# Kissing- Eyes open or shut? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 27, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714 "2003-05-27T04:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/21 "2003-05-27T23:37:33Z")
Closed, usually. The only reason I can offer for that is that the closing of one’s eyes obviously eliminates the sense of sight, which forces one to focus primarily on the texture, warmth, and actual physical aspect of kissing. I’ll open my eyes to catch a quick look at my boyfriend’s face. (Or to ensure that the door’s still closed). Occasionally, it’s rather interesting to kiss while looking at each other; very intense, either before the kiss or during. Going the open-eyed route can be kind of funny if you’re in a not-so serious mood and just screwing around. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/22 "2003-05-27T23:47:21Z")
Almost always closed. Once in a while, I open them - it’s hard to see anything from that close anyway. But curiosity being what it is. 😉 Why is it rude to stare? 99.9999% of the time you’re kissing, the other person’s eyes are closed anyway - they wouldn’t _know_ you’re staring. 😉 But I’d say go with shut anyway. It does help you focus on the mood. ---
**Author:** ![fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ba0ec/32.png) [@fish\_in\_the\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fish_in_the_sky)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/23 "2003-05-27T23:55:39Z")
Keep your eyes open when you kiss: do: when You kiss. All silly time else, close them to; Unsleeping, I implore you (dear) pursue In darkness me, as I do you again Instantly we part … only me both then And when your fingers fall, let there be two Only, ‘in that dream-kingdom’: I would have you Me alone recognize your citizen Before who wanted eyes, making love, so? I do now. However we are driven and hide, What state we keep all other states condemn, We see ourselves, we watch the solemn glow Of empty courts we kiss in … Open wide! You do, you do, and I look into them. –John Berryman ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/24 "2003-05-28T01:04:27Z")
Depends on what I’m kissing. ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/25 "2003-05-28T02:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FyreFiend \* > \*\*Eyes Closed. It’s rude to stare. \*\* Well, having one’s eyes open doesn’t automatically equate to staring. But, I did once open my eyes, while kissing a woman, to find her staring at me. I don’t know about rude, but it sure was freaky! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j.c. \* > \*\*I keep my own eyes closed shut in sort of a squinty way, but reach up and put my thumbs on his upper eyelashes to hold his peepers wide open. Dunno why - that’s just what “feels right” to me. \*\* You found a guy who’ll tolerate that? I’d suggest you marry him. Your lips would never make contact with mine, once I saw those thumbs coming for my eyes. Ever! I’m another “sometimes” kisser. As many folks have said, it depends on the situation. Thinking about it, though, I’d have to say I rarely close them tightly, while kissing. ---
**Author:** ![beegirl13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@beegirl13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beegirl13)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714/26 "2003-05-28T03:45:42Z")
Eyes closed, usually. If my eyes are open, I see his eyes as blurred together and he looks like a cyclops. Then I have to laugh and it ruins the mood if we weren’t being silly before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-eyes-open-or-shut/177714.md?page=1)