Do you read someones paper over their shoulder on the bus or subway?

@Emiese (994)
Sweden
May 27, 2008 1:08pm CST
On the subway I take there is this phenomenon. Normally it is very crowded during rush hour, but in the morning everyone (almost) is reading the free daily newspaper that you pick up on your way to the trains. Some people do not have a newspaper though, and sometimes they read over someone elses shoulder. I know that when I do not have a paper myself my eyes sort of inevitably wanders to the headlines of the newspaper someone else is holding on to. Does that ever happen to you too? The funny reaction is that some people seem to get offended by this and pull their paper closer or folds it so you cannot see, which I think is pretty stupid. I mean it is not like you try to read and bend forward or pull the paper closer or anything, you just let your eyes rest on the text. And the paper is free anyway, so instead of wasting the environment by taking a paper just to read the headlines you get as much information as you want without any hazzle or harm. Why do people feel so offended just because you see what "their" newspaper says? What kind of person are you, do you care if someone looks at your newspaper while you are reading it, do you do the same? Or do you pull the newspaper closer to you and think that they could have gotten their own if they wanted to read it? Let me know what you think about this matter!
2 people like this
5 responses
@plumwish07 (4057)
• Indonesia
28 May 08
thats true dear friend and i also did those kind thing sometimes. what i mean here, if the person next to me read some newspaper or even magazines, my eyes just inevitably wanders to the headlines of the newspaper or magazines. but i don't take curious much to read more cause i am not sure the person will let me to read more or not. anyway, if there is person asking my permission while i am reading in my travelling, i will be happy to lend this person my readings during the travelling
• Kottayam, India
8 Jun 08
Plum congrats.
• Indonesia
9 Jun 08
hey thanks for your congrats to me dear elshadai also for you dear emiese who mark me as best response within your discussion. i really appreciate that
• United States
27 May 08
Sometimes when I'm on the PRT which is how I get back and forth to classes when school is in session, if someone has a newspaper then I'll look at what I can see. I don't go out of my way to read it though cause I think that's rather rude. I try not to bring attention to the fact that I'm looking at their paper either. I've found that it really makes people nervous sometimes when they think you're staring at them even if you aren't staring at them but something that they have.
@wayz12 (2059)
• United States
27 May 08
I drive to work everyday, so I can't even remember the last time I took public transportation. However, this reminds me of times, like when you are sitting waiting around, say in a clinic, and somebody beside you is reading. I have to admit, I have the bad tendency to glance at what the other person would be reading. However, I'll just glance, not read along. In the same way, if I see somebody reading a book, I'll take a peek if I can see what the title is, but that is the most that I will do.
@Marcola (2774)
• United States
27 May 08
No, and I think that's very nosy and an invasion of personal space.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
27 May 08
There is no subway or free paper here, lol. I do have the tendency to read other people's papers when I'm bored, but I'm not hanging over their shoulders or get extra close. I would be offended, too. Not that you read my paper but that you invade my personal space:)