Why on earth does no one make eye contact?

[z's playa]

I've noticed something a little amusing at my campus. My school is mixture of med students, physio, nursing and the newest degree... health sciences. All this attatched to the hospital where we all do our clinicals. We do a lot of walking from hospital to school and in the halls as well.

I noticed, literally in passing them in the halls that hospital staff, MED students and doctors BIGTIME and many nursing students, don't look at anyone (me) in the eye or if they do, they look away quickly. :uhoh21: I'm not scary looking that's for sure, and I'm certainly not going to start chatting them up. I'm in as much a hurry as the next guy. Has anyone an explanation to this? Do they actually chant to themselves "Don't make eye contact..don't make eye contact" Kind of strange is all. :)

[abundantjoy07, RN]

I've noticed the no eye contact thing. Many people are just not comfortable making eye contact. It's easier to just keep on walking. Other people think that if you make eye contact with every single person you meet it might get tiring after a while. All the grinning and "hello's". Some people are sick, sad, down and out. Some people are tired.Some people are just rude. Some think it's rude to look you in the eye. Others are deep in thought. While others are wondering the same thing about you... However, if you know the person who's passing you and they don't speak...they might have alterior motives.

In general, I think our society is just becoming a little less social. Things are fast paced, impersonal, and I think it's going to keep going that way. It's just easier for lots of people not to say anything at all or make eye contact.

[z's playa]

I've noticed the no eye contact thing. Many people are just not comfortable making eye contact. It's easier to just keep on walking. Other people think that if you make eye contact with every single person you meet it might get tiring after a while. All the grinning and "hello's". Some people are sick, sad, down and out. Some people are tired.Some people are just rude. Some think it's rude to look you in the eye. Others are deep in thought. While others are wondering the same thing about you... However, if you know the person who's passing you and they don't speak...they might have alterior motives.

In general, I think our society is just becoming a little less social. Things are fast paced, impersonal, and I think it's going to keep going that way. It's just easier for lots of people not to say anything at all or make eye contact.

So sad. I'm going to go on thinking that at least the med students are just plain old uppity. More fun. :chuckle

[talaxandra]

If you're walking toward each other down a long corridor, it can be hard to know when to time the eye contact/greeting - too soon and you then have this bizarre "now what" decision to make, too late and it's "hope they didn't think I was a snob."

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

It's American culture, and perhaps Canadian as well. When you pass someone you don't know you ignore them. It's nothing to do with the hospital, it's everywhere. I have to go through a corridor that connects two buildings to get to my car, and every morning people are arriving to work as I'm leaving. No eye contact. I've always been a people watcher so when our eyes meet, I'll speak.

[CCU NRS]

talaxandra and Tweety both make good points, I do look people in the eye too and I have noticed both of these things. In long Hospital corridors it is almost like stareing if you look too long then you feel you are being aggressive. Another point is aggression, many people feel that looking others in the eye is an act of aggression and a threat, even in nursing school they teach us that Asian's and Latino's take stareing as a direct insult. So there are many reasons, just keep looking and smile at those who look back and don't take it personally of those that don't

[zenman]

But...after they pass you, do you turn and watch? :rotfl:

[CHATSDALE]

CCU NURSE i can't believe that your nursing instructors were so prejudiced as to make such a statement about asians and latinos....that is just awful...aren't we all individuals....would you way that all caucasions think exactly alike...

[cwazycwissyRN, RN]

I was at a wedding last week. The minister pointed out that people make very little eye contact for any amount of time. His theory was the people who hold a gaze into each others eyes will either see acceptance or rejection reflecting back from the other persons eyes and most people are not willing to take this chance. Could be true to a degree I spose.

Quit looking at me like that :rotfl:

[PHTLS]

Sometimes when I'm walking around anywhere, I'd rather stare at the ground or not at someone because I'm focused on something or I don't want to be bothered. I hate it when people think I'm trying to diss em' or maybe I have low-self esteem or some bs like that. There's 2-3 billion people out there and I'm not going to stare at all of them unless I KNOW YOU.

[PHTLS]

talaxandra and Tweety both make good points, I do look people in the eye too and I have noticed both of these things. In long Hospital corridors it is almost like stareing if you look too long then you feel you are being aggressive. Another point is aggression, many people feel that looking others in the eye is an act of aggression and a threat, even in nursing school they teach us that Asian's and Latino's take stareing as a direct insult. So there are many reasons, just keep looking and smile at those who look back and don't take it personally of those that don't

Too bad certain races out there don't understand that. I don't stare at anybody unless I have to or i'll just say good morning and go on my merry way.

[PHTLS]

If you're walking toward each other down a long corridor, it can be hard to know when to time the eye contact/greeting - too soon and you then have this bizarre "now what" decision to make, too late and it's "hope they didn't think I was a snob."

Who cares what they think