A Matter of Personal Space

[PatsGirl]

Well, if that wasn't a Freudian slip" -- that would be tough lesson, not "touch" lesson.

 

[purplepixie]

My DD once tripped in line and bumped into the person in front of us. We had noticed he had problems with people around him. My DH and I both saw the problem before it happened. As soon as my DD started falling my DH tried to grab and as soon as he got a hold he pulled her back and stepped forward a little. The look on that man's face when he turned expecting someone smaller and found himself looking at my DH's chest was priceless. It also shut him up for the rest of the wait. Having a DH that is 6'5" and built like a football player comes in handy sometimes.

 

[C.Ann]

I am a very small (thin) person and take up very little space.. I have no imaginary "circle" surrounding me that I consider "my personal space".. However, if someone steps on my heels, smacks me with a backpack, pokes me with their umbrella (or drips the water on me), or screams in my ear, then yes - I'm going to have a problem with that..

 

[fran99999]

I am forever in the personal space position. I do not like tight spaces or having people right on top of me, and especially not strangers touching me. I agree the occasional bump is fine, but if I bump you I move back. If you bump me I would appreciate the same. I also on occasion use an ECV. Why oh why do people feel they can lean on the back of my seat? If you think leaning is fine go sit in a chair where the back and seat move separately and have someone lean on the back of it. You feel like you are on a ride. I lean on the seat to be comfortable then someone leans and the back of the seat leans back 2-3 inches. Then they stand straight then lean then straight. I have asked them to please not lean and they look at me like I am the intruder. these are also the same people that sit or lean on the ropes in line that cause the ropes to move and smacking you in the back of the legs or butt.

I will never forget the man in front of my DS6 who was on the escalator up to the Monorail in the CR. My DS6 was so close after my pulling him back several times and asking him to please give the man some room. Finally I told him to stand back from the man and get his face out of the poor mans BUTT. Well the man starting laughing so hard he almost tripped getting off the escalator. I appoligized and so did my DS.

 

[ophie]

Sometimes at Disney, the crowds make it impossible to avoid other peoples umbrellas. I don't mind umbrellas when it's not busy, but when we're packed in like cattle, umbrellas can be dangerous.

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh I can top a few of these.

Imagine being in a wheelchair and the person behind you in line decides they are going to lean on your push bars.

We've been through that too. When one of us wasn't standing directly behind DD's wheelchair we've had people stand their toddler on DD's wheelchair headrest (when she was in the chair!).
We also had a situation while waiting in line where a dad told his child it was OK to sit on my DD's wheelchair footrest - right on top of my DD's foot!

 

[Hodder]

I should really post this under a fake name.

Personal space is very important to me as I get panic attacks if too many people keep touching or leaning against me. Nothing scary like tearing off my clothes and running out of the parks screaming, but I may lose my breath or start to shake or cry. VERY EMBARRASSING!!

If someone is too close behind me in a line, I casually step BACK. A little at a time. If they don't back up after a bit.............I fart on them. Sorry, but it's the only thing that works sometimes.

Can you do this (I fart on them) voluntarily??