# How often does opposite sex's look linger on you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 26, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128 "2011-11-26T05:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/41 "2011-11-28T00:12:30Z")
I’m pretty fit for my age of 55 and have a cute petite figure, especially from behind. (Fully Clothed Only!) What happens on occasion on my walks is I will get whistled at and then the guy will see my face and get embarrassed when he sees I’m not young. Or then they’ll turn it in to a thumbs up. Either reaction gives me a chuckle. 🙂 I haven’t noticed any lingering stares while out in public though. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/42 "2011-11-28T00:35:56Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Women rarely linger their looks on my likeness. This, with the addition of “as far as I can tell”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/43 "2011-11-28T00:48:29Z")
One thing that I suspect (for both sexes buy maybe more predominantely among women) is that a person usually only _lets_ their “stares” be picked up on by the focus of their attraction when they _want_ them to be. So I think “as far as I can tell” should be an automatic disclaimer on all of these. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/44 "2011-11-28T00:56:34Z")
Younger and long-haired I got a lot of stares, if only to ascertain gender. A squarecut 20 years ago impressed me into the ranks of the nondescript: an unimaginative composite sketch come to life. If I noticed someone staring now—man or woman—my first impulse would be to check my teeth for spinach and my heels for toilet paper. Sometimes when I’m out with my wife I notice lingering looks that I take as incredulity. _Things could be worse_, the reassuring voice whispers, _and will be soon_. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/45 "2011-11-28T01:32:20Z")
I have to say that when I passed 30, I began to notice how beautiful people in their 20’s are. ☹ For what it’s worth: These days, if you find my gaze lingering on you (and this actually applies for both genders, boys and girls alike), my sad, longing stare probably doesn’t mean “I want you”, as much as “I want to \*be \*you”. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/46 "2011-11-28T03:42:11Z")
> [@abbeytxs](#): > > I’m female and in my late 40’s. I officially became invisible to the rest of the world about five years ago. Hey–at least you had until your early 40s. I’m a 37 year old woman. I became invisible about 5 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/47 "2011-11-28T03:47:20Z")
I get looked at rarely, but when it happens, it tends to be pretty intense. My mom said she noticed an interesting phenomenon when she reached ‘old lady’ age, which for her was a little after 60. People started seeing her again, but not as a sex object. Instead, young people, especially young men, started seeing her as something of a mother or grandmother figure. They sought her out for advice, and when she gave it, they _listened_. Now that’s something I’ve yet to experience. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/48 "2011-11-28T07:00:28Z")
I don’t have any idea. I’m pretty oblivious that way. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/49 "2011-11-28T13:31:41Z")
Female. Often. I’m not particularly striking but I live in Italy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/50 "2011-11-28T16:42:02Z")
It happens to me all of the time because I’m gorgeous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128.md?page=2)