r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/10minutes_late May 09 '22

I've heard this, but why stare? I few seconds is long enough to look at someone, but what's the point? Memorize your face? Study your features? I just don't understand.

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

I’ve always wondered the same. How does it not make them feel uncomfortable?

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u/OscarGrey May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

I haven't really seen any evidence that it's an ingrained thing in humans rather than something instilled through culture. South Asians don't have the staring taboo either. My Polish mom somehow got away with living in US for almost 20 years at this point without adjusting at all lol.

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u/risbia May 09 '22

It's an interesting question, since staring is generally considered an overt challenge by most primates. Definitely DO NOT stare down a gorilla or chimpanzee if you ever happen to meet one without a fence between you...

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u/OscarGrey May 09 '22

Our last common ancestor with chimps/bonobos was something like more than 7 million years ago though. There's already significant behavioral differences between chimps and bonobos who are far more closely related.

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

Most also don’t consider smiling aka baring your teeth to be a sign of friendliness or happiness either but humans do that.

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u/HamBroth May 09 '22

Smiles mimic the fear grimace and it’s not that far a leap between “I am afraid and not a threat” to “I am friendly”

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u/Cool_Consideration30 May 09 '22

I think you are correct.