Weird sizing up by random woman in queue.

[MargaretWindsor]

I went to my local shop earlier this morning for some essentials in a hurry.

After a bit of queuing I sensed the presence of someone behind me, glanced slightly to my left and behind and there was a woman quite blatantly staring at my shoes, fair enough I sometimes check out what people are wearing. I glanced back after a while as the queue was hardly moving and her eyes were slowly moving up my body, they'd got to the ankles then, we were standing very close to each other so she must have sensed/seen me looking back. I should say I was wearing a long dress, trench coat and flattish sandals, nothing scandalous, not that it should matter. So I started to look back in a vain attempt to shame her into stopping, I find prolonged staring so rude! As well as a bit strange. And this was right in my face.

She then very slowly made it up to my eye-level with a scowl and cat's-bum mouth, and continued to stare me out, Wtf? I was nearing the front of the queue then, and made a point of looking away in disgust, while she carried on.

Just don't understand the motivation for this seeming hostility by a woman of my mother's age say late fifties/ early 60s to a complete stranger who just happens to be ahead of her in the queue.

I should say I've got full on pmt right now which makes me more irritated and probably more sensitive than usual. I can mostly brush these things off but this has lingered, AIB-premenstrually-U?

P.s; I nearly said "Why not take a photo, it will last longer." - but that a bit cheesy even for me.

Maybe she's watched Zoolander too much?

I've been known to do jazz hands at Starers - give 'em a bit of the old razzle dazzle. Funnily enough they either stare harder or eyeroll or look away or all three

Replies are interesting thanks, even the grumpy ones. Hasn't changed my mind but food for thought.

@ Yes of course viques, because it's only ever those topics that get discussed on MN or deemed morally worthy or sth...

I dread this scenario with my Aspie son who stares. It's not about anything. He just does it.

It can be very disconcerting.

sorry, I don't fancy you

That must be a worry Eleanor, does he stand very close too?

Yes. Her kind of insinuates himself into a situation iykwim as he's no practice really, socially. Someone reported him to the police and he was utterly utterly clueless as to what he'd done wrong.

You can often tell when someone can't help it though

And you often cant tell.

I often check out what other women are wearing but I try to be covert about it! That said, out and about with my DH one time he suddenly asked me why I was glaring at a woman (she was wearing a gorgeous trench coat and I was trying to figure out if it was a Burberry one or not) so perhaps I'm not as subtle as I think I am

Were you wearing sandals with a coat? That would get you a look from my DM. Or dark socks/tights with light shoes? My DM has many many rules which lead to cold stares if they are broken...

Many years ago, I was stared at by a woman in a restaurant. Proper staring - she turned around in her chair and everything and was following my every move. I got up to go to the toilet and she watched me (turning her head to follow my direction) go and come back. In the end I think I shouted at her.

FWIW, I have a friend with autism who does fail to pick up on social clues but even she'd be wary of giving someone a look up and down as you have described.

I think I would have very quickly made the faintest of pucker-ups, as if I were making a kissy face, but so quickly and faintly she wouldn't be sure if I had or not. Then I would lick my lips and raise one eyebrow. Then look her up and down, and let my eyes widen in horror as they reached her feet. Then if she looked down at her feet in response I'd probably not be able to hold the giggles in.

All people with autism are different amd some might find it harder not to stare.

To marklah.