Whatever happened to personal space?

[Mitsuki]

Pretty much with sneakerpimp on this; people in public don't generally bother me concerning the whole 'personal space' issue. As long as they're minding their own business, they can sit beside me and I wouldn't give them a cold look.

However, there is one case that I remember which seriously annoyed me, to the point that I almost confronted the girl. I was on vacation in the Philippines about five years ago and my mom and I went to a mall to go shopping. Actually I wouldn't really call it a mall - at least not the extravagant style that we're used to here in the U.S. It's sorta like the swap meet market environment, though a lot bigger since you're actually inside buildings and whatnot.

Well, I went inside a little department store and was checking out their clothes. Thirty seconds later, I noticed that one of their co-workers were following me, and she didn't try to be discreet about it too. She was literally a foot behind me, just looking at me while I tried to shop, and every step that I took, she was right there. At first I thought maybe I was imagining it, so I briskly walked everywhere in that department store, pretending to be interested in the clothes, but she also increased her walking speed and followed me around.

Needless to say, I finally walked out and complained to my mom, asking if that was a normal thing they do around there. I should have confronted the girl but I figured that was probably part of her job, and I didn't want to make a scene. Still, that was a bit unheard of and I wasn't used to it. I would have been more understanding if she tried to at least make a sales pitch or asked if I needed help with anything, but no, the manner in which she did it led me to believe that she was trying to make sure I wasn't a thief, which well...was sorta offensive, especially since she was so obvious with her actions. And I did notice that the other co-workers were also doing the same to the other customers.

 

[Jasmine You]

Pretty much with sneakerpimp on this; people in public don't generally bother me concerning the whole 'personal space' issue. As long as they're minding their own business, they can sit beside me and I wouldn't give them a cold look.

However, there is one case that I remember which seriously annoyed me, to the point that I almost confronted the girl. I was on vacation in the Philippines about five years ago and my mom and I went to a mall to go shopping. Actually I wouldn't really call it a mall - at least not the extravagant style that we're used to here in the U.S. It's sorta like the swap meet market environment, though a lot bigger since you're actually inside buildings and whatnot.

Well, I went inside a little department store and was checking out their clothes. Thirty seconds later, I noticed that one of their co-workers were following me, and she didn't try to be discreet about it too. She was literally a foot behind me, just looking at me while I tried to shop, and every step that I took, she was right there. At first I thought maybe I was imagining it, so I briskly walked everywhere in that department store, pretending to be interested in the clothes, but she also increased her walking speed and followed me around.

Needless to say, I finally walked out and complained to my mom, asking if that was a normal thing they do around there. I should have confronted the girl but I figured that was probably part of her job, and I didn't want to make a scene. Still, that was a bit unheard of and I wasn't used to it. I would have been more understanding if she tried to at least make a sales pitch or asked if I needed help with anything, but no, the manner in which she did it led me to believe that she was trying to make sure I wasn't a thief, which well...was sorta offensive, especially since she was so obvious with her actions. And I did notice that the other co-workers were also doing the same to the other customers.

Okay wow, I wasn't even there and I was offended. Sure, we know that there people out there that will try to steal and what not, but not every damn person that walks into yer store is going to rob you! Really, they're making the rest of humanity just look so much lower than they really are!

Not to mention THAT was just too awkward to go through or even imagine.

Anyways, drifting back to topic:

When ever I'm in a crowded train, I honestly don't mind having someone stand terribly close to me. If there are no seats and they need a bar to hold onto to and mine just happens to be the nearest by, then by all means, go ahead. I don't mind spending terribly awkward time next to you as not to risk you getting hurt. ♥

But when there are many other places where you could be...please, give me a break and go AWAY! I don't like having strangers near me if they don't need to be, I don't like talking to strangers unless they need to talk to me; to ask me directions or something of the sort. I actually like giving directions, really. ♥

This actually reminds me of this one time when I was on the path train to Newark, it was a little late so the path train was empty, I stepped inside and I looked around, there were many empty seats but that day, I didn't want to sit, I wanted to stand. I was going to when this one black woman patted the seat besides her, asking me if I wanted to sit down. For whatever reason--more likely as not to be rude or anything--I accepted her offer and sat besides her.

She was a sort of heavy black woman, so touching her her side with mine was more than just a given. I didn't mind it though, wasn't her fault that she heavy type....not in that situation, anyways. But then...she starts talking to me! At first I didn't mind, it was the usual questions about my hair colors, was it natural and so on but then...she keeps rambling on! Oh god, she was asking me questions that I honestly...didn't fucking understand, to the point where I just nodded and smiled and just quickly spat words together into somewhat coherent answers.

Every chance I got, which was every chance she paused her rambling, I laid my head back against the wall behind me and closed my eyes. Hinting towards 'leave me alone, I am tired, I don't understand what you're saying, I don't wanna talk' but even after I did that, which was several times, she just started her rambling again!

Just...ugh no.
Longest. Train. Ride. Ever.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Ugh I remember when I was working at my old work, this old guy came up to talk to me as they do, and he constantly kept getting right in my face as he was talking to me.

I would try to back off without him noticing, though I really shouldn't have cared if he thought I was rude or not. He was the one being rude for getting so close in the first place.

I mean, don't they realise how close they are and get uncomfortable themselves? It's totally weird and very inconsiderate.

 

[Soltharn]

I don't particularly mind having to sit next to someone if there is a genuine need for it, but I really dislike having to talk to or listen to strangers rambling on about random stuff.

I'm social around friends and family, but even then there's times I just want to sit back and drift off into my own little world.

 

[Tyler Breeze]

It doesn't fudging exist anymore. I can't even have space in my own damn home. This is why I hate people. It's the worst outside. For some fudging reason, people feel the need to step on my shoes while I'm walking. It's fudging ridiculous. It's so annoying. I don't like humans anymore.