I do not like strangers to get touchy with me randomly, the majority of the time that is.

However, if I cross a persons path... say, an instant connection of some kind... it happens a lot to me or... between certain people that may be for a quick second or minute.

For example, one day I was walking into work... and an elder man was walking "lost" down the hall, he held some papers in his hand. I asked him if I could assist him in anyway and he said, "I was just discharged, but I feel disoriented, I can't remember where my car is parked". He then went into telling me he was here the day before visiting his sister in ICU and experienced chest pains and shortness of breath during his visit, which then was admitted and released the next day.

We talked more... for I walked him outside and tried to put the pieces together to help him remember where his car was parked. I decided to call security (which was limited on a Sunday morning) and then sit with him (he was sweating and I a bit worried, I offered him some water...), well we had this great talk about life, medical worries, situations that make it hard to tend to the needs that are truly important.

Before I write a book... what I am saying... is, there are times when you cross paths with people, for a minute, five minutes or a few days or months. A gentle touch that says... "I hear you" or "thank you" is felt a bit different and these moments are truly inspiring. So space is not really thought about... it's a connecting moment.

However, space due to my time and inappropriate crossings are not usually welcomed or tolerated by me. Such as walking around public places, people trying to hit on you... or stare. Or people getting touchy feely for "unknown reasons" or intentions of "getting off". No way!

In my personal time and life... however, I do love my space and I feel I need a lot of it lately, sometimes I feel I can not get enough and I live alone.

Imago said:

I don't mind....as long as they smell good
[Edited 8/29/07 19:54pm]

FreeSpirit said:

Did he find his car? Did he even drive himself there?

ThreadCula said:

Oh and the end of the story is...

Our talk actually provided some answers to some questions I have had... I did not tell him this... but being he was in his 80's, lived a fairly long life and was wise... I took our talk as "a sign". I often realize these kind of moments have a purpose.

Security did not show up... so I decided to walk in the direction he thought his car was. He described it to me and I did find it not too far from the hospitals main entrance. I walked him to his car and bid my farwells, thank goodness he only lived a block from the hospital.

The end.

FreeSpirit said:

Yes those moments are a true blessing

Glad you could help him out too.

about 80 square metres

Close enough to smell your breath is too close...

I have a pet hate of strangers standing to close...like when ur lining up in the super market and their body keeps bumping into urs so u take a damn step forward....and they friggin move forward too ...I mean what the hell

Anxiety said:

Maybe it's the 3121 you're wearing. Switch to Brute or something.

I'm a small person, so anytime guys feel the urge to "pick me up" is way too personal. Although, since I've been lifting weights and am more solid, it's harder to do. They've found out the hard way.....One inch off the ground is enough.

My wife teases that I have Asperger Syndrome, because I traditionally haven't been too keen on being crowded or... touched! I have friends who spontaneously hug me just to see me squirm. Since my kid has been born, though, I've been forced to change. My daughter and I could be sleeping in a bed the size of Texas, and she'd decidedly be so close to me I could count her eyelashes. I think also moving to a bigger city has changed me a bit.

Anymore, I don't mind that people are up on me. I've come to actually appreciate it a bit -- it seems so... so cosmopolitan somehow. Crowds, for example, make me feel like I'm in some hive with all my fellow drones.

...But I confess it helps if those bees are goodlooking. And I can't get with stinky folk no matter how urbane I'd like to think myself.

REDBABY said:

My girlfriend told me that her Father used to tell the family that they were having fried ice and donut holes for dinner.

Tame said:

at least that is SOMETHING all we got was fresh air

Tame said:

It depends on how big the baht is.

ZombieKitten said:

lucky. we got our air canned from aldi.

I usually don't mind, but I've been going through a spate of ugly chav girls sitting as close to me, and next to me if possible, as they can on the trains to and from work. They're clearly looking for me to say hi or something and flirt but really, what am I going to say?

"Oh hey, look at that, you sat right next to me in this empty carriage!"

And it'll hit off from there? Fuck off!

Spookymuffin said:

I love chav girls.

Spookymuffin said:

I'd sit right next to ya on a train!

JDInteractive said:

Not the ugly ones, I hope. Or the ones with way too much foundation, glittery eyes and that wet, moussed hair look?

Or the ones that love wearing belts on the outside of their t-shirts.

Spookymuffin said:

the absolute DUMBEST...i was gonna say "stupidest" but no, DUMBEST...example of this in my life was a morning when i was sitting in a goddamn dunkin donuts eating a bagel, and a crazy lady sits right freakin next to me and is all "OOOH, WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE EATING???"

it was a fucking bagel, and i told her as much.

"WOW, IT LOOKS GOOD! WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON IT???"

uh. cream cheese?

"CREAM CHEESE?! THAT LOOKS SO GOOD!!!"

i kinda wished i wasn't gay that morning because a performance that pathetic almost kinda deserves at least a quick mercy hump.

hokie1 said:

You would - and I wouldn't complain about milfs. It's mainly that they are in no way attractive. I prefer it when nice pensioners sit around me. I attract them too with my glasses and shirts.

Anxiety said:

"AND OH WOW WHAT ARE YOU SITTING ON?"

a stool.

"GOD IT LOOKS SO COMFORTABLE!!!!! OOOH WHAT'S THAT YOU'RE GETTING OUT?!!?"

a gun.

"WOW IT LOOK SO DANGERO-"


[Edited 8/30/07 6:16am]

Spookymuffin said:

you should write a book on etiquette.

Anxiety said:

I'm British. I was raised on etiquette and crumpets.

I've always wondered about doing a blog laden with cynical observations about behaviour.

Spookymuffin said:

ok, but you could write an etiquette guide where the alternative to proper behavior is violent and bloody death. kind of like serial mom, only without the menopause. Serial NIN?

You should do the blog. One thing I'll miss about Chicago is the CTA Tattler, a web site that points out all the embarrassing behavior of public transit riders. I think it's neat when we can ostracize people who actually deserve it.

Anxiety said:

The idea is forming. It is.



The thing is, I tend to be quite good at judging what people are like by looking at faces - as in whether they're a dick, gormless, weird, shy, and so on. I spend hours observing on trains because I'm antisocial and listen to music. Often I'll sit in the Quiet Zone carriage with loud music and see how people react to me being a complete prick...God that makes me sound like a dick.

Spookymuffin said:

Lammastide said:

You may be right. I better 'man up'.