Poll: Following behind people

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

Unless there's a group of slow bitches who walk side by side and take up the entire fucking corridor/pavement, I breeze right past people because i'm about 6" tall and walk fast anyway, i'm also pretty much expressionless when i'm walking about so I don't have this problem.

 

[Richardplex]

I wouldn't know, the last time I walked was... uh...
Well, it was a very long time ago. Running for the win.

 

[gonzo20]

normally im just invisible or i take really light footsteps so normally people have no idea im there, ive managed to sneak up on people before and scare them when they turn around cause i normally make no sound at all, pretty funny when they do turn around and say something along the lines of "dont do that! you fucking made me jump!"

 

[Sean Steele]

Nah, probably freaks them out though.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

Oh my god man, seriously! Go live in Europe for a while where people are more genuine (not necessarily nicer - in fact they can be much meaner, but more genuine) and you will abandon this ridiculous state of social awkwardness. Women, men are all just people, and we all have places to go. Nobody cares if you and they have the same path for a while. Only people with similar handicapped social interaction skills will pay attention or be uncomfortable. And especially since she was attractive - what is she? a wild animal or something? There is nothing wrong with striking up a conversation if you would like to - just like there is nothing wrong with not saying anything and going about your business, and just like there is nothing wrong with her making a face, or smiling, or she starting a conversation with you. We are all just people and these are human things - nothing to be awkward or weirded out from.

Yeah, I get the impression that the midwest of the US is unique as far as social isolation goes. I remember taking a vacation to Hawaii. I'd make eye contact with someone and they'd actually smile. As soon as I got off the plane in Chicago, I accidentally locked eyes with a girl my age and she changed her expression to a disgusted look as though I had shit in her hand. I'm so used to not making eye contact with people that I've often not recognized close friends and coworkers or thought that a stranger was someone I knew.

I used to have a bit of a staring problem back in school because I was so terrified to actually talk to people. (From years of being called a loser by boys and girls and getting shot down in any attempts at social interaction.) I was at a show recently and between me and the stage was a girl I went to high school with. I never talked to her then, but she was attractive and often in front of me, so I would end up looking at her. Again, here she was between me and the stage and I couldn't help but stare a little bit. I tried to look at the band, I tried to look at other people, I looked for other places to stand, but no, she was just right there in front of me. A little later, she circulated to my little awkward one man standing area, faced me, and looked down at the floor while still talking to her friend. It was an active "I'm not looking at you" position. It's hard to explain but expertly handled on her part.

... and we're both 25 years old. Ridiculous. I've only dated a little bit in my life, but I've never drawn the attention of anyone that I went to school with. It's always someone just the next town over. I was that awkward and creepy that it has to be someone who has no idea who I am / was.

 

[Akytalusia]

whenever it happens, i deliberately slow down. i think that's the best option in that case.

 

[Fappy]

The poll doesn't make it obvious - are we uncomfortable when we follow people or are we uncomfortable when people follow us. I believe you mean the former, but some people seem to be confused.

Is there any way around this? Does anyone feel the same? Am I just crazy?

Well, easy, there is a trick that helps in so many public places - pull out your phone. That's it, really. Just pull out the phone and pretend you're texting or even talking, if you wish - you can do so much with this. Speed up, slow down, or just turn around (if you need to). Also, you'll seem oblivious to your surroundings, which is a bonus. I've pulled the phone trick so many times, I think it can be applied to at least 80% of the casual awkward public situations.

I do this in elevators ALL THE TIME.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Yes, occasionally, since I?m anxious in public anyway, and it?s probably the worst in the mall (with such a high concentration of people) or people with children (they tend to walk the slowest, for some annoying reason), with so many people getting in my way and stuff. I have used the phone trick DoPo mentioned, although I do still have to be aware of my surroundings. The only thing worse than inadvertently looking as if you?re following someone is walking towards someone walking towards you, and then both of you try to go the other way. So I?ve begun to do now is just fixate on a path and continue with it, even if they don?t look like they?re budging either.

Most recent situation of what you?re describing is when I was walking into town, and as I was coming up, the nearby girls? grammar school (which I happened to do my Work Experience there, due to lack of options and stuff) was closing and all the girls was coming up. So I basically got stuck in a wave of them, looking like a complete dickhead caught in the middle of a gang of girls. So, before long, I just quickly crossed the road.

Sometimes I get a bit nervous if there?s someone walking behind me, even if they?re not necessarily following me. But especially when it?s late at night, I have a paranoid feeling that someone might try to stab me or something.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

I dunno about you, but I like to follow people whilst in front of them, it's all about using my psychic mind powers to predict other people's paths, and walk that path before they do, so that they feel weird about it.