Personal Space Etiquette

[Birthday1313]

My little brother has to learn this, he is 11 now and he still dose not get what personal space is or when someone wants to be alone...

[mist8k]

I once went to a rock concert and was squashed up at the front, my elbow was slightly touching the side of this girl who told me I was invading her space.... surely if you were this paranoid you wouldent come to stand at the front of a rock concert??? I can however understand some people that might of had bad things happen to them in the past and get very anxious about personal space .

[searchanddiscover]

i love my personal space for so many reasons.

[BrianSmithNow]

I kind of agree with the movie theatre thing. When there are tons of empty seats, someone always sits behind me and are either disruptive or chillingly quiet. Perhaps I've seen too many horror movies to allow that to put me on edge. LOL

[OS253]

@BrianSmithNow: Have you ever park your car in an empty parking lot? Suddenly, you see another car coming and they park NEXT to you. Of all the parking spaces they can get, why do they have to park NEXT to me? This annoys the crap out of me. So I have re-start my engine and re-park my car somewhere else. Then the driver of the other car gives me a dirty look for moving my car. What the hell?  I hate these people.

[BackInsight]

About 2 feet is correct. Do not sprawl out.

[135Bubby]

To: BergamoFirenzeSGV: I never had a problem with personal space either, until I started having panic attacks. Then, I started to notice how close people were to me in public spaces.

I never dreamed I would have issues with others around me invading my "space". Please be more compasionate with those of us that suffer from issues that cause us to struggle with personal space. Not everyone has had good experiences with strangers.

[parkermparker]

I do have a suggestion, if a person is dawdling (it happens) in front of the item you need you can politely say 'excuse me' and reach for the desired item. Another way to put it would be to be aware of other people in your periphery and step aside when you realize you are in the way.

[shocks007]

Etiquette expert!?!?!...WTF!?!?

[BonusFiddle]

Also, the people with big bags need to be aware of how much space they take up and they should mind that they don't hit people with those garbage bag size purses.

[456704]

@BonusFiddle In a comment I made earlier, I mentioned how i dislike it alot when strangers have unnecessary converstaion with me. I was on the bus, and this guy with a big ass bag, turns around and hits me in the face, he apologized, I said it was alright. BUT he continued to look at me, and apologize about 3 more times, this annoyed me alot, even more than the bag situation...basically it all comes down to strangers making sure that they don't make me have to use up any unneeded energy.

[BergamoFirenzeSGV]

I really don't believe in this personal space crap. What is the big freaking deal? I always talk to people on elevators. We're too freaking scared of people in this society. This is all a lot of psychobabble bs.

[456704]

@BergamoFirenzeSGV yet, it annoys alot of people (including me) to have unnecessary conversation with strangers. If I come in to a bus, or an elevator, I only have one goal in mind, to reach my destination, with the least amount of disruption from that norm as possible. I hate it when bus drivers talk to me about stupidness that I don't care about, I hate it when people's breath stink and they blast in my face, and I hate it alot, when people talk on top of their lungs when I'm in a public area.

[muchlove59]

@BergamoFirenzeSGV

and this is why you work at McDonalds.

[Domino014]

In the grocery aisle, leave room so that others can get by you. I have been blocked in by a grocery cart multiple times. Also don't reach for an item that is in front of someone. Wait your turn!

Finally, when you're at the check out, have your form of payment ready so that you don't have to search your wallet or purse.

[breagadoir]

There's also the problem of bad breath!

[femmefatale1990]

I have a problem when people come up to talk to you and they just seem to get way too close. I like keeping a distance. I understand if it's a foreigner (though they seem to be the ones that understand personal space rules) but people in my own country just step right up to you.

[miyor123]

I have relaxed personal space, but it gets really uncomfortable since I have bad breath and if someone talk to me face to face its ...

[timeout4u7]

the gir reminds me of little miss chatterbox

lmfao

[electrogeek77]

I can be very touchy when it comes to personal space around strangers in certain situations. My Asperger Syndrome and agoraphobia are both big factors in this. If a stranger is too close in a register line or public transportation or something, I at least get the heebie-jeebies, if not completely freaked out. But if I'm somewhere where I'm prepaired for "space invasion", such as a rock club, I feel okay.

[delgado4652]

I'm so gonna violate everyone's bubble from now on.... just to see how they react....unless they punch me

[hekatelacroix]

its funny. its like they're scared that their space is gonna be sucked away

[AZshooterman]

Here is my pet peeve, I'm at the dog park, first one there, and the next person in has to come and sit and the same bench that I'm at. WTF is wrong with the other six benches?  I don't want to talk to you and I don't think the gay sweater on your dog is cute.... omg...

[Gutsyndicate]

first of all same bench isn't the same as in your face close. second these ppl want their dog and your dog to play together and since you have something in common to talk about dogs etc.

[baystategal]

@Gutsyndicate True, in your face and same bench are not equal, but they do share the issue of being too forward. Some may welcome that, but others may not, so it would be better to test the vibes before joining a stranger on the only occupied bench without asking or being invited. The response to strolling by, saying hello, and asking if it's OK for your dog to say hi to his/her dog is enough to pick up on the seated person's sentiment.

[AZshooterman]

that bitch seems to be everywhere I go...

[EasyHardLivin]

i get sick and tired of people invading personal space. every day it happens. whether on the street, on the bus, shopping lines at the store, its all constant violation. why do people not know these things. i was never taught these things and I picked it up myself. People who violate me will get told off.

[CeilingofStars]

It's not like there's some golden standard of personal space. Everyone "picks it up" themselves. Your family/culture probably just desired more personal space than the other people you come across 'every day'.

Learn to be a little more tolerant. I'm certain that there are people out there who feel YOU are invading THEIR personal space, and you're not even aware of it!

[EasyHardLivin]

I disagree. We DO have a survival mechanism that kicks in. Think about it. Do YOU feel perfectly fine being 2 inches away from someone you never even saw ? If you say yes, then you must of been raised to CONSTANTLY be next to people. Even then, that is not a safe way to do things. And I give people over 1 feet of space as much as I can. Only exceptions is when squeezing by and I make sure they know I'm behind them. I am very respectful of peoples space, but they are not of mine.

[CeilingofStars]

I definitely understand your point of view (trust me, I'm very protective of my personal space too!) The problem is, it's just not true that there is some universal standard. In Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, social space is usually within a foot of each other. I've had Middle Eastern friends tell me they felt very comfortable talking to someone even when they can feel the other person's breath on their face.

It really is a cultural thing!

[PonderEverything]

I believe their is a standard within each country. Most people are not respecting each others space due to ignorance. I see it all over me...

[soboboo]

What's wrong with Elise's thumb?

[EasyHardLivin]

next time just be like "why are you so close to me" ?