Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Interesting query from Michael(Mike)

I think that Michael posed an interesting question:

"How can we feel so comfortable sitting (or standing) still observing our surroundings yet feel so uncomfortable doing the same thing if people are watching us?"

Please respond with your ideas.

Fabio

9 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

i think that it is because you are worried that people are evaluating your performance. it's almost like when you give a speech because you know the people are going to decide whether you are well prepared and have an adequate understanding of the topic in order to deliver a successful speech.

cbone74 said...

When someone is alone and no one is watching them that person is in their most comfortable setting and will do things that they'd never do in a crowd of people. It's like when you're in your car. Not matter matter what you do in your car you feel like everyone in traffic is watching you. If you make a wierd face while you're driving and someone passes you you're convinced that that person caught you making a wierd face, when really they probably didnt see anything at all. We always feel that we are being watched and we're constantly being evaluated on what we are doing at all times.

Big Hale said...

i think we care too much about what people think of us. We cant just be ourselves we cant just say hey its ok nothing to worry about, you worry about people judging you

DaleneAnn7 said...

You become nervous when you are being watched by other people because there are expectations. When you are just looking around without knowing others are watching you, you do not worry about what they are thinking because you are unaware of the fact that they are looking at you.

mgrilley said...

Okay, I wanted to think about this a few days before giving my opinion of my own question. Now that I have, I believe Big hale got it mostly right: We get nervous and/or anxious because we put too much value on what other people think of us, but I think the seeming duplicity of the question stems from something more. We don't get nervous when people watch us, we get nervous when we NOTICE that people are watching us. However, if I am actively paying attention to my surroundings, my mind is active and occupied to the point that I don't really notice anyone watching me, therefore I don't get nervous. Just like in class counting the lights, I am doing something by doing nothing.

mgrilley said...

An added thought...

Nervousness doesn't come from being watched, but the perception of being evaluated.

Bray said...

I think about this situation when I'm walking to class or anywhere really. When I walk by someone, somtimes it feels awkward; you do not know whether to make eye contact or to just look down at your feet and pass by. And when you do make eye contact, do you say "Hi"? Or should you just smile or nod. I think this same type of thing applied during our exercise the other day. Some of us made eye contact with the people watching us, while some just looked straight ahead at the wall or down at the ground. You don't want to look goofy or stupid in front of someone, so you avoid eye contact, or become nervous or embarrassed, just while standing there or walking by someone in the quad. It's human nature to feel like you are being judged, like Anthony said.

Dauby said...

I think that when people are watching our actions we try harder to not mess up or look stupid in order to impress others or to protect our own self image. When we are by ourselves we don't care about what others think about us because we are alone and we are more comfortable.