Stink Eye By Jenny Ellis
Have you ever experienced a stink eye so good that it haunted you for days? Gone are the days of trying to figure out what people are thinking or
feeling, there they are. Their feelings and thoughts come right from their soul through their eyes. Non-verbal communication at its finest. And it
comes in all forms: The side eye, the squint, the eye darts that penetrate your soul, the over the glasses ‘You said what?’ look, the purposeful blank
stare just to get someone to stop talking.
When I worked for a corporation, non-verbal communication was a weakness of mine. They constantly told me I had no poker face. I was once
told by a friend/colleague that they purposefully sat across from me so we could “talk” the whole time (‘talk with our eyes’ and try not to bust into
laugher).
Maybe I got my love for non-verbal death stares from my ever so talented grandmothers, passed down to my mother, and now I have the pleasure
of the curse. The experienced Jedi Grandmother taught me the “force” that was getting shit done with your eyes. I could shiver just thinking about
my grandmother’s poisonous darts that were her eyes. Yikes. And as I am 95% Peace, Love, & Harmony, I have that natural 5% of ‘I will knock you
down a peg’ just with my eyes if I have to.
Living in a seasonal area such as Tybee, you have to deal with driving habits from the entire United States all on a tiny island - the old person who
shouldn’t be driving, the turn left from the far right lane person, the drive 20 miles under the speed limit when you’re already 5 mins late for your
shift person. Giving stink eye in traffic is ultimately satisfying and much safer than giving the middle finger (although I have enjoyed giving that on
rare occasions as well). The stink eye is much better. Human-to-Human eye contact. While finally getting the opportunity to pass the vehicle and
the person who apparently passed a driving test somehow, a pleasurable squint their way will help you size up your roadblock. This is a technique I
have learned from multiple boyfriends, not the matriarchs of my family. Mainly because most women don’t want to waste their time with amateurs
in traffic.
Check-out lines and crowded aisles at your local grocery store is an excellent place to exercise your eye muscles. Eye candy can be presented
when: that cart that comes dangerously close to your heels, the person who is so close behind you that you know exactly what they ate and drank
the night before, and of course the person who decides to pay with a check for 3 items at dinner time after a sale price check is needed on all
their items.
Non-verbal communication such as the stink eye is a satisfying method of blowing off steam without having words with a stranger or loved one.
Proceed with caution, as some strangers find this a jumping off point to start conflict.
As from the 95% hippie in me, I would say to have patience with people, you never really know what they are going through. But a hidden eye roll
amongst friends that creates laughter is fun now and then.
40 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | SEPT 2018