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psychology
understand
Why do people stare at me?
I’m a white guy in my 20s, good-looking but not a head-turner. I’m tall, but not a rarity (6’4”). I dress conventionally. But when I walk down the street in New York or am at a crowded bare I always catch other people looking at me. Why could this be?
psychologyunderstand
Sometimes people do stupid things like make a mess when using a water dispenser, shocking things like rapidly slamming a knife inbetween each of their fingers, or enticing things like play with a loose thread that's on their clothes. I stare at people when they do things like that, because I find it really interesting to look at.
I love stories. To me, they are stories. While I'm living my life, I can watch a snapshot of someone's day, and remember that story the next day, and know that it meant something.
Sometimes when I am in a room, I am perplexed by people that I just can't put my finger on. I glance at them for a quick second, because I know they're going to do something next. And they know that I know that they're going to do something next. And then they do something next. And then other people are staring at them, but I looked at them first.
In case you haven't guessed, I like to read people.
I know this one person who likes to draw anime characters and stuff, and he likes to stare at people because he likes to study their face and facial expression, and it freaks them out. And he still does it.
It's not rude to stare at someone, unless it's unwarranted. If you're being stared at, you have to ask what it is about you, that is making you get stared at. When being stared at is warranted, it's a good thing.