The Close Talker

[customersruinmylife]

I am sure every single person on this website has encountered this kind of customer before. The kind that has absolutely no concept of boundaries or personal space.

Two older gentlemen had been in the pub during the afternoon. Their stay was uneventful. They had some lunch, had a couple of pints, read their newspapers and left. About an hour later, they returned. The main older man came running up to me.

SC: Excuse me! Excuse me!

I stopped, but he didn’t. He got so close our noses were almost touching.

SC: I think I may have left my glasses in here.

I took a step back. He took a step forward.

Me: OK. I didn’t find any glasses when I cleared your table, but I will go have a look around the surrounding area.

I took a step back. He took a step forward.

SC: Thank you. We were sat over there.

I had a look. No glasses. I got on my hands and knees and looked under the chairs and table. No glasses. I turned around and stood up. He was right in my face again.

SC: Are they there?!
Me: No they aren’t.

I took a step back. He took a step forward. I was literally leaning backwards over the top of the table while he got closer. His breath also stunk.

SC: Maybe they are in the toilets. Go and look.
Me: I am a little busy at the minute. Sorry.

He wandered off to the toilets. I went into the kitchen and spoke to a co-worker.

Me: I can’t believe that guy! He got right within my personal space. How can people be so oblivious!

CW suddenly yelled “Hey! What the hell are you doing!” Confused, I turned around. The SC had barged into the kitchen, and again, was right up close to me.

SC: They weren’t in there!
Me: Woah! Woah! Out! You can’t be in here!
SC: Well if you hadn’t disappeared I wouldn’t have to have come in here looking for you!
Me: Out!

I walked out the kitchen as well. As soon as I got outside the doors, yep, he was about an inch away from my face.

SC: Where could they be?
Me: I don’t know. Could you please take a step back?
SC: Whhhhyyy?
Me: I feel uncomfortable.
SC: What? I’m not going to do anything to you!

He stepped back.

SC: I’ve lost my glasses! I can’t believe you are so uncaring!
Me: I have looked where you have sat, you have looked in the toilets. They haven’t been handed in. If you have any other suggestions of where they could be, tell me.
SC: I will come back later when someone else is working! You are no help!

He grabbed his friend and walked out. I overheard him calling me a “very rude boy indeed!”

[Tora]

I had a lady get up close and personal once while I was running tables in a sandwich place. I took a step back and sure enough, she stepped forward again. She also smelled like freaking Pinesol. Fortunately it was a very short encounter.

[angelgirl]

Ugh, I hate that!

We have one lady at work who does that. She's a little, old lady with the beginnings of dementia, so she doesn't do it to be rude or anything, but when she's talking she'll keep getting closer and closer! We call them 'face-talkers'. As in 'stand behind the desk when she comes in, she's a face-talker'.

[phoenixv07]

There are two possibilities ... either he's an inconsiderate jackass or his sight is so bad that he has to be that close to see you clearly.

Either way, how rude of him.

[Lyse]

I so want to give him the benefit of doubt and hope that the majority of this is due to him being extremely nearsighted.

[Pixilated]

There are two possibilities ... either he's an inconsiderate jackass or his sight is so bad that he has to be that close to see you clearly.

Either way, how rude of him.

There's also the (very slim) possibility that he's from a culture where people normally stand nose-to-nose, although from your story, it doesn't sound like that's the case. I'd vote for myopia myself, although I am extremely nearsighted (i.e. if I am awake, I am wearing my glasses) but if for some reason I weren't wearing my glasses I would still have a good idea of personal boundaries.

Just as a footnote, there's an excellent and funny book called Gestures, by Roger Axtell, in which he discusses this sort of culture clash. I think he calls it the "Waltz of the Diplomats" or something similar ... they step forward, you step back, they step forward, you step back, they step forward ... eventually you are backed into a corner and trying to become one with the wall ...

[RealUnimportant]

There's also the (very slim) possibility that he's from a culture where people normally stand nose-to-nose

This happened in the UK, where keeping an empty seat between you and a friend/loved one is commonplace... And yet it's fine to get 6 inches from a total stranger. Weird place.

[Spork4pedro]

We had a regular back in when I worked at Blockbuster who would sneak up behind you if you, yell "BOO! GOTCHA!" with his lips an inch from your ear and then stand just as close while asking about the new releases for the week since looking up at the board was an annoyance for him. (Really. that's exactly what he told us. ) His breath smelled like ass but luckily his BO was even worse so he only gotcha once!

[Golden Phoenix]

May i present, for your entertainment, an ad that aired for a while over here in the UK that explains how to deal with a "Space Invader".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeBcQk9JMHM

Fosters have run a series of these ads and even though i can't stand the stuff i'd be willign to buy it simply on the strength of this ad campaign.

[Snowbird]

May i present, for your entertainment, an ad that aired for a while over here in the UK that explains how to deal with a "Space Invader".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeBcQk9JMHM

Fosters have run a series of these ads and even though i can't stand the stuff i'd be willign to buy it simply on the strength of this ad campaign.

Unfortunately, the link doesn't work in the US.

I used to have space invaders too, though I was fortunate enough to generally carry a clipboard with me, which immediately was pushed out as far in front of me as I could manage.

[iradney]

That's when I angle my body to the side, cock the hip facing that person out, hand on said hip with elbow out. That way, if they get too close, they end up getting elbowed by me. I do it for people that stand RIGHTTHISCLOSE behind me as well.

[Golden Phoenix]

Unfortunately, the link doesn't work in the US.

I used to have space invaders too, though I was fortunate enough to generally carry a clipboard with me, which immediately was pushed out as far in front of me as I could manage.

Argh!

Anyone know how i can check if a video will work in the US?

Failing that search on 'tube for "Fosters space invader", that should find it ok. If anyone finds one that works could you be so kind as to post it? Thanks.

[Andara Bledin]

Foster's Space Invader ad on YouTube for those of us not in Australia.

(it works in the US - not sure about elsewhere)

^-.-^

[Snowbird]

Foster's Space Invader ad on YouTube for those of us not in Australia.

(it works in the US - not sure about elsewhere)

^-.-^

Thank you!

And that really is a great tip to keep space invaders away.

[Yarnil]

Cant watch it at work, but ill try it at home.