could you step back a little please, you are getting too close for comfort!

Someone is in my space if they are within arms reach of me. I don't like someone I don't know that well or someone I don't know at all in "my bubble" Everyone laughs at me because of me & my bubble, I keep one around my car, can't stand the people that think my car is there just so they have something to lean on. If someone invades my space I put my arms out, spin around & say "this is my bubble, you have to stay in your own bubble!" Usually I get laughed at but it works. As childish as it might look or sound, it works! I'll never grow up & I'll keep using my "bubble"

"Excuse me but you are a little too close for comfort and I need some space to breathe, either you take a step back or I will. Thank you, now that's better. What did you want to tell me?" Let people know that you are uncomfortable. An No, I don't remember having that problem. You see, I eat a lot of garlic. Just kidding.

Hi bluemoonpavilion, Like everybody else, i need space for me. I don't like others coming into my zone, however, i gently make space for myself and not let them notice it. I honestly don't like the term 'soft natured' as a compliment for me, my brother's girlfriend remarked me that way. I always wanted to be a hero!!

This happens to me a lot actually ... or at least it used to. If I am close with a person, then often I will let them put their arm around me or sit close to talk with me, especially in a loud and crowded environment, etc. However, if I am not very close to a person or do not feel comfortable with them, then I expect them to keep a certain distance. There are people that do not understand personal space and boundaries, especially if some people are allowed to get close while others are not. In these cases, I will take a step back to enforce my personal space. If that does not work or I am not able to move, then I will try to politely reposition myself so that I am comfortable. If that still does not work, then I will politely tell them that I do not feel comfortable and could they please take a step back.

This sort of things usually happen a lot. It happend to me at work also. My guy co-worker, and hes new, leaned his head over my shoulders. It really bothered me that I rudely pulled my shoulder off immediately. I mean how can you do that... It bring chills down my spine.

I love my personal space, sweetie. Whenever anyone comes to close i tell them very straight to move. I never liked it. You don't have to touch me or get onto my lap to talk to me, for Pete's sake. TATA.

We owned and operated semi trucks and had our own garage, I was the only female working with all guys. We had this one driver that would come in the office to ask questions and always felt the need to rub my back. He really made me uncomfortable. I never knew what to expect out of him because some times he would just come in walk through the office and go to the garage. Other times he would hang in the garage. I finally told our mechanice about how I felt and from then on when ever this guy came in, if he came in the office our mechanic would follow him, and babysit me!!!!! What a comfortable feeling! So my advice to you, tell a close friend at work how you feel and maybe they can intercept between you two when this happens.

hi bluemoonpavilion I have the same problem, and we all have a certain'comfort zone. Most people will not break that but some just do not understand that most people are not comfortable' with someone holding onto you or practically breathing on your face when they talk to you. I will back up or sometimes just plain say please you are making me uncomfortable even if you do not mean to so back up a bit. Psychologists say this is normal and we should all try not to push into the other person's comfort zone. So I have got so I just plain tell the pushy person I cannot stand someone breathing down my neck.

Hi bluemoon!I know exactly what you mean! And I hate when anyone gets that close to me too! I don't like anyone male or female who gets within my "personal space" either. I have had women due that very same thing to me and it really annoys me too! It does remind me of a "school girl thing" too.! And I don't like it when anyone stand too close too me and I will usually be the one to take a step back and sometimes I don't care if I'm being rude, it just makes me uncomfortable!

there are some funny but stupid behaviors of some persons. like you.. i have also encountered some ... like.. once i met a person who cant utter a word without touching your body.... another one who tends to slap on shoulder while speaking... next one who throws his saliva while speaking...and next who has bad breath... oh... what a morbid suffocation. in most cases of them either i take a distance or i react same to them... so that they can feel what foolish are they doing? most girls dislike that type of approach of guys. i think u will be happy with me in a conversation coz i feel more uneasy to talk than a girl in person... hahaha.. take care.

I agree with you. People should stand an appropriate distance away from you. Arms length seems to be a good rule. I like my personal space!

yeah,there are lots of people who would really want to link their arms around others.well,i do that to m close friends cause i know they do it to me also.but i seldom do it,only when i feel i want comfort from them.it's like having sisters around. but if we are not close,then i wouldn't like to be linked with them,really.i don't like that idea.only close friends can do that to me.if we are not that close,well you simply have to take your arms or your whole self away from me.or i'll better stay away,do anything like you did just to stay away from that creature.

Yes. I have a new colleague now, she is in the same level as me in the company. Somehow she chose me to be "close" and often would grab my hand or put her hand on my waist. I told her that I don't like to be touched and moved away from her. The next time when she was about to leave for a business trip she asked me whether I would miss her. I am kind of a loner in my office. I chose not to be close to any colleagues as my position is secretary to the directors (I just don't want they getting close to me to be able to glimpse some secrets of the company). So, I don't know why this girl is so adamant to get close to me. I told her to back away and I was rude to her in the end. She is still trying to get close to me, but I always stop her to get too close.

hi bmp, I have been similarly traumatised. Somehow, I will find the nearest escape route possible, even if it can be ridiculous. By trying not to be rude, I have held on for awhile - i felt really uncomfortable becoz I'm not even close to her!! If it ever happens again, Ï probably will utter something like "excuse me but I need to do something urgent"!! Sigh.

Don't people understand the 3 feet rule anymore? I mean seriously stand back and let me breathe. I with you on this one. I don't really care for people standing so close unless we are really know each other on a personal note.

Are you a man or a woman. Seems youre not too close for comfort with anyone. Whats wrong with a woman linking her arms to you as if you are that close (that is if you are a woman) considering that shes your colleague. If he is a man then thats another story. As to other instances maybe they are not aware that you are being close to any one talking with you. Just keep yourself away from them. Or just tell them about your position on matters like that.

I have a friend who did the same thing to me. She locked arms with me as we tried to walk down a hallway at our job. I was so embarrassed, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I just kept doing it. She never did it again, so I didn't have to worry about it. But, if she had tried, I think I would have tried to come up with a reason to excuse myself. I hate it when people invade my personal space. Some people just don't seem to care though. I usually try to slowly back away from them, so it doesn't appear rude.

I know what you mean. Some people just don't have a sense of personal space. I also encountered such a thing with a fellow member of a club that I recently joined in. She was just sooo friendly to the point that she'd put her arms around your shoulders when talking and stuff like that. It really annoys me so much but I don't usually just shake her off coz I still do respect other people so what I normally do is just act nonchalant and try my best to get away from her or not go near her. As long as there's no malice about what she's doing I'm just fine with it but I do try my best to stay away from her but not in a rude way, just enough space that she can't put her arms around me or invade my privacy whatsoever. But if it were a guy then I would certainly show to him upfront that I don't like what he's doing, except if he's a very very very very close friend or if he's gay or something. That also happened to me a long time ago with a couple of sleazy co-workers. At that time I was just a newbie and it was my first job so I just didn't do anything about it but just frown or take my hand away. Right now I must say that I regret the fact that I wasn't that strong back then to really reprimand those two. But now I've learned my lesson and so far no other guy has ever invaded my personal space again.

Yes, I have found this behaviour and I absolutely hate it! Specially those people who need to be 5 cm from your face when they talk to you. There`s a moment when I can`t back off more, and it makes me feel extremely unconfortable, as they`re not respecting my own space. Same goes for people who need to touch you when they don`t even know you well. I know many people like to have physical contact, but they have to consider other`s feelings, as many people don`t want to be touched as well.

I know exactly what you are talking about. There seems to be so many people out there that have no respect for personal space. Depending on my situation, I will either move myself back away from people in a nice and unobvious kind of way. If the situation requires more force, for example bringing up the fact that the person is in your space, then I will say something. Most people mean no harm. Some people do, or think its funny. In that situation you need to be blunt. Sometimes its just better to say it like it is.