Question - What would you do?

[countrygirl12]

So I went into work Monday morning and after I clock in and I am almost to my station this kid (prob 11 or so) is staring really hard at me.  He without blinking turns all the way around still staring hard at me.  Not sure what came over me but I just flat out ask him "Is there something wrong"  and he just stared.  I I glared back.

His mother looked up and said "what" and I said "I asked him if there was something wrong" and he finally said no and looked away.

I don't know why but it just really irritated me.  People need to teach their kids some manners.  And that is old enough to know better than to do something like that.

Just curious as to if anyone else has ever confronted someone who was staring at them?

[BATISTAGIRL663]

I usually just tell a starer to take a picture it last longer ! but you are right that kid sounds old enough to have some manners and not stare !!! hope his mother asked him why he did that ??

[Brittx]

I did that before and my manager yelled at me. An older lady was staring at me when I was extremely pregnant and miserable. She was staring at me in disgust. I asked her if she ever saw a pregnant girl before. She went on some religious rant about how girls in high school have no morals. And was really upset when I told her I was actually 21 and engaged.

[countrygirl12]

I usually just tell a starer to take a picture it last longer ! but you are right that kid sounds old enough to have some manners and not stare !!! hope his mother asked him why he did that ??

I don't think she realized what he was doing.  She was talking to a co-worker.  She may have asked him why I asked him if something was wrong.  But I doubt he would have told her because I was staring a hole thru her.

[countrygirl12]

I did that before and my manager yelled at me. An older lady was staring at me when I was extremely pregnant and miserable. She was staring at me in disgust. I asked her if she ever saw a pregnant girl before. She went on some religious rant about how girls in high school have no morals. And was really upset when I told her I was actually 21 and engaged.

Wow.  Just because ONE girl does something wrong in high school does not mean ALL of them do.  And even if you were in high school it is not HER place to correct you or tell you that you have no morals.  It's pathetic that your manager yelled at you.  I am assuming the customer complained on you.  That's usually how it goes.  They start something and then you defend yourself or give them back what they are giving you and they go complain on you saying how you are rude.  I swear the more I deal with people the more I like my dog! 

[BlackSheepNY]

I have confronted someone before for staring at me.  Not only was he staring, he was literally FOLLOWING me for weeks on end.  This happened when I lived and worked in Manhattan and had to take the trains back and forth.  At first I thought maybe it was just me imagining things.  This guy was so obvious it gave me the creeps.  He used to jump in to the same train car I was in as soon as he saw me.  One day, to confirm this guy was a real creeper, when he jumped in my car, I jumped in to the NEXT car.  He made it a POINT to make his way in to the car I was now in!  This is when I decided it was time to confront him.

When the train let off on the station I had to switch trains on, I waited.  I let the platform get loaded with people and then I laid in to him.  I pointed, I yelled, I made sure everyone knew who I was talking about and exactly what the problem was.  It worked.  I embarrassed him so much he never pulled that cr@p again.  A few months after all this went down, I was on the elevator at work to deliver some papers to another office on another floor.  Low and behold, who gets on the elevator?  Yeah, it was him!  I never knew it, but the guy worked in the same building as me!  It pays to know your surroundings and WHO is in your general vicinity ALL the time.

[countrygirl12]

BlackSheep- But did you ever ask him WHY he was staring at you?  Maybe he liked you???

[ancmetro]

      Manners should be taught at home and school!

[countrygirl12]

      Manners should be taught at home and school!

It is going to be hard to teach kids manners when most adults don't have them either.  I have witnessed kids and teens totally berating a cashier while the worthless mother just stands there with a proud look like "that's my girl".  Or you have an adult doing that while the kid is standing there watching and just totally soaking it all in - learning that is how we treat people.

I saw a woman at Walmart at the photo center years ago yelling at the girl at the counter over her pictures not being ready.  Was not the girl's fault.  I still remember part of what the b**ch was yelling at her and every time I see her I remember that.  And if someone went to her workplace (assuming she actually works) and treated her the same way she would totally come unglued.

People are just unreal these days in how they treat others.  It really amazes me.  And it gets worse every day.

[linderlizzie]

So I went into work Monday morning and after I clock in and I am almost to my station this kid (prob 11 or so) is staring really hard at me.  He without blinking turns all the way around still staring hard at me.  Not sure what came over me but I just flat out ask him "Is there something wrong"  and he just stared.  I I glared back.

His mother looked up and said "what" and I said "I asked him if there was something wrong" and he finally said no and looked away.

I don't know why but it just really irritated me.  People need to teach their kids some manners.  And that is old enough to know better than to do something like that.

Just curious as to if anyone else has ever confronted someone who was staring at them?

He was a child! Maybe he thought you were beautiful. Maybe he was interested to see what you do at work. I think you should have smiled at him and perhaps talked to him.  I think that's what I would have done. 

I'm not sure why everyone seems to be ascribing poor manners to his behavior. Lots of people stare at other people, and they're not even aware they're doing it. Children are curious about everything, and they get their clues about life from watching others.

[Kay0338]

Thats strange. I think you did the right thing, you were polite about it.

[6265AT99]

Can't say I've ever been in that position but I can only imagine it was creepy!!

[bremer51]

Perhaps he was staring at you because you're very pretty....or you had a cool shirt on.  Maybe he thought he recognized you from somewhere.  Still, it can be unnerving to be stared at so intently.
Ignore it. 

[BlackSheepNY]

BlackSheep- But did you ever ask him WHY he was staring at you?  Maybe he liked you???

No, countrygirl12, I never asked.  This guy was a lot older than I was at the time.  If he liked me he sure had a funny way of showing it.  I saw him more as a stalker.  This guy literally made my hair stand on end.  I trusted my instincts.  I've run in to so many things riding the trains to and from Manhattan, you just don't trust anyone.

[Getinonthis]

Kids stare for various reasons, how we respond to it is truly where the issue lies. Consider how blatant
and honest a child can be?
eg. While walking my 6yrs Old recently pointed and spoke about someone we were approaching,
I wouldn't have done so but when it comes to a child their innocence have to be taken into consideration.
Nevertheless if it was perceived as a disrespect then bring it to the parents knowledge.