I did the second experiment of not making eye contact to one of my roommates who I'm much closer to. This one went a bit differently. I didn't make her feel awkward so much but she thought I was really mad at her and kept asking if something was wrong and if she had done something that made me mad. I just kept saying no and continued talking but she did not believe me that nothing was wrong. After a couple minutes I finally explained why I was doing it and she was thankful that nothing was wrong.
For the last one I again did it to someone that I didn't know very well so they wouldn't know that it's out of the ordinary for me to be closing in on them. I did this one to my roommate's boyfriend who I've only met a couple times and this was hilarious. I just started talking to him and would slowly take a step toward him or make some action to go along with the conversation and overemphasize it and move closer. Every time I took a step in he would take one back a couple of seconds later. I don't think he really realized I was moving in on him but he did notice when we were too close together and then would back up. I didn't get to the point of having him backed into a corner but we definitely moved across the room a ways. After a little while of doing this I told him what was up and he just thought it was weird that I was comfortable being that close to his face, which in reality I wasn't comfortable.
I thought this was really interesting to see how when someone doesn't follow social norms everyone else involved in the situation with that person feels incredibly awkward. I've been in situations before with people who are close talkers and it is incredibly uncomfortable when you're not used to people doing that.
Question: Do you know anyone who is socially awkward in any of these ways? Do they realize how awkward they make others feel? If you don't know anyone who does this have you ever been in a situation where someone made you feel really awkward?
I think we all have had very awkward positions we've been in! I can't remember specific times I've felt awkward right now, but I know we all have times like that. I also do know people that I consider very awkward. It just seems to be the way they are, this person specifically plays with his hands when you talk to him, and it's almost like he shakes and forgets his words when talking to you because he is so nervous to speak to people. It makes it awkward when he has nothing to say and you are making up every single thing you wish to talk about, and I don't think people that are awkward really do it on purpose or realize, I think it's just natural!
ReplyDeleteI do have a friend who is very socially awkward. She doesn’t stand very close people when she talks to them but she does tend to sustain eye contact longer than what most people are comfortable doing. I know I have jokingly mentioned something to her about this but she hasn’t taken the hint because she still has this habit.
ReplyDeleteI have never known anyone whom has acted in the ways that this activity has demonstrated. And neither have I been put into an awkward situation as this activity calls for. With that said, I have witnessed individuals whom act socially different in much the same ways that Katie has already highlighted. First of all, I have had professors for whom have played with their hands while they speak. Also, I had a teacher in high school whom rubbed his eyes and face almost every thirty seconds. I always found his habbit very interesting--Great teacher, but it was hard to stay focused on him sometimes.
ReplyDeletesorry about the multiple posts. I didn't know that my computer posted any of them. Oops.
ReplyDeleteI have never known anyone who has acted in this matter as well. But I have met some people that send a odd vibe and make me feel awkward being around them. It is something that is not easily describable to me. The aura that is given off by specific people makes me feel awkward and out of place. I try not to surround my self with these types of people because I feel that I cannot be myself around them.
ReplyDeletemany people that come into my work make me feel socially awkward. i work at econo in the deli here in RF and many people, will like stare at my name tag and then say my name when they are talking to me and I think it is awkward when you do not know someone and they try to speak to you on a more personal level..
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