# Do People Stare At You, And Why Do They Do That? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635 "2010-11-23T05:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![polyex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/45deac/32.png) [@polyex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polyex)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/81 "2013-04-17T21:45:34Z")
I have noticed that people do it in the South all the time. Especially in small towns. They will stare at you if you look even a little different. I have confronted some of these characters, asked them what they were staring at and they just look away and pretend they don’t hear you. Very rude, it drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/82 "2013-04-18T03:19:08Z")
I lived in rural Japan in the early 80s. I was only the second foreigner to have lived in one particular place, the first was a Filipino wife of a farmer or something. People would walk into walls staring at me. I just learned to tune it out at the time. As there are many more foreigners now in Asia, while we get noticed or looked at sometimes, it’s not nearly as much as 30 years ago. Damn, time goes by. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/83 "2013-04-18T03:24:44Z")
Yes, they stare at me because I’m a zombie. Also because I have a prehensile tail. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/84 "2013-04-18T03:26:29Z")
(This only applies if my wife isn’t present) It’s my constant playing or air bass/guitar/keyboards/drums/NS stick/bassoon, music or not. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/85 "2013-04-18T03:53:30Z")
When I got out of basic and was in really good physical shape I noticed a lot of women staring at me, a lot of women also told me they liked my green eyes or my eyelashes. I admit I’m really bad about staring at attractive women though I try not to gaze too long. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/86 "2013-04-18T11:57:16Z")
I’m ugly. People stare. I just stare back. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/87 "2013-04-18T12:22:07Z")
Children stare at me. Then they smile, laugh, point and run to me. It’s happened since I turned 18, and I still have no idea why. I’m not complaining. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/88 "2013-04-18T12:25:38Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > I get stared at, but usually I know the reason for it. In Korea I get stared at either because I’m walking around with white people or I’m on the phone speaking in English. In (some parts of) Europe I get stared at because I’m Asian. > > Seriously, I went to the beach in Tuscany and I’ve never been so blatantly stared at in my life. I don’t know if they thought I wouldn’t notice or they just didn’t give a shit about how rude it was. It’s an italian thing. They stare openly, without embarrassment. It’s not considered rude there. I’m european white but get stared at just because I don’t look Southern Italian – I’m too tall, or too pale, or dressed differently, whatever. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/89 "2013-04-18T12:26:00Z")
I don’t get stared at. I get _noticed_. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/90 "2013-04-18T12:44:17Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I’m the only black person, besides Prince, in the entire state. People never stop looking at me. It was a tough day when Kirby Puckett died. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/91 "2013-04-18T13:28:04Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > I haven’t noticed people staring at me. People to tend to smile at me a lot though, particularly the elderly. Friends have commented on it. Me, too. My default expression is a grin, even when I’m doing something unpleasant like shopping in a crowded store filled with frustrating people or trapped in long lines. People who stare often approach and chat, which I’m really open to. I’m attracted to friendly, fun people and I’m glad they dig me, too. The only stares that make me uncomfortable are the cool appraisals of women near my age. An unsmiling, critical assessment of my features, figure, and style feels a little intrusive. Just human nature, though, so I try to give a friendly smile in response. Which is nearly universally gnored ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/92 "2013-04-18T15:23:44Z")
Someone gnored me once and it definitely made me feel :(. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/93 "2013-04-18T15:24:06Z")
I sometimes get stared at because I’m a fat long haired guy wearing a cowboy hat and full length leather coat. I don’t really have a problem with it, if I did I’d dress differently. It does depend where I go though, where I live there’s a lot of goth and alternative types, but in some other places I do rather stand out. ---
**Author:** ![RedBloom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedBloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedBloom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/94 "2013-04-18T19:55:34Z")
Every now and then I’ll get stared at. I assume I look like someone they know, or a famous (but now dead) person who I got cited for constantly. Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/95 "2013-04-18T21:39:46Z")
For me it is babies who stare. I have a large goatee almost six inches long and I think that is what attracts them. It is weird but quite nice. I just give them a big smile and usually get a smile or even a giggle back. Bothers some parents, guess the shaved head and attire make me scary to them but I am mostly harmless so meh. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/96 "2013-04-18T21:56:47Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > For me it is babies who stare. My nephew’s one year old stared at me the other day. Everyone thought it was cute. I growled, “What the fuck are you looking at?” and the kid started crying. No one thought that was cute. Kids. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/97 "2013-04-19T14:51:16Z")
My wife and I get a few stares when we visit China: I feel like a celebrity, especially if random people shout “Hello!” at me or ask to get a picture taken with me. On the other hand, my wife thinks that people are staring because they assume she’s a “personal assistant” (wink, wink) for the white guy. I felt disappointed when I visited Shanghai where being a foreigner wasn’t a novelty. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/98 "2013-04-19T15:02:15Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I sometimes get stared at because I’m a fat long haired guy wearing a cowboy hat and full length leather coat. I don’t really have a problem with it, if I did I’d dress differently. It does depend where I go though, where I live there’s a lot of goth and alternative types, but in some other places I do rather stand out. Consider trousers. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/99 "2013-04-19T15:33:45Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Consider trousers. This is why we need a like button. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635/100 "2013-04-19T15:48:00Z")
Sure people stare at me - usually because I’m wearing a black velvet hooded cloak, tights and curly-toed knee-high boots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-stare-at-you-and-why-do-they-do-that/561635.md?page=6)