I’m making this post on a throwaway anonymous account because I want to ask something about how my mind works that I’m deeply ashamed of, and I want to hear honest opinions of other people’s perspective - probably mostly men but ofc anyone is welcome to answer. I’m obviously a man, in my late 20’s.

It’s about seeing attractive people in public. I’m talking about seeing girls but I guess it applies to anyone you’re attracted to.

I know I’m not supposed to stare but I can’t help it. Little glances when I think they’re not looking, looking at their bum or chest or face or legs. I will change my walking route to innocently walk past them and steal another look. If they’re nearby it’s like they occupy my mind and I have to keep looking, and I keep thinking about them and picturing them nude and imagining putting my hands on them. Never interacting, never saying anything, never openly staring, but just internally in my head.

tbh it’s not even just attractive girls, it’s basically all girls. If any girl has walked past me in the street or the store or on a bus, I have almost certainly checked her out. When I’m driving my head will turn away from the road to look at a girl on the sidewalk as I pass. I went to the beach this weekend and I couldn’t keep my eyes in front of me because of all of the girls in bikinis, and some of them undoubtedly noticed me looking.

It’s like I’m constantly scoping out everyone in my vicinity at all times, and always looking at their boobs and bums semi-consciously, and I can’t really stop. I know it’s horrible and creepy, and it probably makes them uncomfortable, but I kind of let it happen anyway. And I can’t even say why really… it’s not like I get pleasure from looking at them, or that I’m looking for someone who I could approach or anything. There’s literally no reason for it. It’s just this passive activity that my brain automatically does to all girls at all times. And… I will pick a different route to walk along a more busy street just because I know there will be more girls to look at.

When a guy walks past I probably couldn’t tell you what he was wearing, or his hairstyle, or what he looks like. I don’t notice. But when a girl walks past I notice all the details of her appearance, her body shape, her boobs in particular, her hair and face. I’m kinda disgusted by this aspect of my mind.

Obviously I know people find other people attractive and check people out. But… is it this constant for everyone? Are you unable to keep your eyes and mind away when someone attractive walks past? Does looking at others’ bodies constantly occupy your mind when you’re in public? Or am I just so starved that it’s broken my brain? Is this internal obsession with girls’ bodies just what it’s like to be a straight guy… or am I different??

  • gnufuu@infosec.pub
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    37 minutes ago

    I will change my walking route to innocently walk past them and steal another look.

    Yeah that’s something you should probably stop doing. People notice, and it might not look as innocent as you might think. Many among them will act as if they didn’t notice in order to avoid a confrontation. Just stay on your route please.

  • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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    58 minutes ago

    assume you are doing a " feral gaze" some people might catch you doing that, and get creeped out and will snatch you dirty looks, i advise dont do that. its the staring and potential low-key following that is a little creepy. if you stare more than a few seconds , or start following them as you said its lowkey you need to avoid doing that. because now you might be seen as a suspicious person to avoid. intentionally passing by them or following is a little to strong beyond just gazing. do you watch porn alot or at all? or anything related to porn. ive seen this in other forums where they cant stop thinking about sex, opposite or same sex when they indulged too much on porn, it just increases thier urges. assuming you arnt doing that that. the first thing is probably stop following them or going near them, just to get another glance at them.

    i dint mention, but the longer you glance at them, they will notice that someone is watching them instinctively and they would look up often in your direction and start acting wierd around you. if this is bothering you too much, you might want to see someone about it, or if too embarrsed try to find a forum with others that have similar experiences.

  • Noel_Skum@sh.itjust.works
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    53 minutes ago

    You sound a bit thirsty but otherwise reasonably normal.

    An appreciative, furtive glance is received vastly different to a lecherous stare. Be aware of what your face is doing.

    If a girl even remotely suspects a man is following her then 99.9% of the time you will cause terrible fear. It’ll never occur to her that you were just temporarily detouring to appreciate an ass so fine you want to build a temple for it.

    Remember that the world in your head and the world outside your head are different places with different rules. Outcomes can vary.

  • blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works
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    2 hours ago

    We are all the descendants of men who did that and more. If they hadn’t, none of us would be here.

    Of course… that’s no excuse to let your instincts infringe upon others. Never let your urges make someone feel unsafe.

    But don’t feel bad about a trait that most humans inherited and had no say in.

  • MinnesotaGoddam@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    So what you want to do is lick your teeth. Not your lips. Look me in the eyes. Lick your teeth between your teeth and your lips but do not lip your licks.

  • LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works
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    10 hours ago

    You know that phenomena where you buy a yellow car, and then you suddenly see yellow cars everywhere?

    Brains are really suggestible.

    You don’t need to be ashamed, if your brain has gotten into a habit you don’t appreciate, or is negatively affecting your life, it’s something you can work on.

    Gals are pretty, I’m not attracted to them, myself, but I absolutely get it.

    What you want is to feel like you’re in control of enjoying looking, and not that it’s a compulsion, like it’s driving you. That’s gotta be almost taking all the pleasure out of it for you. I could imagine that would be hugely annoying.

    Just start by noticing other things, go out specifically to see something, birds, trees, bugs, water, boats, whatever you find interesting, and start retraining your brain towards something else, if you try “not” to look at something, it’s still the main focus, if you try not to look at girls, the focus is still girls, it’s easier to help your brain notice other things. Count how many of something you see. Just let your brain notice girls as you go, notice what it’s telling you and then move back to what you were looking at redirecting towards.

    You don’t have to do what your brain tells you to do, you aren’t your “thinking brain”, you are the entity that observes your thoughts, you might be inadvertently feeding those thoughts into a bigger thing than you want them to be, by actioning on them. I would suggest, try not walking or actioning them. That feeds that wolf, which is perfectly normal and fine, but hes just gotten a little too much for the space you want him to occupy.

    This is all ok, its a perfectly normal, developmental stage. It will calm down on its own, too, don’t stress.

  • Sunsofold@lemmings.world
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    9 hours ago

    A look or two is normal. Looking at sexy people scratches the feelgood brain bits. Changing your path to gawk is getting a bit sketchy. You should probably masturbate a bit more often, or better yet, find someone to share orgasms with. You’re craving it.

  • ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    I don’t fantasize about people sexually (most of the time) but I look at everyones asses. It’s just where my eyes naturally rest when I’m walking around

  • khannie@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    Married 23 years. Not interested in other women but I find women generally to be beautiful. It’s like looking at art to me. Every painting has It’s own beauty. It’s just nice to look and appreciate then move on with my day.

  • anon_8675309@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    You had me up until you said you would change your route.

    I see a nice ass, I’ll take another look. I won’t alter course to walk past again though. I feel like that needs addressing.

    • MinnesotaGoddam@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      I dunno. I’d follow the hypothetical Queen Amelie of Assington around all day if my own ass wouldn’t fall off.

      Because of course I’m Regent Lump of the Lowlands. I guess if we’re playing monarchy.

  • HubertManne@piefed.social
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    12 hours ago

    Much of this is normal for guys from my own and other guys experiences. Heck my wife is the kind to point out other chicks. What Im not sure if any girl is going to but I can say that like if a girl has a low cut top it becomes really annoying talking with them. I have to like lock onto their forehead or such because if it comes into visual ranges its almost impossible not to look at it without an act of will. Ill tell ya to im like an old guy. old enough anyway. So the hormones or whatnot do not go away. I mean honestly most sitcoms make fun of the horny guy thing all the time. That does not come from no where. SNL actually had this skit where it was supposed to be a new syle of mens pants where there was a window to show like the area around where the cock and balls meet without showing all of any of it and then the guys where telling the girls. hey my eyes are up here.

  • glibg@lemmy.ca
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    12 hours ago

    I have similar issues, though maybe not quite as intense as yours. I also have ADHD, and my eyes “wander” more when I am unmedicated. I think it’s kind of like being drawn to shiny things, but there’s also an element of objectification to it, which is the part that makes me uncomfortable.

    I think checking people out is OK and human, but if you’re going out of your way to walk places where there will be more people available to look at, maybe you need to reflect on what you’re really after. Are you single? Lonely?

    There are lots of interesting things to focus on that are not women’s bodies existing out in public. If you’re finding it hard to focus on anything but butts, might be worth talking to a therapist about. Idk, just my $0.02.

  • Lovable Sidekick@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    When you look around at women I think the major difference between creepy vs not creepy is whether you’re furtively and ineffectively trying to hide it vs smiling and being open. If a woman notices you looking, to smile and maybe give a little nod before looking away is friendly. Fearfully glancing away and then sneakily looking back is creepy. And if she acknowledges your smile and nod with a smile and nod of her own, it might indicate a bit of interest. Or not. But you have to let go of the idea that you’re peeping out through the window blinds afraid of the world, and since this is bothering you so much I would strongly suggest looking into a little therapy.