Jungle
1
Something has been happening a lot to me in public transportation lately , one person staring at me for no apparent reason, women especially, I'd say one fifth of the time.
It's just one person each time, if it was a group of people it would obviously suggest there would be something wrong with my looks/posture....etc.
But it's not the case, so it really boggles my mind.
I am writing this because I am really confused, I don't know what their intentions are, hence what should be my reaction.
Is it because I am an Arab? Given the current circumstances (Terrorism, Arabs having a bad reputation in France ...etc) This would be understandable and I wouldn't blame them for their hostility.
Or is it because they're looking for romance? I highly doubt this because I am far from being a cute guy.
Last time, I was seated at the very back of a Paris metro wagon, there was a middle aged woman facing me and really staring at me, I looked away the first time because I wouldn't know, she kept staring, looked at her the second time, then looked away once more, looking around and acting normally, I could see she was still staring, then I finally looked her right in the eyes in a prolonged period in the vain attempt of probing any facial expression that would give away what was on her mind, I didn't smile nor try to look intimidating. I then looked away out of politeness, because she was like 60. She then looked away and looked down / through the window and stopped staring.
Same thing happened today, but from a girl in her 20s, in a crowded wagon, she stared at me in the same way, but I just pretended not to have noticed.
What should I do ? Smile, and take the risk to wrongly interpret the situation? or just give them a taste of their own medicine and maybe miss the opportunity of making a friend?
It's just one person each time, if it was a group of people it would obviously suggest there would be something wrong with my looks/posture....etc.
But it's not the case, so it really boggles my mind.
I am writing this because I am really confused, I don't know what their intentions are, hence what should be my reaction.
Is it because I am an Arab? Given the current circumstances (Terrorism, Arabs having a bad reputation in France ...etc) This would be understandable and I wouldn't blame them for their hostility.
Or is it because they're looking for romance? I highly doubt this because I am far from being a cute guy.
Last time, I was seated at the very back of a Paris metro wagon, there was a middle aged woman facing me and really staring at me, I looked away the first time because I wouldn't know, she kept staring, looked at her the second time, then looked away once more, looking around and acting normally, I could see she was still staring, then I finally looked her right in the eyes in a prolonged period in the vain attempt of probing any facial expression that would give away what was on her mind, I didn't smile nor try to look intimidating. I then looked away out of politeness, because she was like 60. She then looked away and looked down / through the window and stopped staring.
Same thing happened today, but from a girl in her 20s, in a crowded wagon, she stared at me in the same way, but I just pretended not to have noticed.
What should I do ? Smile, and take the risk to wrongly interpret the situation? or just give them a taste of their own medicine and maybe miss the opportunity of making a friend?