Checking you out....

[Gloria25]

Ok, when I was a kid, my sisters and I would walk around and flip off people who were staring at us....We had a big German Shepard doggy and would threaten to have her attack them if they didn't stop. We also used to call 911 from public phones and make prank calls

 

Yes, we were bad kids...

 

Anywho, my question is: What is it about staring that unnerves us?

 

I mean, I watch stalking shows, have been stalked and/or received unwanted advances and some how lots of stalkers have this thing where they just "stare" at people.

 

Now, there's also the cuteness that we all feel when it's an object of our affection checking us out. I mean, looking through the corner of your eye and catching them looking at you, blushing, coooing - it's part of attraction, getting someone to notice you're interested, etc.

 

So, what is it about people looking at us that can affect us so much? I mean, they're just looking.

 

Sometimes I wonder if the whole "It's not polite to stare" thing came from possible issues with looking at people?

[Light Breeze]

I think it's the "focusing on you" part of staring that's affecting us.

 

Let's say when a creep stares at you, then you freak out because he's "focusing" on you. Same goes for crushes when they do that then you feel like a million bucks.

[Toodaloo]

 

Anywho, my question is: What is it about staring that unnerves us?

 

 

Its an unspoken threat. Watch any nature program we are not the only creatures to have stare downs...

 

Staring implies aggression. I am immediately on guard and ready to fight if need be when I realise someone is staring at me. I then concentrate on the perceived threat and prepare for action to protect against that threat.

 

Its nature.

 

A crush tends to look away in between stare sessions and not just actively stare so its not so threatening.

 

"Its not polite to stare" as its a form of threatening behaviour and can easily cause fights.