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Snowy Owl
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25 Feb 2012, 4:23 am

As the title says, how does eye contact make you feel?



Atomsk
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25 Feb 2012, 4:31 am

It depends on the eye contact, who is giving it, how they are giving it, etc. For the most part I avoid it - it feels uncomfortable.

However in other situations I've been OK with it, like when using eye contact with bandmates to communicate certain things while we are playing.



Mithos
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25 Feb 2012, 4:39 am

When someone is distressed, angry, upset, annoyed, in deep thought. I avoid it. xD


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btbnnyr
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25 Feb 2012, 4:43 am

I don't know. It doesn't make me feel that uncomfortable, but I find myself automatically avoiding it. It's not really my choice, my brain forgets to make eye contact or avoids it without me deciding to avoid it.



Atomsk
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25 Feb 2012, 4:54 am

btbnnyr wrote:
I find myself automatically avoiding it. It's not really my choice, my brain forgets to make eye contact or avoids it without me deciding to avoid it.


I have this going on, as well. When I do make eye contact, I often forget I'm needing to make it and start looking elsewhere.



Wolfheart
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25 Feb 2012, 5:37 am

Uncomfortable, I tend to break eye contact at times but sometimes I can hold it, it is difficult however. I tend to frequent eye contact and stare a different areas of the face I'm interacting with so my gaze isn't intensified or I don't become uncomfortable and break eye contact completely.



modelmaker
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25 Feb 2012, 5:53 am

I rarely make eye contact in conversation, especially with strangers or people I regard as having authority over me like a supervisor at a place of work.

I find that a downside of not making eye contact in conversation is that the other person see's this as ignorant, or I'm not paying attention to whats been said, or I'm not being truthfull about something, when in fact I am , its just my self confidence or nervousness that I cannot sustain eye contact for more than a few seconds.

To the latter issue, I find it incredably difficult to tell a lie about something, anything, even a white lie, but I think thats more down to my moral compass.


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Wolfheart
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25 Feb 2012, 5:59 am

modelmaker wrote:
I find that a downside of not making eye contact in conversation is that the other person see's this as ignorant, or I'm not paying attention to whats been said, or I'm not being truthfull about something, when in fact I am , its just my self confidence or nervousness that I cannot sustain eye contact for more than a few seconds.


I agree, if you shift eye contact as well, people might assume that you are an untrustworthy, edgy or shifty character, they might suspect something negative of you which doesn't really help, especially when it comes to first impressions.



Joe90
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25 Feb 2012, 6:07 am

It makes me feel included in the conversation.


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25 Feb 2012, 6:36 am

I should add my own feedback as well.

In 60% of the situations, I make very excessive eye contact during the first seconds, then, with every glance, I notice myself making less and less eye contact, to the point that I can't get myself to make it at all (after about 20 seconds of the conversations, I can't make it at all). It isn't really an uncomfortable feeling, but rather my brain forcing me not to look.

In 40% of the situations, I make eye contact without breaking it. I look with no breaks at all, to the point that the other person starts looking a little bit on a side as it makes them uncomfortable.

The 40% is usually when I 'block out' the external world to the point of blocking at least 80% of the sensory input, to the point of not fully (or not at all) conceptualizing the person.

Whether the person is a stranger or not, in authority or not, makes no difference at all. Sometimes I make very excessive eye contact with strangers, sometimes I can't make eye contact with the people I know.



mindmapper
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25 Feb 2012, 6:44 am

Prolonged eye contact with strangers makes me feel uncomfortable. I often try to make some eye contact, but that's very brief, and its only purpose is to let the other person know that I'm paying attention.

I usually make more eye contact with people I know or like. However, if the conversation with those people is serious or unpleasant, I start avoiding eye contact completely.



arko5
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25 Feb 2012, 6:55 am

The closest I can describe it is like trying to force the same poles of two magnets together. I can kind of make eye contact but it feels deeply unpleasant, and there's a very strong urge to look away, I guess just because that alleviates the feeling. I'd love to find an analogous experience so I could explain the feeling to NTs, it's probably the trait that most often causes misunderstandings (i.e. they think you're not paying attention or not interested etc). Thankfully for whatever reason I don't seem to have the problem in more formal situations, like interviews or public speaking. Not sure why but I'm not complaining.


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25 Feb 2012, 7:34 am

Making eye contact is something I find hard and that panics me.

If I am not looking at someone it doesn’t mean I’m not listening. Most of the time I am, and people who know me notice and understand if I’m not. If I’m not listening, it’s only because my mind has been diverted by my short attention span, which is just another of my Aspie things.

I just find it very hard to make eye contact whilst really listening to what is being said. If I am forced to make eye contact then I don't understand why and I get panicked. So I'm not being rude if I seem to be staring at my rather wonderful shoes or the table instead of into your gorgeous eyes.


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25 Feb 2012, 7:52 am

I'm unsure how it makes me feel, I do it maybe once every month on purpose. I usually go into a bit of fight or flight mode I suppose, and look away. No one ever mentions my lack of eye contact so I suppose its not a big deal to anyone. But its surprising that when people talk to you, they are actually looking at you... concepts sort of wacky honestly.



Keyman
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25 Feb 2012, 7:57 am

If sex is on the menu.. otherwise it's irrelevant and denied.



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25 Feb 2012, 8:10 am

It makes me feel naked and uncomfortable. They say that the eyes are the window to the soul ... so why should I let anybody and everybody look at my soul? You have to earn that right.