Does making eye contact offend people?

Question

I have no problems making eye contact with people. But I have a feeling that other people do have a problem with it. Just out of curiosity, can making eye contact offend a person? I mean to me it indicates engagement in a conversation and the expression of interest, but I would like your opinions

Answer 1

I don't find making eye contact offensive, I think it is a sign of respect. It shows that you are interested and engaged.

I think people sometimes find eye contact disconcerting because they are uncomfortable with the connection.
Especially if they are being dishonest or trying to hide something.

Answer 2

There are factors you need to take into consideration. Certain cultures would have a problem with this, what is your relationship with the person, gender differences, position differences, how long you make eye contact. So, eye contact could be a problem, so keep in mind the above, especially if you see they don't make eye contact with you or keep it to a minimum.

Answer 3

Well, it doesn't offend me, but if someone makes prolonged eye contact without breaking it, it does make me uncomfortable. As in, you are too intense and kind of creepy. I actually recently read that keeping eye contact for longer than like 3 or 5 seconds (I can't remember which) indicates romantic interest. Maybe that's why it creeps me out if it isn't my boyfriend.

Answer 4

It depends entirely on the context. It depends on how long your eyes linger, the facial expression that accompaines the eye contact. It is normal to share a moment, you just need to be on the same level as the person you are sharing eye contact with.

It is also a very personal thing to do. Eye contact with strangers can be very offensive. But meeting eyes with someone and smiling can make their day. Eye contact with a lover can be very intense and sensual.

you can show hatred, surprise, understanding, doubt, astonishment, disapproval, judgement, and many more things with eye contacts. It is my personal choice of communication.

So again, it totally depends on how you do it.

Answer 5

Making eye contact shows confidence, sincerity and so fourth, whenever someone may get offended for making eye contact( in situations that your not rudely staring at someone who you are not engaged in a conversation with)may feel a sense of inferiority, and showing deceit.

Answer 6

It depends on the context...

You could be making eye contact with someone you care about, you could be doing it a manner that is aggressive and challenging... as in all things, context is everything...

You can express many things with eye contact but I'm not sure how eye contact would offend someone though... unless you didn't know them...

Answer 7

It is actually rude not to make eye contact when talking to somebody. Some ethnic groups may find it offensive to make eye contact, but generally people want to see that you are looking at them whilst they are talking so they can see that you understand and are paying attention. Basically, it is common courtesy.

Answer 8

I imagine it would only appear to offend someone if they are uncomfortable with making eye contact in general because of self consciousness.

Answer 9

I don't think it's so much offensive, as it is uncomfortable for some people. They feel like you're looking right into their inner self.
You know what they say..... eyes are the windows to the soul.

Answer 10

Sometimes the anger is out of a defense offensive where the individual reflects his own conciousness and sometimes this provides angry reasoning and bouncy reflections when it comes to mirroring across the eyeball ocean.