This is odd behaviour isn’t it? It freaked me out

[Armanio]

I have a friend who is lovely but does do and say some odd things sometimes. But then I know I can be a bit odd too so try not too judge. Yesterday we met up for lunch and I just happened to notice her nails so I said “oh I like your nails” - well with that she went out on to give a detailed explanation of where she’d had them done, why and who had done them. She went on for ages about it and honestly I’m not that interested in stuff like that, I was just making conversation.

Anyway she started asking me to feel them and then - the bit that weirded me out - she started tapping them on the table whilst staring at me intensely with a grin. I can’t explain why but it almost made me feel a bit sick, it made me feel so uncomfortable and I can’t stop thinking about it. Was it odd of her to do this or is it me being odd?

She was pleased she had her nails done and then excited that you enquired about them and then was showing you how durable they are.

Yes, it might have been boring listening to it but the art of conversation is being able to steer others away from a subject, so I’d you just sat there like a lemon then she probably thought you were captivated by her regaling you with the nail experience.

As for the tapping in the table making you feel a bit sick that’s all very strange. Annoying yes but making you feel sick?

As you said your started making conversation and she simply joined in, I imagine the tapping and grinning was mainly in your head.

What do you think she was trying to achieve what about it made you feel 'sick'

Yes it made me feel a bit sick - as I said I can’t explain why - it was just so uncomfortable

Honestly you both sound a bit bonkers. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Life's too short. Get over yourself.

Her tapping her nails on a table made you feel sick and you’re freaked out by her behaviour?
Fuck me, do I live in a parallel universe to some of you???

My guess is her monotropism made her give too much detail and the nail tapping set off your sensory issues.

It must have been terrible for you. Have you asked your GP for support?

There was only one odd person in that conversation and it wasn't your friend.

She was socially “off” for a few seconds. You say you’re both a bit weird, she monologues, so I’m guessing neurodivergent.

There was a viral ASMR clip that did the rounds a few years ago.

It consisted of a supermodel type woman tapping her nails on various bits of a luxury car and saying. "Bentley" in a seductive Eastern European/Slavic accent. It inspired various spoof videos with other people tapping bits of their cheaper cars or Firefighters tapping bits of Fire Engines.

Here it is but I don't think you'll like it:

https://youtube.com/shorts/hRViAhH60yI?si=h47C-W9zRKn3bchs

I don’t know, it was a bit like a horror film but as I said it’s difficult to explain. But it still gives me goosebumps now when I think about it. As I said she does and says other weird things too but people tell me I do also so who knows

Oh! My link is dead! That's the horror for you!

https://youtube.com/shorts/hRViAhH60yI?si=JJk7NURqV0XuViSs

Oh, this totally reminds me of Soundgarden’s Blsck Hole Sun video - was it like that, @Armanio?

And here's a a young French Fireman/Paramedic doing a spoof of it, only he says, "Ambulance."

They say exposure therapy is good for irrational fears or icks, so I hope this man can help you get over your nail tapping phobia.

https://youtube.com/shorts/RFWt9-ANPxM?si=JyBBHSG3iKVlQo0E

I find fake nails or gels icky, especially those that are thick and/ or massively long.

@Armanio I think it’s called uncanny valley - the combination of the awkward grin and long stare with the nails tapping on the table that lasted far more than a few seconds 🤷‍♀️

I'm sorry if I've been horrible to you OP. Nail tapping is a bit odd. Don't click on my silly links.

I’ve just looked that up and it’s interesting - horror films don’t scare me but what does scare me is humans acting in ways that are not human like - for example the girl in the ring moving in ways that would be impossible- same with the girl in exorcist crawling belly up down the stairs and the granny in IT dancing weird in the kitchen …

With some people it's just a mistake to ask " how are you" because they take the question literally and actually tell you ad nauseum.
Similarly, admiring something as you did with your friend, sparks some people into reciting chapter and verse, every blooming detail, about them.
Some people have no shame: they just like the sound of their own voice.
I don't know about the nail tapping bit of it. My attention would have wandered so far by then I wouldnt have noticed.

It sounds like she was maybe being a bit silly - like trying to do a horror movie type thing that was lost on you but might have made someone else laugh…?
Its hard to tell just from you relaying the details but it’s not “weird” as such