I keep terrifying people

I know this sounds like a stupid topic but...

Whenever I go to walk by (as in overtake) someone on the street, I keep making them :daisy: themselves. This seems to happen a lot these days, one women yesterday jumped and said "oh my god" when I did it (not too dramatically but still).

I can only guess as to why this happens, and my best bet is that I move very quietly. I do this in the house as well, a lot of the time I will just be going about by business and then people will suddenly say "aah where did you come from?!". I tried it and I noticed I really don't make any noise at all when moving. I don't know why I have developed this, maybe too much Splinter Cell when I was younger? :juggle2:

Even though this is a gaming forum, I really do not look creepy at all in RL. The only thing I can think of is people say I look very common and a bit chavvy, so maybe people think I might mug them?

I haven't heard of anything like this before, but given my history of people telling me how I do this around the house etc, I don't think it is all in my head. Does it happen to anyone else here? :sweatdrop:

Nah, I just get told point black that I'm creepy. ie people get shivers when I'm close or they freak out when I touch them (i've had a girl scream when i touched her on the shoulder to tell her something)

People don't like me walking behind them.

Its quite fun really.

Maybe you're just meeting creepy people who are freaked out to meet someone so normal.

Wasn't there an episode of Seinfeld where there was a guy like that and Elaine made him carry Tic Tacs in his pocket so they could hear him coming? What did they call him? "The Sidler"?

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Originally Posted by pevergreen

Nah, I just get told point black that I'm creepy. ie people get shivers when I'm close or they freak out when I touch them (i've had a girl scream when i touched her on the shoulder to tell her something)

People don't like me walking behind them.

Its quite fun really.

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u kinda do look creepy now u mention it...

Usually if you enter someones 'safety zone', you know that invisible sphere around them that they feel safe in, especially quietly and/or quickly, that's a good way to wig them out. I know if it happened to me I would become quite uncomfortable. Epecially if they were as ugly and smelly as some of the people who post on these boards! Ha ha! :P :)

I am definitely not one for breaking peoples safety zone, I don't like people standing behind me or I think they are going to slash my throat. :skull:

Plus I'm pretty sure I don't look/act creepy. And it's not like the people I know would be too polite to tell me, we used to joke about how one guy really looked like a serial killer.

I think it's more the fact people just don't know I'm there, then wham there's this guy wearing a clown mask and wielding a machete.

But really.... I don't know.

People in highschool often told me not to sneak up on them. Don't remember that happening on the street though, but then it wouldn't bother me anyway.

Once scared two girls at night when i walked behind them, once a woman ran away from me at night, I was just walking home from work, but well, it's not my fault that others are scared.

I wouldn't think too much about it

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Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr

I can only guess as to why this happens, and my best bet is that I move very quietly.

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I never make any sound in public, as a matter of common courtesy.


Or perhaps skip the common, much the rest of the world seems to think one should produce the decibel level of a Jumbo Jet taking off at all times. Raised voices, revved up motorcycles, yelling. Blech.

I guess you could fake-cough or scuff your feet :shrug:

When I was younger people would accuse me of sneaking up on them. I'm not sure why. Maybe I should have yelled "hail" as soon as I came within ten feet of them :clown:

I've startled a couple people while working, although with the 30 pounds or so of gear (some of it rather squeaky) and heavy boots I doubt any of them could claim my approach was too silent...

Do you tend to look people in the eyes rather than down at the ground as you walk down the street? That unnerves some people.

i look people in th eyes, and i always have a smirk according to everyone.

and im pretty extroverted and loud so i dont really surprise people often. i can be quiet though, or id be the worst hunter ever lol.

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Originally Posted by The Stranger

u kinda do look creepy now u mention it...

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Yeah, its weird hey. You have to admit I didn't look as bad as Killfr3nzy.

Just bat them baby blues and give em a big smile. Works for me.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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Originally Posted by pevergreen

Nah, I just get told point black that I'm creepy. ie people get shivers when I'm close or they freak out when I touch them (i've had a girl scream when i touched her on the shoulder to tell her something)

People don't like me walking behind them.

Its quite fun really.

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If your asian, they'll applaud and say "Ninja"
Strange world..

And they don't like it when I do it in Japan ^^;

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Originally Posted by Beefy187

If your asian, they'll applaud and say "Ninja"

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That's sarcasm, means you have failed to remain undetected

One thing I noticed, and I may be imagining it, but I notice that people (women esp) are most uncomfortable (and even sometimes afraid) around conservative looking white and Hispanic guys with big frames. They seem to be perfectly comfortable around black and Asian guys, but for some reason I think people think that they think they have something to fear from conservative looking Hispanic and white guys. I mean, there can be a guy with a million piercings and a spiked leather collar and a fishnet shirt walking by who looks like he is high, and it will not bother them, but they will be a little nervous and look behind them if there is a conservative looking (ie, button down shirt, or flannel, short hair, etc) guy behind them (esp if he has a large frame).
I don't know, is that just my experience on or around campus, or is there really something to it?

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Originally Posted by Zim

Do you tend to look people in the eyes rather than down at the ground as you walk down the street? That unnerves some people.

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I keep my eyes firmly rooted to the ground pretty much all the time.

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Originally Posted by Centurion1

i can be quiet though, or id be the worst hunter ever lol.

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Maybe I'm going feral? I used to put my skills to catching wild rabbits with a bandinet, nobody else could get close to them. :7ninja:

In my experience, I've had people cross the street when they see me walking towards them. Being 6'5" and with really wide shoulders I look like a Linebacker from a state like Tennessee or Texas. I have many friends who said when they first met me that they thought I was some type of bully or jerk just by how big and intimidating looking I was. I remember there was one time I was sitting at the bus stop waiting and a group of people got off the bus, they took one look at me and got back on.

When large men are polite and considerate however, it can be quite comforting and pleaurable to the recipients of such respects.

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Originally Posted by Just Vuk Again

One thing I noticed, and I may be imagining it, but I notice that people (women esp) are most uncomfortable (and even sometimes afraid) around conservative looking white and Hispanic guys with big frames. They seem to be perfectly comfortable around black and Asian guys, but for some reason I think people think that they think they have something to fear from conservative looking Hispanic and white guys. I mean, there can be a guy with a million piercings and a spiked leather collar and a fishnet shirt walking by who looks like he is high, and it will not bother them, but they will be a little nervous and look behind them if there is a conservative looking (ie, button down shirt, or flannel, short hair, etc) guy behind them (esp if he has a large frame).
I don't know, is that just my experience on or around campus, or is there really something to it?

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conservative looking = frat boy :daisy:. From what I've seen, you're observation holds true in and around campus but away from campus, blacks and alternatives freak women out way more.

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Originally Posted by Just Vuk Again

One thing I noticed, and I may be imagining it, but I notice that people (women esp) are most uncomfortable (and even sometimes afraid) around conservative looking white and Hispanic guys with big frames. They seem to be perfectly comfortable around black and Asian guys, but for some reason I think people think that they think they have something to fear from conservative looking Hispanic and white guys. I mean, there can be a guy with a million piercings and a spiked leather collar and a fishnet shirt walking by who looks like he is high, and it will not bother them, but they will be a little nervous and look behind them if there is a conservative looking (ie, button down shirt, or flannel, short hair, etc) guy behind them (esp if he has a large frame).
I don't know, is that just my experience on or around campus, or is there really something to it?

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I'm going to say it's just you

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

I'm going to say it's just you

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Out of curiousity, do you attend a University?

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Originally Posted by Just Vuk Again

Out of curiousity, do you attend a University?

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Yes

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

Yes

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Maybe you are right then, or may things are just different in Texas than they are in the Midwest.

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Originally Posted by Just Vuk Again

Maybe you are right then, or may things are just different in Texas than they are in the Midwest.

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Unless there something in the water up there that makes docile blacks and asians while pumping the whites and hispanics full of murderous rage and test, I think you and your Mexican buddy are just staring at the cute chickadees ~;)

Strike beat me to it.

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Originally Posted by Strike For The South

Unless there something in the water up there that makes docile blacks and asians while pumping the whites and hispanics full of murderous rage and test, I think you and your Mexican buddy are just staring at the cute chickadees ~;)

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ummmm...I never said that they had something to fear from large white and Hispanic men, simply that they seemed to be nervous around them. And I never said that I make people uncomfortable (though I do sometimes :P) and I assure you it has nothing to do with my inability to keep my eyes to myself.

I used to have exactly this problem, fortunately my palsey has deteriated, so now my limp is more pronounced.

That seems to have fixed it.

Hmmm.... Now I think of it, though, it also stopped around the time I became a serious Christian, which is also when people started routinely asking me for money in the street.

So, perhaps you just exude angst, rather than anything malevolent.

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Originally Posted by Philipvs Vallindervs Calicvla

So, perhaps you just exude angst, rather than anything malevolent.

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idk... A while back, I used to be very nervous in any social situation and didn't even like going outside, got pretty bad with it for a short time. I don't remember this happening back then though.

Now I am more relaxed, both with that and in general... but now this happens.

I think I maybe carry myself a bit differently now. Like with how you pointed out about the money, tramps etc used to ask me for money (the number of Rab C Nesbit characters around where I live these days is comical), and I would just react nervously, maybe they can tell if you're nervous and look like an easy target. But then I just started telling them to **** off, and now nobody bothers me at all.

Haha, even on the phone, one of my old friends didn't believe it was me at first, said I sounded gruff and nearly barked down the phone at him. Plus I always get mistaken for my father now rather than my brother.

I guess, now I think about it, I do feel these days like picking a fight and smacking someone in the face. Maybe this must be reflecting itself?

I don't know why I do this, I have a reputation for never getting angry or showing any emotion. It's not even a sense of rage or as if I might lose my temper, I just feel like taking up boxing or something...

Here's what I do when I feel angry...I go upstairs and have a smoke and when somebody speaks I go into a dream.

It's the 4-foot rule. Folks want to apprehend strangers/other bodies just beyond arms length, especially from behind. Gives 'em time to decide whether you are friend or foe, and whether to run, ignore or embrace. The rule, by necessity, has to be relaxed somewhat in an urban environment where we jostle elbows amongst each other - but the instinct is still there, so people get startled when seeing a body so near, rushing past them.

It's why, in military marching formations "30 inches all around" is the rule; you're far enough away to avoid accidental contact, yet close enough (within the 4-foot rule) to be defined as "together", part of a unified moving unit, controlled by a leader.

Damn my last post made it sound like my balls just dropped.

That is not the issue, sorry if I mislead... I think I just get frustrated recently from doing no exercise whatsoever over the past few years, and that makes me more agitated/agressive. I had been doing exercise stuff not long ago but then I dropped it after having the flu and now exams... maybe I should just pick that up again...

Try keeping camels instead - a lot less trouble.

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Originally Posted by Just Vuk Again

One thing I noticed, and I may be imagining it, but I notice that people (women esp) are most uncomfortable (and even sometimes afraid) around conservative looking white and Hispanic guys with big frames.

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I googled "conservative looking" and I came up with this:

https://i156.photobucket.com/albums/...le-of-beer.jpg

:inquisitive:

Allthough I admit, it does look frightening. Brrr... Heineken.

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Originally Posted by Andres

Allthough I admit, it does look frightening. Brrr... Heineken.

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You must have been really hurt when I killed in you CountArach's mafia game by making you drink Heineken...

I have this issue regularly due to the fast speed at which I walk and the deformed structure of my face. People have actually run away down the street upon noticing me coming up behind them. This is nothing new, people have been terrified of my visage (or at least pretended they were) since second grade.
In one instance I was coming up behind a woman who happened to look back towards me, and she immediately increased her pace. She kept looking back at me again and again but I was still moving faster than her and thus getting closer. It was hilarious to watch her panic as she noticed this last fact. Finally she hid in someone's yard while I went down an alleyway to my destination.
To be honest I find the whole thing ridiculously funny.

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Originally Posted by Zradha Pahlavan

In one instance I was coming up behind a woman who happened to look back towards me, and she immediately increased her pace. She kept looking back at me again and again but I was still moving faster than her and thus getting closer. It was hilarious to watch her panic as she noticed this last fact. Finally she hid in someone's yard while I went down an alleyway to my destination.
To be honest I find the whole thing ridiculously funny.

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Haha that is hilarious! :laugh4:

I haven't achieved such epic results yet... one day...

I've seen your picture in the photo album thread and I think it's probably safe to say you must be startling people rather than terrifying them.

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Originally Posted by Ja'chyra

I've seen your picture in the photo album thread and I think it's probably safe to say you must be startling people rather than terrifying them.

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Yeah, I don't think I look like the kind of person that is scary or creepy... people keep mistaking me for still being at school, I'm finishing my third year of Uni! :furious3:

Although that pick I posted was taken when I started Uni, but still...

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Originally Posted by Ja'chyra

I've seen your picture in the photo album thread and I think it's probably safe to say you must be startling people rather than terrifying them.

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I just realised... if you are thinking of the last photo I posted, that wasn't really me.

Not meaning to be condescending (best word I can think of, gah, lack sleep) when other people pointed it out in the thread, but the only time I posted a picture of myself must have been years ago.