is too wasted to realize how uncomfortable he's making you or the gang banger who, for whatever reason, appears to think he owns a portion of a city that no one is allowed to walk through without his permission. Intentional stares are different.

So ya think it would be appropriate then to ask them, politely? I sometimes get kind of paranoid and start wiping my nose or something LOL! you know, thinking there must be something on my face that they are staring at and not telling me I have double taked at people, male or female because they look like someone I know and I'm sure they may have sensed me staring a bit as well, maybe? So that's always a possibility, someone might look like someone we lost or loved or even despised?

All in all though, it does make people uncomfortable because look at all the reasons it could be, and you are just left wondering, unless you ask and they actually tell you...So I really do try not to do this, atleast remain somewhat inconspicuous, or better yet...just go up and say something to them? "hey, you look just like someone I once knew"...how hard is that?

So have we learned anything here folks? Don't just stare..open your mouths and speak...

I just learned why all people stare...you see they have been implanted with devised by ET and he is useing them to monitor verything! This is serious..what are we to do...

Originally posted by ADVISOR
I just learned why all people stare...you see they have been implanted with devised by ET and he is useing them to monitor verything! This is serious..what are we to do...

I can tell which people have implants So that's not it....I'm talking humans, not hybrids or alien wannabes..

I go through this checklist before going in a public place i.e. outside my flat

1. nose is clean
2. zip is up
3. clothes are on
4. clothes are not pyjamas
5. underwear is worn under clothes
6. shoes are a matching pair
7. make-up hasn't smudged revealing reptilian skin underneath
8. no unsightly fight evidence like an axe in head
9. not bleeding profusely
10. still a human colour (see 7.)
11. human size 3' to 8' tall
12. no tail
13. symmetrical body shape (two on either side and one down the middle)

If you pass this checklist and still find people are staring at you its because you are really good looking.
Works for me.

Well this one time, in a bar, i sat in the corner and started skinning up.

I lit up my spliff and couldnt help but notice people staring at me all the time.

Mintues passed and i started feeling very un easy when i looked up and saw a TV right above me

There are a lot of blind people out there who really can't see clearly past several feet away. So they could inadvertently be looking directly at you without knowing it.

Also, in my case for some reason, a casual look, even an indirect peek at someone elicits notice. I don't know why this is the case. You'd think I had lasers zooming out of my eyes wherever I look.