athletes no eye contact when listening question noisy post-g

Post Reply New Topic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7GptW8ReDA

Post Game Interview With Kelly Olynyk After Crazy Win Against The Wizards!! ! |NBA Playoffs Game 7

While listening to the question, Kelly is concentrating on hearing the question and is not making eye contact.

When giving his answers, he makes a little eye contact, but also concentrates and stares off, presumably to formulate his thoughts.

A noisy environment. It's a big sensory issue.

Yeah, I've noticed this kind of thing often, as a sports fan. I'm not sure if neurotypical types occasionally need to avoid eye contact in extreme sensory environments, or if it's just weird to be talking to a person you'd rather not talk to at a really emotional time, on National TV, wondering if you should look at the person or the camera, and you make your mouth make sounds while looking for a hole to hide in. (This is probably a night Kelly Olynyk will remember the rest of his life.)

I'm remembering the infamous Ricky Williams helmet interview. Can you remember that? He had horrible social anxiety and he did an interview while wearing his helmet, which had a black visor. People were like, VERY UPSET about it.

I usually close my eyes and turn my ear towards someone when they talk, with them knowing I am carefully listening and waiting to answer their question that really want an answer for and know we all know them... I close my eyes to pay careful attention to every word and wait to answer their question LOL People either "get me" or "aren't on the evolutionary scale to us Aspies yet"... and tend to sort themselves out by themselves for me to pick and choose "who's got it" and "who never will but wants to etc" and it sorts itself out for me... everyone is welcome to my house but no one ever comes because of that... but one NT does and he's "my NT buddy"...

Patrick Beverley: "We're trying to make something special this year"

Please notice toward the beginning that Patrick gives a subtle nod of acknowledge as the interviewer says " . . you're energy was very important . . "

Patrick listens to each question without eye contact, thoughtfully gives his answer, and then makes eye contact basically to let the interviewer know that he's finished with his answer. And I think it helps that the interviewer is a former Rocket and there's mutual respect.