Ack! Personal Space!!!!

[MrSunshineState]

This just happened to me. Since I wasn't at work, I'll consider it a sighting.

So I went to the chiropractor for my back and neck adjustment. It's a Friday morning and the office is dead. I am literally the only patient in the building. So I walk up, say hi to the nurse/receptionist, sign in, and sit down and wait in the waiting area.

Enter the lady who has no idea personal space exists. She walks in, SCREAMING baby with her. *sigh* at least it's a baby. Screaming children irritate me more because they know better. Still I don't like loud babies. Anyway, I am thinking it won't be the biggest deal in the world because I am first to be seen and the waiting area has about 25 empty chairs..............







...........SC sits down DIRECTLY beside me. Not even ONE empty chair between us. Baby still screaming!



I was about to get up and move but they called me, so I went and got my back and neck snapped (ahhhhhh feels great )

Still, you think somebody would know in a waiting area that was completely empty (except for me) not to sit down directly beside me, ESPECIALLY with screaming spawn.

[Custard Chick]

I HATE THAT! Especially on the bus and Metro! I was on the bus one day, it was completely empty save for three other people. This lady gets on and sits right next to me when there were PLENTY of other EMPTY seats all over the bus! SO ANNOYING!

[Jbball]

It's worse at a movie.

[SnapAddict218]

I think people do it because they would feel weird if they sat alone.

Neeways, Natalie Dee has the perfect comic about this-and I printed it off (8X10 size) and hung it on my cube. People respect the space now. I need to get shirts made.

[Boochan]

I HATE THAT! Especially on the bus and Metro! I was on the bus one day, it was completely empty save for three other people. This lady gets on and sits right next to me when there were PLENTY of other EMPTY seats all over the bus! SO ANNOYING!

On a Bus I'd think I'd be willing to request the person to sit on an empty seat if they sat beside me and their are many empty sets of two seats. Most people seem to have common sense on our trains here (the configurations vary though, some are rows of seats facing each other and others are the standard 2 and 2 combination), and I don't see many people sitting next to me specifically on empty services.

Otherwise, the worst personal space invasion is when im at work and someone (especially people with bad breath, oh god) will come right up to me and start talking directly into my face. I have no problem with taking a few steps back in that position.

[Nyx]

Otherwise, the worst personal space invasion is when im at work and someone (especially people with bad breath, oh god) will come right up to me and start talking directly into my face. I have no problem with taking a few steps back in that position.

God I hate that! I've started to grab anything I can to put between me and them when I see them coming, (carts are a God send) but sometimes you get caught off guard.

I would have said something if this had happened to me, then I would of moved away.



(great comic btw *saves*)

[Arm]

You can do a lot with your body language to discourage that. Put your elbows out, lean back, stretch your legs out, or (if facing onto an aisle, where you can't put your legs out because people will be walking there) plant your feet about shoulder-width apart, or put one ankle up on your other knee- though that one's not advisable for people wearing skirts or kilts

Think about the most visually manly man you've ever seen on a movie screen, and sit like that. Don't just sit there- take over that section of the space. You want to make yourself look larger. Like a cat getting their fur up, but without the hostility.

Body language can do a heck of a lot for influencing people's reactions to you.

...of course, some people don't pay attention, regardless. And being assertive can wind up with people sitting next to you who *like* that quality. But by and large, it might be useful.


Take that with a grain of salt, though... I very rarely have that problem. I look creepy. I radiate it, apparently. I've been compared to spiders, vampires, and zombies. People duck out of my way and apologize when I'm standing around. And at that, I dress as mildly and blandly as possible to reduce that reaction. I guess I was just gifted with a face that says "I will make elegant handcrafted macrame from your liver..."

[CanadaGirl]

Still, you think somebody would know in a waiting area that was completely empty (except for me) not to sit down directly beside me, ESPECIALLY with screaming spawn.

I'm sorry, but how is a complete stranger supposed to know that you have personal space issues? She's probably distracted with the screaming child and not really paying any attention to where you are sitting.

[Seshat]

I'm sorry, but how is a complete stranger supposed to know that you have personal space issues?

Putting a screaming child right next to anyone is horribly rude, especially when there are plenty of other places to put them. Almost noone would want to be sitting next to a screaming kid.

[Broomjockey]

I'm sorry, but how is a complete stranger supposed to know that you have personal space issues?

I don't think that actually qualifies as "personal space issues." The fact that I almost have a panic attack on a really crowded bus would qualify as a personal space issue.

Someone sitting next to me with a hollering child in an otherwise completely empty room is RUDE. Did you miss the part where he said he was literally the only patient waiting?

[RetailWorkhorse]

Take that with a grain of salt, though... I very rarely have that problem. I look creepy. I radiate it, apparently. I've been compared to spiders, vampires, and zombies. People duck out of my way and apologize when I'm standing around. And at that, I dress as mildly and blandly as possible to reduce that reaction. I guess I was just gifted with a face that says "I will make elegant handcrafted macrame from your liver..."

Got any advice for the "cute little squishy boy! <3"? Because, it's painfully annoying. What am I, a dog to be petted and squished on by children??

.......oh, I guess I am. Damn.

If you come to my store/home/shopping-trips and protect me from the grabby little children I will love you forever and ever.

[Kyree]

If someone decides to sit next to me when they have plenty of other room, I get up and move. Especially when I'm on break, eating my lunch in the break room, and there's 3 other tables people can sit at. There's this one employee that does this constantly. It wouldn't be so bad, but, he eats with his mouth open, and LOUD. That smacking noise can be heard through the whole room. and he comes and sits RIGHT NEXT to me.

[Arm]

Got any advice for the "cute little squishy boy! <3"? Because, it's painfully annoying. What am I, a dog to be petted and squished on by children??

.......oh, I guess I am. Damn.

If you come to my store/home/shopping-trips and protect me from the grabby little children I will love you forever and ever.

haha... I think if I were wandering around in the vicinity they'd be MORE likely to run to you, if nothing else so that they could hide behind your legs.

It sounds like you've got kind of the 'friendly face' going on, like one of my friends has. There's not too much I can think of that you can really do about that, but you can try dressing more like an authority figure. Stern lines and that sort of thing. If you look like their principal from school they'd be less likely to hug you, maybe.

Also stand up straight, which makes you look taller. Not only does that make adults treat you better, but it makes children less likely to approach you since you're not as much at their level.

If they do approach you, look over their heads, about six inches or so. That emphasizes that they're smaller and beneath you, which will make them less comfortable. It'll make you come off as aloof, though, which might be kinda dickish depending on the circumstances. On the other hand, there's no reason that you should have to put up with having kids grab you.

[Andara Bledin]

If someone decides to sit next to me when they have plenty of other room, I get up and move.

I move when people sit near me for no reason. And if they're annoying, too, I'll move in a pointed manner. Every once in a while, one of them will notice.

If you come to my store/home/shopping-trips and protect me from the grabby little children I will love you forever and ever.

I'd volunteer, but then I'd have to go to where you are, and I'd rather not.

^-.-^

[Imogene]

Got any advice for the "cute little squishy boy! <3"? Because, it's painfully annoying.

Grow tall. Seriously, kids hate me, they live in constant fear of me even saying, "Hi," cheerful as I am.