The Importance Of Being Alone In Public Space

Our society understands being alone in a public space as a simple, everyday happenstance. The social norm that I decided to break and attempt to validate was personal space, particularly when I was alone, sitting or standing close enough to a person where most people would deem my position as “invading their bubble,” and approaching people who were complete strangers when I went to public spaces for meals. The reactions from my breaching experiment have brought me to realize that many people are quite protective over their personal space and privacy, despite being in a public area. My experience humored me while also teaching me how prominent social norms are, and how people unknowingly frown upon the breaking of them.

To begin my experiment,

From what I infer, I think that they thought it odd I was so bold about coming to sit with them, but they also did not want to be rude or mean for no reason and ask me to leave, so they just went with it, making for quite an awkward six minutes which felt like an eternity. After six minutes I got up and told them my ride was waiting for me so I had to get going, and I said “see you soon!” to all of them, which to my dismay they all smiled and laughed and said the same. I would have thought their reaction would be just as awkward as the beginning. My interactions with this small group, although short and awkward, taught me how common social norms are, and how uncomfortable people can get when you break

For dinner at Lassonde, a friend and I ordered and were waiting for a meal. As I stood in a group of people waiting for my sandwich to be made, I slowly inched closer and closer towards the front, getting very close to two boys standing in front of me. As I inched, they did too. I could see that they were both not only confused and uncomfortable, but they started to get upset and discuss amongst each other about how people are “so pushy” in waiting for food at Lassonde. I was not trying to make them feel as though I was anxious for my food, but because I was getting so up close and personal as I moved towards the area where they hand you your food, both of the boys though I was being rude, impatient and aggressive. Once I finally received my food, I quit pestering the boys to go and eat. Even my friend who I was sitting while I was waiting for my food commented on how “excited” and “hungry” I must’ve been for my food to be so close up towards the two boys I was