You're talking to a stranger, and look them in the eyes as they look back at yours...

[EscapeArtist]

Whatdoyoudonext?

 

[coyote]

I usually smile.

 

[Noca]

It becomes a staring contest, who will look away first. Usually I lose.

 

[Lorraine Manca]

ask them why their eyes are dilated?

 

[NathanielWingatePeaslee]

Whatdoyoudonext?

It really depends. If this is, say, at a check-out at a store then I'll generally try to avoid eye contact, or at most do the seemingly obligatory meeting of eyes for a split second.

If it's a situation where I'll have to deal with the person later, I'll try to do the social dance of making just the right amount of eye contact and hope I'm doing it right.

 

[Newtype]

You need to stay focused on what the person is saying. Keep looking at their eyes or face, just try not to think that you're doing it. I do that and it helps enormously.

 

[Why]

hard for me to sincerely smile at strangers so i do some awkward grin or blank face

 

[agoraphobickatie]

eh.. grin? what are we talking about?

 

[EscapeArtist]

I agree with the 'focus on what they're saying' thing. Otherwise I end up trying to have a staring contest. I end up observing the person's facial features, or eye colour, I guess to dehumanize them, in the end I don't remember what they said.

 

[Da Kid]

Depends on who the stranger is. If it's a girl I think is cute/hot, then I look at then differently from a middle age balding man. Usually I try to keep a firm gaze and smile in a way that implies what I am thinking (attracting, friendliness, politeness, disapointment, etc.)

 

[Scrabbl]

I freak the **** out.

 

[Liberty]

I agree with the 'focus on what they're saying' thing. Otherwise I end up trying to have a staring contest. I end up observing the person's facial features, or eye colour, I guess to dehumanize them, in the end I don't remember what they said.

If they're talking I look at them, if not just look wherever.

 

[illuminationSP]

I freak the **** out.

This, or I become very uncomfortable.

 

[nothing]

look away really fast or nod my head.

 

[AimeeSP]

I'd blush... alot. Then become extremely embarrassed because of it. ::::

 

[Nocer]

concentrate really hard and make their brains explode!!!!

 

[userremoved]

My eyes start burning for some reason. I still haven't figured this one out yet.

 

[Nocer]

My eyes start burning for some reason. I still haven't figured this one out yet.

your charging your lasers of course

 

[WorldEndsWithMe]

Well, I normally don't even look my friends in the eye, let alone strangers. If we make eye contact I normally just look away, or try and look through them at some point behind them.

I remember my eye contact issues started because these guys in my class were talking about how my eyes were weird-looking... I don't know if they wanted me to overhear them or not, but I did and now I don't really like making eye contact because I'm worried everyone else will think I have "weird looking eyes". And actually, after those guys a few other people have told me I have "interesting" eyes, or strange eyes... =(

 

[userremoved]

your charging your lasers of course

I sure hope not. It's going to be pretty hard trying to get a girls number after her face has been melted off. ::