Obsessively staring at people!

Moses199

Moses199

Well-known member
I'm curious if anyone has this social anxiety problem...
When i stare at someone i always keep looking back at them repeatedly to check if they are starring back. I can do this numerous times to a single person. Some people would almost reciprocate my nervous-starring behavior and stare at me to check if i'm looking at them lol, it's so weird how it can rub off on some people.
 
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Requiescat

Requiescat

Well-known member
I have been caught with that once, but that as because I was feeling particularly uncomfortable with myself that day.
 
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BlazeBlue

Active member
Moses199 said:
I'm curious if anyone has this social anxiety problem...
When i stare at someone i always keep looking back at them repeatedly to check if they are starring back. I can do this numerous times to a single person. Some people would almost reciprocate my nervous-starring behavior and stare at me to check if i'm looking at them lol, it's so weird how it can rub off on some people.
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I sometimes do that too. I think when someone randomly gazes at you, it's only natural for you to feel on guard and gaze back to check that they're not up to no good.
 
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lonerism

Well-known member
No, I don't have a problem with obsessively staring at people; my problem is the opposite - people staring at me in odd, rude, and excessive ways.

I may glance at people, look away, and then glance at them again if there is some compelling reason to do so; but mostly, I try to avoid getting caught looking at someone. The last thing I want is some awkward staredown.

I think I have encountered some people who have a similar tendency as you do to stare at people, though. My cousin may be one of these people. Years ago, during a family occasion, I was quite irritated by this cousin staring at me in an excessive manner. I could be in a group, talking to (more or less) other people in this group - but he seemingly didn't stare at these other people...I would be the one whom he would be "locked in" on. I was already feeling quite uncomfortable - with his staring, I felt like an outright freak-show. I was angry that - out of all of the people who were there - I was the one whom he was targeting in this manner.

A few years later, I called him on his behavior - and he claimed to have no memory of it. He simply didn't realize that he was staring at me; apparently, it was some "reflex" that he wasn't fully conscious of. Later on, he sort-of confessed to some "staring problem"; he mentioned that he was taking a class at a community college, and he was staring at the various people in that class. He said that at least a few of the people may have been freaked out by his staring; he didn't mean to offend these people, but he somehow just gets "sucked" into staring at people without realizing it.
 
Moses199

Moses199

Well-known member
lonerism said:
No, I don't have a problem with obsessively staring at people; my problem is the opposite - people staring at me in odd, rude, and excessive ways.

I may glance at people, look away, and then glance at them again if there is some compelling reason to do so; but mostly, I try to avoid getting caught looking at someone. The last thing I want is some awkward staredown.

I think I have encountered some people who have a similar tendency as you do to stare at people, though. My cousin may be one of these people. Years ago, during a family occasion, I was quite irritated by this cousin staring at me in an excessive manner. I could be in a group, talking to (more or less) other people in this group - but he seemingly didn't stare at these other people...I would be the one whom he would be "locked in" on. I was already feeling quite uncomfortable - with his staring, I felt like an outright freak-show. I was angry that - out of all of the people who were there - I was the one whom he was targeting in this manner.

A few years later, I called him on his behavior - and he claimed to have no memory of it. He simply didn't realize that he was staring at me; apparently, it was some "reflex" that he wasn't fully conscious of. Later on, he sort-of confessed to some "staring problem"; he mentioned that he was taking a class at a community college, and he was staring at the various people in that class. He said that at least a few of the people may have been freaked out by his staring; he didn't mean to offend these people, but he somehow just gets "sucked" into staring at people without realizing it.
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Yeah actually have your problem too, or altealst i think so....Like for me, if i see someone starring at me i will look away but i get anxiety that they are still looking at me, so i would check to see if they are. If they are still starring then would get pissed off. It's even worst when i'm having a very bad day, a simple glance at me pisses me off sometimes eventhough it's not long. I've actually staredown some people, i'm not trying to be a bully but some people should know it's rude to stare at someone for long periods of time and makes them uncomortable.
 
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Louco

Louco

Well-known member
lonerism said:
No, I don't have a problem with obsessively staring at people; my problem is the opposite - people staring at me in odd, rude, and excessive ways.

I may glance at people, look away, and then glance at them again if there is some compelling reason to do so; but mostly, I try to avoid getting caught looking at someone. The last thing I want is some awkward staredown.
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I was exactly like this for ages. Coming to think about it, I think my problem was that I didn't know if, and for how long, I was supposed to look people in the eyes depending on the situation.

Now I usually always look into the eyes of someone I'm talking to and give a relaxed look for a second or two to people passing by. I try not to think if they are still staring, if it is the case they are the ones being weird. This actually takes a small effort, but I expect to be naturally like this some day.

But you know, there are good things possible coming from this. If I happen to be stared non-stop by a girl, sometimes I smile and greet her, even if we don't know each other, and they always answered by doing the same. I don't force myself into doing this though, I only do if I'm feeling like I don't care. :p
 
Jungle

Jungle

1
I have to say that I am not that much of a guy that stares at people.
Except when there would be a scene.

I, on the other hand used to become easily irritated and lose my temper if someone would stare at me, because I would interpret it the wrong way.

Staring at people could mean that you are mistaking their identity for someone's else you know, because they'd look alike, or that you find them cute or weird, or jeez, I don't know.... maybe you're just up to some dodgy business and want to swindle them or pickpocket them, so you'd have to see if they're on their guards and if they look gullible enough.
 
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Stphy1127

New member
I do this ALL the time lol I had a guy tell me once that he thought I liked him because I was always staring at him, but in my head I thought he liked me because he was staring ..it becomes a vicious cycle...Usually happens when I'm on the train and I almost always make eye contact with some handsome stranger or creepazoid who proceeds to peer into my soul the rest of the ride
 
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