Do you avoid eye contact in public transport?
Posted by FuzzyAromaticSand@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 19 comments
I’ve noticed that strangers sometimes hold eye contact with me on buses or in public spaces, and I find it hard to interpret. In a culture where people usually seem to minimise eye contact, what does prolonged eye contact actually mean? Are people consciously managing mutual acknowledgement in public, or is most of it accidental and over-interpreted out of boredom?
Mysterious_County154@reddit
I avoid eye contact everywhere, not just public transport so yes
pip_goes_pop@reddit
I do avoid it yes, as I kid I was taught "it's rude to stare". But I'll admit to sometimes completely zoning out and realising that someone might think I was staring at them.
DrH1983@reddit
I avoid eye contact with strangers generally. I find it hard to maintain eye contact with people I'm friends with let alone people I don't know
Tall_Stick5608@reddit
These days especially as a brown man in my 30s the only eye contact on public transport is be aware of my own surroundings - identify potential risks or offer my seat if needed. 95% of the time I I avoid it as I don’t want to be accused of anything / piss anyone off / create problems for myself. I’m just staring into my phone.
I think the last interaction I had on the bus with a stranger was a few months ago when I told a drunk guy to turn his phone down as he was watching videos on full volume and I noticed actually most people similar to myself were avoiding eye contact and a potential confrontation.
julialoveslush@reddit
I remember on the train walking in on a black guy in the toilet. Wasn’t anyones fault, he’d forgot to lock and I assumed it was empty so pressed the button to open the door. I just treated it with humour and we had a chat on the train when I was done with the toilet, but I’ll never forget the way he kept apologising and the terrified look in his eyes. From what I remember he was worried he would be accused of some sort of sex offence/assault, purely for a woman walking in on HIM. It was really sad to hear.
FuzzyAromaticSand@reddit (OP)
This is incredibly crazy…
FuzzyAromaticSand@reddit (OP)
Do you believe people are racist towards you?
Tall_Stick5608@reddit
No - and I don’t really care if they are - I have a very thick skin however I don’t want to be wrong accused or get myself into the wrong situation. Eye contact can make someone else uncomfortable or paranoid.
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
really depends on how they're acting. the train line i use the most has a lot of rowdy kids and crackheads on it, i'll avoid eye contact with them like the plague. But if someones just minding their own business i'll smile and nod if we see eachother
Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit
I've seen a lot of weird shit on this journey actually (it's the northern service between chester and manchester via altincham)
I had a bloke in front of me strip down to his boxers, start lecturing the carriage about how he loves sweet and sour chicken, then promptly realise he was on the wrong train
I had a kid (must've been 8 or 9) complement my bag and say he'd give me 5p and half a pack of fags for it
some random woman sat next to me and spent the entire journey telling me about how cathedrals were ancient power stations built by aliens
drunk bloke trying to punch someone and breaking his wrist when he missed
bunch of posh southerners with fruit in tupperware making pimms on the train
fartmaxxer420@reddit
Hmm, if this was the AskGermans subreddit I would believe 100% that they're staring, but Brits don't really stare like that in my experience.. are you sure they're staring at you and not just staring mindlessly beyond you? I find sometimes I space out if I'm sat on public transport and I might look like I'm staring at someone but I'm actually staring blankly at the space between two people sat opposite me, if you can visualise what I'm describing.
Background_Ad5513@reddit
I catch myself doing that sometimes too. Probably freaked at least one person out by accident
FuzzyAromaticSand@reddit (OP)
Your username made me laugh so hard hah
newtobitcoin111@reddit
💯
GeggingIn@reddit
No, not really. Either give them that sort of hello head nod, or a quick smile and then look at the phone
If they are still angrily staring after five minute I move seats.
BarbiePeonies@reddit
Yes because I have a physical disability and strangers are weird about it
No-Veterinarian-3916@reddit
Yes. I do't know said people. theydon't know me. i care about strangers in a loose human sense, but that's it. it says more about peoplewho need strangers to look at them. seems insecure and unhealthy imho.
Motor-Command-2680@reddit
I sometimes do if i am on a bus or train with someone sat directly across from me.
Sometimes I'll just pretend to sleep awhile to stop the awakwardness of it.
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