Eyes

[Xeros]

I hardly every look in people's eyes. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

 

[jehuty_zero69]

Edit:

You're not supposed to look directly in some ones eyes while speaking. This is socially confrontational. Humans have evolved all sorts of mechanisms for social signaling. And typically you only lock eyes with some one for whom you're confronting aggressively. Only short bursts of eye contact are needed to convey interest without aggression.

What?No.You could use long stares to convey interest just fine, or short bursts to confront someone aggressively.

Well I agree generally. Be therein lies the problem. Eye contact is open to interpretation. Just as a general social norm you don't typically engage in extended eye contact due to awkward guessing games regarding the speakers agenda. Like when dudes talk to each other. Ever noticed that men go to length to try to maintain a 90 degree angle from other guys line of sight. Lol

 

[Kajt]

Yes, I find it very... uncomfortable to look people in the eyes for long periods of time. I try to do it anyway, since it feels rude not to look at them while they're talking.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Me and my girlfriend were having a conversation the other day that she thinks its rude when people don't look into your eyes when you are talking to them, which i am opposed to. Personally if some one is talking to me i will look into their eyes for like a second or two then look around for awhile then back for a short time, i think its weird to stare into someones eyes. is this just me or what?

I do exactly what you do, continuious or no eye contact is weird in my opinion. When addressing a group i always scan from side to side slowly, looking at faces ratehr than eyes.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I sort of agree with both of you. I'll look into someone's eyes a lot, but not stare. I'll keep my sight on their face as they're talking, just as politeness

 

[Silent observer]

I find it varies - making eye contact with someone is a good way to get your true meaning across.

slightly off topic, but staring at someone's eyebrows rather than their eyes whilst they're talking to you is a good way to put them off

 

[s0denone]

Well with mates, or girls(all of them), I look at their eyes.

Don't lock eyes with a man you don't know though - either you're starting a fight, or inviting him into your rectum. I'm sorry if that comes across as crude, but I would think that to be common knowledge.

But again: Yes, I look into peoples eyes when I talk to them, provided we are not talking about men with whom I have no prior association.

 

[Blimey]

I can't look right at someones eyes when I talk to them. Usually I look ever-so-slightly above their eyes. Works for me.

 

[Con Carne]

Me and my girlfriend were having a conversation the other day that she thinks its rude when people don't look into your eyes when you are talking to them, which i am opposed to. Personally if some one is talking to me i will look into their eyes for like a second or two then look around for awhile then back for a short time, i think its weird to stare into someones eyes. is this just me or what?

I agree with your girlfriend. Eye contact goes a long way. The only time I don't keep eye contact is when I don't give a rats arse about what you're saying.

 

[Estocavio]

I either stare blankly at the persons forehead, or blankly look around while talking.

 

[Standby]

You're not supposed to look directly in some ones eyes while speaking. This is socially confrontational. Humans have evolved all sorts of mechanisms for social signaling. And typically you only lock eyes with some one for whom you're confronting aggressively. Only short bursts of eye contact are needed to convey interest without aggression.

Pretty much this. Constant eye contact is just as awkward as no eye contact.

 

[Yureina]

I usually look people in the eyes, but I make sure to put in "breaks" so that it does not seem like I am staring at them or something creepy like that.

 

[CoverYourHead]

I can't look into people's eyes for an entire conversation, it just feels awkward and I tend to stop listening to them to focus on making eye contact. Usually I inspect their face or immediate surroundings.

 

[Parallel Streaks]

You don't really look into people's eyes throughout the conversation, it was always my impression the proper etiquette was occasional 2-3 second eye-contact snippets, or when answering questions so you seem honest.

 

[Evilbunny]

You're not supposed to look directly in some ones eyes while speaking. This is socially confrontational. Humans have evolved all sorts of mechanisms for social signaling. And typically you only lock eyes with some one for whom you're confronting aggressively. Only short bursts of eye contact are needed to convey interest without aggression.

First of all, people need to stop stealing my avatar. Second, I think that depends on the particular culture you're talking about. I certainly don't think it's rude where I live, in fact it's rude to not make eye contact with somebody while you're talking to them.

 

[Harlemura]

When I talk to people, I'm usually doing something else as well (watching TV, walking, gaming etc.) so I don't usually look at people when talking in the first place.
And I wonder why I'm socially backwards...

 

[Pillypill]

See now, I always look others in the eyes while they're talking, then I break eye contact for short periods of time while I think or punctuate a sentance with hand gestures.
I have a firend who seems to think that your eyes are "windows into your soul" and he gets super freaked out when you make eye contact with him for more than a few seconds.

 

[The Hairminator]

I try to make eye-contact at least once in a conversation. Then my vision kinda drifts away to wherever. I always get the impression that people who deliberately looks away are untrustworthy.

 

[-Samurai-]

For me, it depends on who I'm talking to, and the type of conversation. If it's a friend, I make some eye contact for just general conversation, but lengthy eye contact for something more serious.

If it's a business conversation with an employer or something, I make direct eye contact for long periods of time to show that I'm listening, paying attention, and understand what they're saying.

 

[Bellvedere]

You should look at their face not try and stare them down.