I was at church yesterday and I was thinking about personal space. I found a website on this.
http://www.dushkin.com/connectext/psy/ch15/intdis.mhtmlHere is a excerpt:
Intimate distance is from 0 to 1.5 feet. What can be done at this close range? Vision is minimal, and we rely on our senses of smell and touch. Making love or comforting someone are intimate activities, usually restricted to private encounters, which can be performed comfortably at intimate distances. We tend not to get this close to people we are not intimate with, and usually try to escape if we do.
Personal distance is from about 1.5 feet to around 4 feet. At this distance, touch is minimal (except perhaps when shaking hands), and vision and hearing become important. This is the distance we use to interact with friends. Within this range, normal conversations can take place easily. We might allow strangers into the outer limits, but reserve the inner limits strictly for friends.
This dude was a choir director and would not stay in the personal distance range. Not to be mean but I am getting a little tired of the suspect dudes. I was trying to figure out a polite way to say you are to close. A group of the church folks went out to dinner and they all knew each other I was there. Every one was saying how good I played in service. This dude was standing up and put his hand on my shoulder. He is supposed to be a preacher too. I was getting ready to embarass this dude preacher or no preacher. I was thinking this dude is leading people's children.
I have had this happen a long time ago with a sister. She was talking and was a little close. I stepped back and she stepped forward talking. I know she was unconsciously doing that. Im a nice guy by nature but my level of patience with people is starting to wear thin. How do you all deal with people getting to close in your personal space?