Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

People staring....why?

88 replies

DilemmaADay · 01/01/2021 15:52

Today DP and I went to get a McDonalds, and the carpark was full so had to park at the hotel next door where loads of people were doing the same.

Afterwards, I reversed out the carpark slowly due to the ice and drove out slowly looking for the exit. The whole time this was happening, a couple in a nearby car to the exit were staring at us. Not just casually watching, as in windows down, eyes following us, mouths pretty much hanging open to the point I almost stopped the car to get out and check something wasnt amiss. DP and I arent confrontational people, but we did stare back incase they were trying to tell us something. No, they said something to each other and carried on staring.

Now this made me feel a bit paranoid, that something was wrong with the car or my driving. DP wasnt bothered but I just thought it was plain rude.

Does anyone else feel unnerved when things like this happen or does anyone who is a 'stare-er' know why they do it?

OP posts:

Benjispruce2 · 01/01/2021 20:20

Op you went out in your PJs didn’t you?

roundtable · 01/01/2021 20:27

Did they recognise your car from the local dogging site op?

islockdownoveryet · 01/01/2021 20:33

Oh I hate starers I think it's cause my mum used to always say it's rude to stare .
My ndn who I don't particularly like stares but she's a nosey bitch .
Anyway she used to stare at me it I think it was to intimidate me . My mum would say just smile at her so I started smiling at her when she did it or staring back . It worked and she stopped , so if anyone ever stares obviously again I just smile really animated like a loon makes them stop .

billy1966 · 01/01/2021 20:53

Some people stare.

It's the open mouthed one's I pity.

I don't rally drive in carparks or parking lots...#shootme... I drive very carefully having seen a couple od cars narrowly miss small children years ago.

Get over it would be my view.

In heavily pedestrianised areas I slow down.
This has served me well and saved my childs life on one occasion when my child was really very nearly killed.....it was my daughter's error..not the poor driver...

MollyMinniesMum · 02/01/2021 17:38

Perhaps the own the hotel and wondered why the dickens you were using their car park?

purplebunny2012 · 02/01/2021 17:38

Hate to say it, but I'd definitely assume it was your driving. I have found myself staring at people reversing very slowly, but not usually when it's icy. Sometimes you just wonder how long a driver can take reversing, and some people are just bad at it (not suggesting you were, just your lack of speed)

Happyher · 02/01/2021 19:26

Maybe you were driving a car they used to own, or they thought you were someone famous

caspersmagicaljourney · 02/01/2021 19:50

Perhaps you had a flat tyre, or grown a second head.😁
Starers are sad individuals really, but I have been in that situation before and just let them get on with it. I'm not going to make their problem mine.🙂

AlicjaCross · 02/01/2021 20:42

If you look at someone so long that you notice they are staring, then you are staring at them!!!

BettyOBarley · 02/01/2021 21:01

It could be any number of things, sometimes I look at people (don't stare though!) and often I'm thinking oh she's got lovely hair/teeth/handbag etc but if they saw me looking over they might think I was being rude.

Having said that, I was shopping recently and accidentally knocked a Christmas ornament off a shelf and it smashed. Two women who were together literally stopped dead and stared at me. Anyway I thought well the noise probably shocked them into stopping.
Started to pick all the pieces up, realised they were still stood staring at me. Got everything cleared up, walked around a little looking for an assistant, checked the counter for staff etc and they were STILL stood staring wide mouthed at me.
Ended up telling them quite sharply it was ok, I hadn't committed a crime and not to worry I'd be letting someone know about the breakage and then they just walked off like .. So don't worry about it too much, people are weird!

Tzimi · 03/01/2021 03:58

@DilemmaADay It's never happened to me, but I imagine it must be a bit unnerving! Was there something strange about your car? Did you maybe forget to shut your boot, or something?

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 03/01/2021 04:39

Maybe they were just massively stoned/dropped a tab, and were going through the 'OMFG those total randoms are clearly plotting to kill us' paranoia stage?

MadameFireweed · 03/01/2021 14:10

Many people seem to think they are invisible when they are in their car. They do things they wouldn't do if they thought anyone could see them. I'm thinking primarily here of men waiting at traffic lights, picking their noses. (Yes, it is always men). The people staring at you in the car park probably had no idea you could see them.

As for their reason for staring at you - who knows. Unless .... You weren't picking your nose, were you?

Flip

1 2 3 4