How/Why Humans React?
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
April 30, 2007 12:56am CST
I have always wondered how the human mind works as far as what's expected or thought of as "normal" of some of our daily rituals/acts. Take for example getting on an elevator. I am 52 and my son is 27. Sometimes we will get on an crowded elevator. Neither one of us turns around. We stand facing the other people in the elevator as the door closes. You'd be amazed how nervous some people get when in an elevator face to face with strangers. Mainly due to not many people stand that way. Most people turn facing the doors when entering an elevator. Why is this I always wondered? Another one is to stare at a glass area in a public building then jerk away suddenly as if something happened. Then watch all the faces turn to see what it was they think you saw. How do you react if you're in an elevator and someone enters facing you for a few floors up? What would you do? Say something? Stare at the floor? Let's hear how your "mind" works in this matter. Let's hear if you've ever done something just to watch a humans reaction. I have no scruples so I do "strange" things like the above mentioned routine. Hahaha! Thanks in advance also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
7 people like this
11 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
30 Apr 07
For me, I just stare straight ahead... and will the door to quickly open at my floor. Nobody is truly comfortable so I keep my private space, and let others keep theirs. *wink*
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I tend to stare straight the type like you that stare straight ahead. Hahahaha!
1 person likes this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
We act that way Grandpa Bob because during those occasions, our personal space is being violated. Each of us has our own personal space which is the space surrounding us about 12 inches from us that we consider our personal domain. As humans, we would always feel uncomfortable if someone invades our personal space and according to some psychologist, we deal with them by keeping things impersonal such as not looking at each other and not talking to each other or even treating those people beside us as inanimate objects. If we are comfortable with the person that we are talking with, we tend to lean forward & allow that person into our personal space and if that person doesn't feel the same, he/she will lean back because you are also invading his/her personal space. One observation that I had during my college days was the one in the library. We women, tend to define our personal space by placing our bags on the table and on the side where we feel most invasive. It is an unconscious act on our part to keep our distance and comfortability.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
30 Apr 07
So does this mean that my son & I like invading others private spaces?
Thanks for the response also. Truely appreciated.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
Maybe Grandpa Bob or you just love making other people feel uncomfortable or maybe you want to rebel against such behavior or just want people not to take themselves too seriously. LOL! or it could be that you have a different sense of personal space. Personal spaces actually differs. People from the city may have lesser sense of personal spaces than those people living in a farm or much less populated areas. As far as I know, if is just uncomfortable to looking at somebody in the elavator which most people do. It is funny though that all of us tend to watch and stare at the numbers on the elevator.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
30 Apr 07
My husband is a goofball. He will act like a nutcase in such places to draw a reaction from people. I prefer to try to engage in conversation. This is often very uncomfortable for most people too. They look at you with that expression of disbelief that you are actually speaking to them. "pardon, pardon me?"
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
We react that way Grandpa Bob because we are in each other's personal space and makes us uncomfortable so we remedy that by not looking at each other and not facing each other while in the elevator. Personal space is that area surrounding us that we consider as our private domain and if someone invades it we tend to get pretty uncomfortable. Personal space varies in each culture but I guess it is usually not less than 12 inches from us. According to some psychologist, we deal Notice that when we talk facing other people, we maintain such comfortable distance. When we are intimate or likes the person that we are talking with we tend to get nearer or lean closer. Personal sp
2 people like this
@sick4muzick (816)
• Philippines
1 May 07
Hi grandpa Bob. I like people. I love observing them and guessing what makes them tick. I would take a good look at the person. One never knows if they are up to something or what. If the person looks sane enough to me, I would secretly observe everybody's reaction and the person's too. Interesting, may this happen to me hehehe. Thank you and have a great day!
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
30 Apr 07
I think human nature is the strangest thing. Everyone has knee jerk reactions to just what you said. I probably would look at the floor or keep myself busy looking through my pocket book, LOL. That is what I normally do when I am uncomfortable in a situation such as you mentioned. I have done an experiment like that. I stood on the sidewalk and just looked up at the sky. About three other people stopped to look as well. Wanting to know what I was looking at. Then I just walked away. Then they felt foolish I guess. LOL
I guess the human mind is and always will be a mystery to me!
2 people like this
@dixielol (1579)
• United States
5 May 07
Hahaha, Im like you, I do those sort of things just to see what people will do. I find that if you get into an elavator faceing someone, the gender has alot to do with how someone will react. If you face a guy, they are much more likely to start a conversation with you were as a female seems more likely to just look at the floor. I, though I am a female, starts talking when someone does that to me. My mom & my boyfriend hate it when I do things like that.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
2 May 07
It depends on who it is staring hehehe. If it was you id just laugh at you. I dont like elevators much but when in one I tend to stand in a corner and try and relax.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
2 May 07
My husband does funny things like that too, just to get a reaction. I am more conservative.. In an elevator, I would always face the door. If someone got in & faced me, I would look the other way, or up at the floor buttons.
If I saw someone jerk away suddenly from a mirror, I would most likely check to see what they were reacting to.
AT work one day, he raced around the elevators, in & out, around corners, very quickly. This stirred up another worker, who attempted to follow him, & the corner him behind a door. This may sound superficial, but it was at Police Headquarters.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
1 May 07
In a situation like this, I will pretend to wander my eyes around. I avoided staring at anyone and tried to keep my body as stiff as possible. There will be times when we're really crowded like a sardines inside the elevator. I also look at the back of the person in front of me. Anything will do except to stare at anyone. LOL, I don't know...its just not my habit to do so. Happy posting, grandpa.
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
30 Apr 07
I agree about the personal space part. Frankly, I've never known anyone to stand facing others in an elevator, but 'I'm sure' I wouldn't like it. I'd likely stare over their shoulders, or look down. These two things are what I used to do when travelling to work on crowded buses and subways years ago. You couldn't avoid being face to face with strangers in those situations. It's nice to see someone enjoy life like you do Grandpa Bob, and I imagine you're a lot of fun to be around, but also a very caring family member or friend to have, at the same time.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
1 May 07
Such a sweet compliment. Thanks for this also.
I try to be a best friend to many people I encounter daily.
I actually seem to enjoy seeing or putting others in situations as this.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
