Do You Mind Not Reading Over My Shoulder?
Reading over someone’s shoulder while commuting is not acceptable behavior. Find out how to get rid of the “reading eavesdropper.”
Richie Frieman
Personal space is a biggie with me. If you are traveling and some person wants to crowd your space—it’s annoying. If you are in line for food and someone insists on leaning up against you—it’s irritating! And when you are reading—be it a paper or on your iPad—and someone decides they would like to read along with you, this is the top tier of improper space invasion.
Sadly this happens to a lot of my readers during their commutes to and from work. If you are the victim of a “reading eavesdropper,” there are two things you can do.
WARNING: These tips are a bit harsh, but trust me, they work. And sometimes tough love is what’s needed.
Tip #1: The Sarcastic Approach
While the person is clearly looking over your shoulder, do not make eye contact with them. Act as if you don’t even see them at all. Then, pick up your cell phone and pretend to make a call that goes something like this, “Hey John. Yeah, I’ll be in a little late today, I spent all last night vomiting from this stomach bug. It’s best if I stay away from everyone in the office as much as I can.”
And you will notice, almost instantly, that your onlooker has returned to his seat. Sometimes it’s the littlest words that can carry the biggest impact. “Stomach bug” and “vomit” are such words for sure.
Tip #2: Text Message
Mr. Nosy Reader finds your news too hot to miss and continues to read over your shoulder, despite your deep breaths of annoyance. At this point, you think being polite is not worth the time and you want it to stop, pronto. Take out your phone and start to text a friend, but angle the phone in the onlooker’s direction. Then text, “You know what I can’t stand? A stranger breathing down my neck trying to read my paper.”
Your friend will have no idea what you’re doing, but that annoying person certainly will. You shouldn’t have to tolerate having your space violated. Plus, eavesdropping is creepy! It’s like someone peering into your window or following you on the street. Seriously. If I were talking to you, I’d turn to and talk to you. If I wanted you to read over my shoulder, I would have offered up whatever it was I was reading to you to share with me. But I didn’t and so Mr./Mrs. Too Lazy to Cough Up $0.50 for a Paper needs to learn a lesson the hard way.
Do you have a great story about someone rudely reading over your shoulder? Post all the details in the comment section below or on the Modern Manners Guy Facebook page.
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