I’ve noticed this mostly with males. A few minutes ago, in fact. My best friend’s boyfriend was having an animated conversation with me, but he can’t look me in the eye, he looks off into the distance when he is speaking.

I have an uncle who does that too, and one of my male co-workers. And I’ve noticed it with (usually older men) strangers I have just met, say at the grocery store, or wherever. Not most men, it’s just that the ones who do it, are often older.

All 3 of these people, I consider to be very trustworthy, knowlegeable people, so I wouldn’t chalk it up to being shifty, or dishonest, or being nervous.

I’ve never really noticed women doing this (although maybe they do, and I just haven’t noticed it).

The conversations with these folks, other than that they are looking off into the distance, seem perfectly normal, otherwise. Like any other conversation I might have with anyone else. It doesn’t seem like they are nervous, it’s more like a quirk, or a habit.

Do you know people who don’t look you in the eye when they are speaking? Are you one of those people?

I’m just wondering if some people were taught to do this for some reason, or whether there is some other reason.

Like I said, 3 of these people I have known well for years, and they are normal, engaging conversationalists. So it doesn’t seem to be about being nervous.