Do you notice people staring at you when visiting a provincial town?

[himbw]

I was born and raised in a market town in Cumbria. Moved away when 18 and go back to see parents every few months. I now live in central London.

My partner agreed with me that he feels people stare when we are walking around town. He feels the same way when he visits his folks in a small town in rural north Wales.

It’s not anything malicious, I don’t think, but it does feel like people can tell you’re not a local.

We don’t have pink hair or dress in any odd way. I guess the only difference might be that we might have different fashion choices or clothes, i e, m&s is a basic for us.

Does anyone else notice this? We don’t feel the same when visiting somewhere like Suffolk or maybe Devon. What is it?

They're probably wondering how to contact pest control 🐁

Norwich is a very diverse place, they've seen everything there.
You'd have to have 2 heads or be stark naked to get even a second glance there, just saying. 😬

I think @ohyesidois probably saying “aaahaaa” too loudly. And doesn’t have Lynne with him to whisper Perhaps you might want to say it a bit more quietly Alan 😉

Also @TheSaltedCaramelPathwhy?

Why did your male friend think they were staring at you?

Not really. But then I have one of those faces that apparently looks familiar in all of the British and Irish isles. Only once has someone been correct that I was so-and-sos cousin when asked though. That was a weird day..

Re the Cumbrian town, clearly they are all pagans and they are sizing you up to make sure you'll fit ok in the wicker man.

Re Norwich, a woman stared at us when we were on hol there and it turned out she wanted to paint our dog. A very nice painting it was too.

Also, are there really no 'provincial' towns in Suffolk and Devon?

I am born and bred Cumbrian and have never worn Patagonia or indeed any other waterproof walking/climbing gear. We are all perfectly normal in the sense we are just like everyone else. We live generally quiet lives and buy nice clothes just like everyone else.

I think they must be admiring you. I mean, M&S, how la-di-da. How the other half live!

Me too, but I no longer drive.
You really shouldn't be driving if you can't see properly.

No. It's never happened to me.

Are you doing a lot of reading or singing?

I don't think there are many provincial people left in provincial towns are there? I'm from Gloucestershire and you'd be hard pressed to find an original local. Maybe that's it. They're staring at you because you actually look like locals rather than wealthy Londoners with second homes.

Not really staring, no, but I do get way more comments about my appearance in small, rural places than I do in cities and big towns. For context, I’ve got a distinctive non-natural hair colour and large, visible tattoos, which nobody says anything about in cities but which do attract comments occasionally in smaller places. Nothing negative though - it’s mostly who serve me in pubs, cafes or shops saying “I love your hair” or “Ooh, what type of birds are they in your tattoos?” when they serve me. I don’t think it’s because it’s actually anything surprising to them, clearly it’s not that unusual for someone to have that kind of look in all sorts of settings - I think it’s literally just that service in village places is more chatty and personal in general so people will make conversation.

Nobody stares though and I don’t think anyone thinks “oh look, a stranger”. It’s not mediaeval times.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lmfao

Agreed!

I wear bright pink trainers and visit small towns and villages a lot as we enjoy walking and my DH’s family frequented the Morecambe bay area. Even on my luminescent trainers no one has ever looked at me in an odd way!

We're in a tourist area so see all sorts, Nobody notices.

I went to visit Norwich arts uni with DD a few years ago, in one of the talks they said Norwich had more tattoo places than anywhere else so your child was likely to get one.....
But I didnt really notice it being especially different (as in the people there) from anywhere else we visited

No. Get over yourself.

Yes, in some places. Definitely when properly rural. I’m Black and quite a lot of the country isn’t very multicultural, so I suppose I stand out in certain places.

Are you Stephen Patrick Morrisey?

Diverse?! I think “parochial” is the word you’re looking for

I felt observed as "not from these parts" when I visited East Grinstead last year. I'm in the "little old white lady in clean casual clothes" category. It was like walking into the set of Hot Fuzz! Can only imagine it's because the locals are on the alert for fresh intakes of visitors to the nearby Scientology mansion.

Yes, they say I'm a very strange girl and I don't think they mean it is a compliment. There must be more than this provincial life!

I live in a village close to one of the places mentioned in your OP. I pretty much always wear designer clothes, bags and accessories - I have a huge vintage collection. No one has ever 'noticed' me so I very much doubt it's your clothing. I had exactly the same experience when I lived in central London. Maybe people just see you as weird.

Maybe it’s just eye contact that you don’t get in cities? Fear of crime reasons etc…