last night i was the unwitting victim of a cruel social ill: the lookaway. without naming names, i'll tell you that i was at a social event--a fashion show, if you will--and saw a young acquaintence who gave me the dreaded lookaway. burrrn.
some background: i have been to lunch with this gal-about-town. i helped throw her a very classy soiree. (i never got a thank you note, though that graciousness and charm is supposedly what she's all about.) i have protected her email address from many who have asked for it. i have spoken with her on the phone.
then bam: there it was-- eye contact, then the head swivel. in my shock and passive agression, i continued staring and smiling and raised my hand in greeting until i got a havehearted wave in return.
what bad form. i honestly believe saying a genuine hello to someone you know, even if you don't know them that well, puts you in such a better light. the lookaway is cowardly...and so unpretty.
7 comments:
wow, i learned a couple things from this post (and thank you Ms. Matters) but the one thing i a most shocked to learn is this:
the word is havehearted????
all my life, i have been saying and writing half-hearted!!!
how alarming and unpretty!
ok, and i just used the word "Matters" for "Manners"-that i knew, i was just too hyper to catch that...
Ah, the look-away. I believe that tactic was pioneered by Villanova alumnae.
That's when you give 'em one of these, Bean. (Pretend I am doing the Ross Geller cuss word.)
The passing look-away is understandable. You know the one where you cross paths headed in opposite directions and you catch each other's eye for just a second... but neither of you feels like stopping? Unfortunately, by the time you you decide to do the right thing, the moment's passed.
But in your case? It reeks of foul social practices.
But I must admit... I'm a regular look-away offender :(
I thought it was "half-hearted" also. I still think it might be...
I saw it, and it as nasty. It was followed by a pretencious nod of some sort. I wanted to punch her in the ovary.
it is half-hearted, jeez. i didn't spellcheck, alright!? it was a havehearted typing attempt.
smed, thank you for wanting to punch her in the ovary. watch out, incog, we might punch you in your ovary if you give us the lookaway in the lunch room...
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