What I Like About People
Flying a couple weeks ago from Atlanta to LA, I asked one of the flight attendants about why the little entertainment screen wasn't working. As she was pressing a couple of the screen's buttons, and asking me a couple quick questions about it, she very softly touched my arm.
I felt like she was very tenderly reminding me that I was the person she was talking to. So both the touching and the reminder that she's paying attention to me - I like when people do that.
Last night getting ready for ultimate (soon I'll have posted way too much about summer league, I know), I asked a guy on my team to run with me. What I didn't tell him was the actual workout (100s, 200s, 400s, shuttle runs - all repeated).
What I liked about him was that when he decided to stop running, he continued to encourage me during the training.
Also, my neighbors downstairs have three kids, one older dude who reads alot, a girl Andrea, and a little tyke, Sebastien, who calls every white male Scott.
Andrea colored a picture of a dinosaur the other day and handed it to Scott. She also colored in a picture of a mushroom and gave it to me. It says: "Ben our best friend"
Thanks to Lisa, who recommended this blog topic to me today.
Thanks, Faust, for your inspirational comments and agility.
7 comments:
very nice check my blog when you get a sec
Our waiter, an older, soft spoken, skeletal gentleman, at the restaurant i went to on Saturday night made it a point to touch my back everytime he was talking to my area of the table. At first I felt comforted, then I felt a little weirded out, then I just let it go. He grazed as opposed to touched and that started to get to me. I agree though that there isnt enough acceptable contact these days, especially in the workplace.
I generally agree that physical contact adds to casual exchanges between people. Most people enjoy being acknowledged. However,I still think that certain amounts of contact can be creepy or invasive, no matter how much we talk about how cold we've become. You just don't touch strangers too long or too closely. "Acceptable contact" in the workplace might help contribute to warmer, comfortable relationships between employees, but again, I think it should be used sparingly. I get kissed on the head every day by the same guy who isn't an employee, but a community member affiliated with the organization with which I work. I still don't know how to react to this. All I know is that it's getting old and it's a little much to have this giant man hunch over my laptop, smashing his lips on my forehead while I'm trying to work.
Ultimately, I have no solid opinion and am also lost on this issue. Any tips for my current situation?
Ben, I almost feel bad leaving my opinions on why she touched you after reading all the well, thought out words from other commentors, but here it goes:
is it possible she was just saying, "hey, the tv doesn't work but we can make our own movie"...is it possible that this could have been your in to the Van Nuys business industry? in no way did this cross your mind? because that's the first thing that came to mind for me.
also, were you flying delta? i did on my way from ATL to Oregon and I really loved the tv in each seat feature. pretty nice perk.
living in brazil, it took me awhile to get used to the very frequent contact that occurs between brazilians. whenever someone talks to you, they seem to deem it necessary to touch you, usually a hand on the shoulder, etc.
however, once there for awhile, not only did i get used to it, but it was really nice to feel apart of the community. I vowed that when i return i would continue this informal contact
although it has been hard, i feel that i have been doing somewhat of a good job. I realize many americans freak out when people touch them, therefore i dont really approach strangers in that manner. I guess i just have to realize that americans need much more personal space. although it is nice to be acknowledged as human once in awhile.
thanks for the cross-cultural perspective, chris. adding more contact with mere acquaintances could go a long way in breaking down the 'stranger' complex we Americans have.
also: do y'all have any suggestions for anonymous? (she was looking for ways to stop the guy at work who kisses her forehead every day.)
ed,
this woman was definitely playing the 'i know i'm sort of old, but still sexy' role. and her contact with me showed it...
Post a Comment