Close talkers make me itch. You know the people I'm referring to, I know you do. The ones that have to be right up next to you when they converse. Almost touching and certainly forcing eye contact during the entire conversation. It doesn't matter if you're in the same room while the conversation is in progress, if you look away, they walk up to you and tilt their head close, moving in closer, practically forcing you into distorted postures to avoid breathing in their breath. The ick factor is huge.
There is a perimeter I envision surrounding me at all times and interlopers are to remain outside that boundary. Always. If I don't you, you are an interloper and therefore banned from my personal space. Unless you're a puppy.
It's one of those pet peeves that make me bonkers. Why do complete strangers feel the need to invade personal space like this? This past weekend I encountered a woman I have never met before, and within 2 minutes she had sidled up so close I could see the pores on her nose. That's just nasty. Her makeup was poorly applied and her proximity gave me the opportunity to notice she didn't blend her foundation very well. That is way to close. I'm grateful she had at least brushed her teeth.
When people exhibit this behavior my skin gets itchy and I, in turn, exhibit extreme self control and do not punch them in the face. Because that, that would be rude. I tried the usual physical cues that most people respond to in this situation. I shifted my weight and leaned back a bit, generating space between us. She moved in closer. I moved slightly to one side. She moved with me. And leaned in closer. I narrowed my eyes and shifted back a bit more, using whatever was in my hands as a deflection. The usual physical prompts that were broadcasting "Step back, you crazy nutter" were of no avail. Her social antennae is broken, I assume, as she kept moving in. This behavior, in some people, is clearly a form of aggressive dominant behavior. Not this lady. She was completely off the reservation. I know this how? Because her eyeballs were scant millimeters from mine and this kind of crazy is its own brand of broadcasting. I know you know what I'm talking about here.
And then she did the unthinkable. She hugged me. HUGGED ME!! As if we had been bosom buddies for years! What the hell is wrong with people?
I am not a spontaneous hugger of people I know not.
Those I do know? I hug with abandon.
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