# what is the first thing you notice about someone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2002, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673 "2002-12-24T03:48:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/1 "2002-12-24T03:48:23Z")
a girl that i met a few months ago told me recently that the first thing that she noticed about me was what i was wearing. so i was just wondering what it is that all you dopers notice when you first meet someone. as in what you might take into account when you decide if this person is attractive or not. personally, i’m a sucker for a nice smile. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/2 "2002-12-24T03:50:55Z")
How someone holds themselves and their expression. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/3 "2002-12-24T03:51:26Z")
For me it’s usually their hairstyle. Not that I have any particular interest in hair or hairstyles, but I always seem to remember and tell people apart by the way they wear their hair. It totally screws me up if I meet someone wearing her hair down, and then the next time I see her she’s got it in a ponytail. I completely won’t recognize her until I really know her better. When I first met my husband, I remember his hair was about shoulder length and blond. Now it’s short and red (yes, he dyes it). It’s kind of strange, because it’s almost like he’s a different person. But then again, having worn my own hair in about 15,000 different styles/colors you’d think I’d be used to that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![TVGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@TVGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/4 "2002-12-24T03:59:56Z")
Eyes, shoulders, smile. I know, it’s a little strange. But then, so am I. I usually get around to checking out his butt soon after the first three 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/5 "2002-12-24T04:13:12Z")
I’m the same as **XJETGIRLX**. Especially with women, I think my brain just sees the hairstyle as an integral part and can’t deal with it changing. I’ll see pictures in magazines and don’t recognize celebrities because their hair is different. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/6 "2002-12-24T04:29:45Z")
I usually notice attitude. If someone is “hot” regardless of gender I am all over them. If someone is a bitch/asshole/dickhead, it doesn’t matter how cute they are. I like people who are bright/witty/have any confidence, then, I am drawn to them. It’s all about attittude, provided they aren’t Quasimoto/have a history with me. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/7 "2002-12-24T04:44:23Z")
Eyes, which convey attitude. Then the rest of the facial expression. Unless, of course, I’m just girl-watching, in which case the cut of the jib might catch my eye before anything facial does. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/8 "2002-12-24T04:53:14Z")
their voice ---
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/9 "2002-12-24T05:27:40Z")
The way they hold themselves, and also the first thing that comes out of their mouth usually gives me a good impression of what the person is like and gives me an idea of how easily I can talk to the person and get to know them. ie) If the first thing they say is a compliment, something about animals, school etc. things that i am interested in, then I know I can get along with this person. Now if the first thing out of their mouth is something about cars…we won’t go there. OK, it makes sense in my head anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Lure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/10 "2002-12-24T05:31:47Z")
I have none.Is this a unique phenomenon? Different people,different stimuli.With most it’s manner,then dress or face or body. A tight sweater with a good rack could be first on some women,others could be the last thing I look at. With males,they all look alike in my mind ,unless they’re pointing a gun or something at me 🙂 I can see why girls turn lez. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/11 "2002-12-24T07:01:10Z")
IMHO, teeth… Very important! ---
**Author:** ![Agropoli78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@Agropoli78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agropoli78)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/12 "2002-12-24T07:17:06Z")
The whole package. Different people have certain characteristics that make them stand out. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/13 "2002-12-24T08:08:14Z")
Their clothes, for good and bad…can’t stand the preppy “I spent far too long trying to look like I don’t care what I wear” ensembles. (The Gap plays a large role in this look…in addition to logo T-shirts and artfully ruffled Rob Thomas hair. Ugh.) Nor can I stand the “I am an individualist because of what I wear” gig. (This usually involves weirdly colored hair, tattoos, earrings in stupid places, and all the other cliches that make people feel like they’re raging against the machine. Whatever. Read a book, for God’s sake.) Beyond that, a smashing sense of humor, a quick wit, and a great ass. In that order. (I’m marrying all three next year. It pays to go with gut instincts.) ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/14 "2002-12-24T11:28:00Z")
Posture, then eyes. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/15 "2002-12-24T11:47:05Z")
Physically, I take note of general hygiene and cleanliness - a slobby first impression is difficult to overcome. Less tangibly, tone of voice and attitude - these tell so much. I’m pretty bad about noticing characteristics and details - I’d make a lousy eye witness. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/16 "2002-12-24T11:57:03Z")
The way a person moves. Early in my life, my eyesight was poor and never having anything to compare it to, I didn’t know it. So I would see a person coming up the walk and would recognize his gait or general body movement before I could identify his face. Once I got glasses, the tendency to look at the body movement first stayed with me and now often because of this observational trait of mine, I will recognize someone long before others who know a person’s face or body type. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/17 "2002-12-24T13:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JerseyDiamond \* > \*\*IMHO, teeth… > Very important! \*\* Same here! I’d notice bad teeth long before it struck me that a person had, say, three eyes. I also notice unusually good teeth. I’m an equal opportunity tooth-noticer. ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/18 "2002-12-24T13:19:42Z")
Chicks - tits Guys - I dunno, I’m too busy looking at tits. OK, so I’m superficial…but honest. Did I mention I like tits? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/19 "2002-12-24T13:28:36Z")
I’m a leg man, myself. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673/20 "2002-12-24T13:47:12Z")
Smile and eyes. Or maybe eyes and smile. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-thing-you-notice-about-someone/144673.md?page=2)