What do you do when people stare at you?

Question

Ok, so usually when I go out to dinner with my family and we walk into a restaurant (usually the bar area first) everyone starts staring! As soon as you walk in, and then you can feel people's continuous stares as you find a seat or whatever. I find it really annoying. Does anyone else get this? And what do you do?

Oh and the restaurant is a hotel, so I usually sit in the reception area on my own after, it's very empty around there. But whenever people walk in, they stare again! They are just walking past staring at me, and the kids as well. I just feel like sticking my tongue out at them. What should I do?

Bazzyid - haha, yes I am quite ugly. =)

Answer 1

You're probably really good-looking. Take it as a compliment. Or stare back and start dribbling onto your clothes. That'll learn 'em.

Answer 2

I've done all the above.....
Ignoring people doesn't always work, sometimes they just take it as an invitation to keep staring.
Sometimes I stare back. The other day I almost got up from my table and knocked a guy out, but he finally got the picture after I did nothing but stare him straight in the face for 2-3 minutes.
Other people just don't know how impolite it is to others to stare and do it without even thinking about it, so you have to say something. I usually end up saying something rude though. I can't help it, people just need to mind their own business and worry about themselves. Even if their life is so pathetic that they have nothing better to do than to watch someone else's life.
Some are doing it on purpose, but not to be rude. And I think we're all guilty of this sometimes and that's "people watching". Most people do it unconciously, others do it for entertainment. Usually I end up doing it when I'm presented with no other choice. Like, when you're sitting at a table or booth in a resteraunt and the people next to you talk so loud that you have to raise your voice just for the person next to you to hear you. These people make excellent candidates, because it's almost guaranteed that they'll do something stupid, funny, embarrasing, or all the above.
But most of the time, I just go by the golden rule: I don't stare, because I don't want someone staring at me.
If I did, I'd go into modeling.

Answer 3

Ok - first, people walking into a place will feel like other people are looking at them. But that lasts till you're seated. Secondly, don't you do the same. There you are sitting at a table and someone else walks in....don't you look at them? You might not stare but you look! For as long as you look at them, that is really the length of time they look at you! It's a natural human condition to look up and see what's changing, ie someone else walked in.
If, you are already seated and some people walk past and look, again it's the same thing, ....they're just looking at what's there already and feeling embarrased about walking in on it. The minute they're seated, you look elsewhere (probably to the next people walking in)!.

But if you feel people are really staring, how about thinking about it in a positive instead of negative frame of mind as in they might be thinking "what cute, well behaved kids?" or what a good looking woman? Or maybe, you look like you understand how I feel walking in here cos you already did it?

Don't stick your tongue out, just brazen it out and put the problem (if there actually is one), back on them. You just enjoy your meal out with your kids!
At the end of the day, how you perceive other people's perception of you is down to you! So what if they think you're on your own? So what if they think it's because you don't have any friends? So what if they even think you're "touting for business on your own in hotel/bar/reception area"? Only you know the truth and the truth should make you confident enough to think and maybe even make a joke out of "what are they thinking about me?" Who cares as long as you know the real you!

Answer 4

I guess it depends on why they're doing it. If I catch someone staring at me, I try to figure that out first thing. If it is in a way that I find threatening, i give them a measuring glance back, like "Yeah, I see you. What are YOU looking at?" One eyebrow raised in a questioning manner, frowning.

If it seems to be because they find me attractive, if I find them creepy, I will utterly pretend they are not there. If they look nice or interesting, I will smile, then go on about my day. If they want to talk to me, they will know that I will not bite.

If it is the stare of the uninitiated dork who needs to get out more who thinks I look funny- (admittedly, I sort of do) they get the biggest smile of them all, because they're so not expecting it. Sometimes this freaks them out worse, which is funny, and sometimes they visibly relax. This makes the world a little better, I think, and maybe they won't judge people so hastily next time they meet someone unusual.

If it's a whole room- huh. Well i get that sometimes in conservative areas. So, smile and move on. I must admit, it's awfully tempting to bow when that happens. So I definitely understand the impulse about the tongue. Is it always in the same establishment? How are you dressed compared to the rest of the clientele? How good looking are you? How noisy (or adorable) are your kids? all of this may help to figure out what's making them stare, and once you find out why, you can move on from there.

Answer 5

Haha.....happens to me all the time. I read a few answers...they are hilarious! :-)). I think you must be so good looking! U know, when they don't look, you might miss their looks a lil bit...I am telling u :-). Anyways, I think a lot of them don't mean to stare. They are just looking. If they are at their tables, and you enter with your family, looking is just something they do to give them a lil break. Some just automatically do it. If men are doing that, you have the answer. Men look at women they find attractive. Or men look look at women, period :-). When someone stares..I either ignore, if they seem creepy looking, or look at them and give them a smile and continue doing whatever I was doing.

Be yourself. Make yourself comfortable whatever you are doing, and whereever you are. It's your world. It's your life. Let them stare if they want to.

Answer 6

It is human nature for individuals to look at others when they walk into a room or when they walk into to a lobby or reception area. It has very little if nothing to do with the fact that you are ugly or attractive. It is simply human nature, I think you may be over reacting just a bit. I would simply smile and go on about my business. God bless****

Answer 7

I used to take care of mentally retarded people. When I would take them out we'd get lots of stares. I find the best thing to do is to make your eyes really huge and crazy looking and stare back, maybe flare your nostrils a little bit...and everybody starts laughing. Its kind of fun.

The only time Id advise against that strategy is if you think they may be afraid of you for some reason (ie you are a muslim in traditional garb and they are staring at you because they assume you are a terrorist) People tend to lash out in fear.

Answer 8

Hey!
thats realy true my dear! it does annoy me too! but it never happens in the areas i visit, such as hotels! it is really descent! but if u want ot overcome that! then just stare back then the person will realize and will be ashamed of what he/she is doing!. i have tried this wen i had visited a new place where ppl continously stared at me, i ignored them and stared back on them! i know it realy brings a feeling of insecrity but dot worry os much! it will get over one day dont wori! n it really works! i can guarantee u! take care, u could write to me if u want any advises too! bye,

Answer 9

When people stare at me when I walk into a bar I just say "Here I am let the fun begin" or some such thing. People crack up and I've met a few really neat people that way.

Answer 10

I DO stick my tongue out at them....and if they stare alot I open my mouth really wide till I cant open it any more ...It really gives 'em something to stare at. If it I really obvious and annoying I ask them,"Do I have a booger hangin' out of my nose or something?" or If I have someone with me I'll ask them"Oh my God!! You'd think I was turning green" It usually stuns them because most people dont think that a person as nice as I must appear to look ,would "call them" on the obvious staring theyve been doing. Works Great!!!