Do you give people the ONCEOVER?

Singapore
October 19, 2010 8:59pm CST
Or do you hate it when people do that to you? I was in the lift with a neighbour the other day, after we greeted each other, he looked at me from head to toe, not deliberately but rather out of a habit (I think), it seems natural that he sizes people up. For me, I think it is quite rude and it makes me feel uncomfortable. What do you think? Would you be uncomfortable too? How do you react? p.s, I was modestly dressed for work then, my blouse has sleeves and my skirt reached my ankles, lol
2 people like this
10 responses
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
I totally hate that! Last week, management issued out house rules - collared blouse, slacks or conservative skirt, close shoes and well-groomed hair. I have not read about it until two days after. The day of release of the memo, I was running late, I wore a sabrina cut top and my fitflops (love 'em!) and my hair had gone crazy because of the wind. At the elevator, this rude guy looked at me - my hair, down to my chest () and then down my feet. I felt so bad about it until I read the memo. Now I think he was thinking that I was such a walking violation!
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
20 Oct 10
Maybe he thinks he's the office fashion police! But yes, that was so downright rude. I hate it when people do that to me or to my friends. When I see someone sizing my friend, I tell my friend about it.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
But what can we really do about it? Tell the person off?
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
I would say it's none of his business, unless he's the regulation enforcer or something like that. I hate it too! Why do people think they have the right to give people "the look"?
@saphrina (31551)
• South Africa
20 Oct 10
Hi sweetie. I hate it when people look that. But as this old madam have such exquisite manners, you do it like this next time. Look him up and down in exactly the same way as he did with you. Then you start with the little list in telling him what you find wrong with his dressing, hair whatever, even if there is nothing wrong at all. That is always a winner. Have fun. TATA.
@saphrina (31551)
• South Africa
20 Oct 10
Hi sweetie, glad to be of assistance here. Make sure to have a pen and pare handy, he will wonder what you are writing down, just make sure you give him that list after you read it to him out loud.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
haha, you are good at playing mind games....
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Hi saph, As always, it's a pleasure to read your response, and to do them too. I will practise squinting my eyes and adopting a cynical expression to do that....
@maezee (41988)
• United States
20 Oct 10
I find that the only people who really do that are snotty people who are judging you by your looks and trying to "size you up", and I also find it really annoying. One of my friends actually does this without even realizing it or trying to be offensive, but I find it offensive regardless. I don't take it personally though, I usually just chock it up to jealousy. They're jealous of how you look, most likely, and the best thing you can really do is roll your eyes at their ridiculousness.
• Singapore
21 Oct 10
Snotty people would probably look at people out of the corner of their eye, that will be spotted easily. I don't really care for that.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
20 Oct 10
I am very discouraged and uncomfortable when I am given the once over by someone. i try not to return that favor. i would not want to cause someone to feel that same discomfort.
• Singapore
21 Oct 10
I do look people over to see their clothing more carefully or take a second look, but it's always from a distance and it's just a casual look. It is not nice to really do a head to toe scan like they do at the airport. LOL
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
22 Oct 10
It's unfortunate that people just do this out of habit. Although they don't mean to, I guess it's a way to assert themselves. By sizing whoever they are with. Specially in a lift which would be a bit dangerous if you turned out to be an unsavory character, even if you're modestly dressed, with sleeves, and skirt up to ankles.
• Singapore
25 Oct 10
I have not cultivate the habit of not going into the lift with a stranger. There is actually some technique, seems like even when we stand at the door, we should face the inside and have the face to face contact with whoever it is inside. That way, the chances of being attacked will be reduced. I think I read this in some of the forwarded emails.
• United States
20 Oct 10
I totally hate that, as if they need visual approval first. I cannot stand when people do that, I almost want to blurt out hmm, see something you liked or didn't
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
I think those elderly have this habit, at least from my own experience. They seem to think that they can judge you from your dressing. I don't know what they are expecting to see.... Probably I should offer them a pair of spectacles and suggest that they use them to see better.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Doesn't Nai get jealous?
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
you are such a pair!
@shibham (16977)
• India
20 Oct 10
hi moon. as a guy i have no problem but i have seen some peoples stare on girls as they have not ever seen. it really irritates me. thanks that you are too sincere on your dress. no need to show what you have, right? take care.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Hi shi, Maybe think girls suffer more from stares than men do, but I have previously met this old lady who also look me up and down, getting that from a lady, although not so offensive, is just as uncomfortable. I don't konw what's wrong with these people. I think I always dress quite modestly, I rarely show off.
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Hi bluemoonpavilion! Yes it feels very uncomfortable. And to be frank I hate it too. I think it's more of a habit. Otherwise, those who do this may just have a complex. Perhaps they don't feel good about themselves.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Hi tomi, It's really good to hear of your positive response, I shall treat them as such! Now I feel better, thanks!
@RONDOLAWE (774)
• Indonesia
20 Oct 10
yes same as me i hate if the neighbors looking me like that cause this looking is like want eat or judge for our clothes for it if they want say you so cool or beauty its fine maybe for me ... why they do that
• Singapore
21 Oct 10
Yes, the judging part really gets to me. Why can't they just greet people in a normal, neighbourly way and leave it at that?
@diana82 (56)
• Indonesia
20 Oct 10
really uncomfortable for me. if someone saw me with that look unusual and i will ammediately divert the attention of others to him. so he knows that he is doing is making other people uncomfortable. sa that he understands that a view can also be a more beautiful and attrative when it's done medipcre and not excessive especially looking from head to toe with the excess. i think it offended the feelings of others.
• Singapore
20 Oct 10
Yes, it can be quite offensive. I encountered this a few days back and there were nobody else in the lift. After the onceover, the uncle tried to make some pleasantries but I do not feel incline to have a chat with him after that, I was really glad when the lift reached the bottom and I could get out.