Frankly, I’ve never been in such situations. I think I have been “caught staring” a few times, but it’s almost always because I’m staring off into space and someone happens to be in the general vicinity of where my eyes are. Hell, weirdly enough, I’ve even gotten comments from women that they were surprised I wasn’t checking out other women.
The thing is, a lot of guys think they’re being sneaky and, well, they’re quite obvious when they’re staring, and the strategy seems to be exactly what you describe. So, my guess is you were more obvious than you think you were, and the boyfriend may have been a bit of the jealous type.
So, all that said, if he did confront you, simply ignore him or act befuddled because he really had no reason to be upset.
With that sort of thing, I’d say no. It’s a difficult line to draw in some circumstances, but if she wasn’t uncomfortable, then you didn’t cause her any harm, so who cares?
1-I’m large, ugly and “mean-looking”. It’s unlikely someone would make an issue out of it to me. If so, then I’d answer “Yes, I did glance at your girlfriend. She’s lovely, you’re a lucky man.” This is not speculation, as I’ve actually said this to people in the past.
2-I doubt you did anything wrong. You’re a guy, she’s attractive, you looked. No big deal.
As an aside, I’ve come to the realization that “He was looking at my girl!” is one of the stupidest justification for conflict possible. I’ve been involved in breaking up dozens of bar fights “caused” by this.
When I’m out in public with an attractive woman my thoughts are “look all you want, she’s going home with me!”.
I was trying to find that “Friends” video of Chandler thinking he’s all subtle about looking at other women, and Monica making this extreme ogling with tongue hanging out face and saying, “Subtle like this?”
Drum God, I think the only thing you did wrong was not saying to the boyfriend, “Hey, if she wants to put them on display, people are gonna look.”
Had a similar close call once. I noticed a woman’s boots. They looked hand made, and must have cost a fortune. I kept glancing at them while I was talking with someone else. Her husband got in my face and asked, “do you like her boobs?”
I was thinking boots (hadn’t even noticed her tits) so I heard “boots”. My reply, “They are awesome. Musta cost a fortune” set him off further. Before he could hit me, we all figured out what was happening. We wound up all going out for a drink together.
Now we know the real reason why you needed a handgun.
“Travis Bickle: You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talking… you talking to me? Well I’m the only one here. Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? Oh yeah? OK. {Draws}”
My response to a girl with a size small stretch shirt and gigantic-ish breasts under chilly conditions (or headlights, as some might call) who said: “Why you lookin’ at my tits?”
This is a “Gotcha ya!” game asshole women and their asshole boyfriends play all the time in public. They wear something attention getting then, when even the smallest amount of attention is received, they get huffy and act as if the attention is inappropriate.
The woman gets to be noticed, the man gets to puff up, and a good time is had by all.
If the BF had esculated the situation to me; I’d just politely explain to him what he already knows. “Dude we’re guys, we sometimes can’t help ourselves.” Any straight man who doesn’t get this is probably physco and can’t be reasoned with anyway.
Also, you did nothing wrong.
The lady you speak of I think is a former bartender of mine. She was wearing the same top only except this time she was also wearing glitter on her lady lumps. It was a slow day at the bar. So she and I did a lot of chatting. At one point she informed me that her eyes are “up here” not “down there”.
I flat out told her that “OK, fine! Wearing a top like that is one thing but putting glitter on them just is playing fair! Seriously, you might as well have a neon sign saying boobs down here”
I don’t think I’d take it quite that far, especially since I let my CCW lapse. I don’t like snide comments; it the guy is making a comment about me, he should be willing to make it to my face and not behind my back. But I’m old and grouchy and touchy about such things.
I was just reminded of how I was once cornered in a bar by two ladies around my age and the daughter of one of them. She was sitting opposite me and I had severe problems about where I should watch.
