Research and Current Practice
Look in my eyes
Dad owned the newspaper in the very small town we lived in. When I was about 6 years, Dad took me with him once when he went to interview a man visiting relatives in town. This was not an uncommon occurance, as Dad thought I needed more "socializing."
I noticed the man he interviewed, Mr. Marion Morison, was watching me, which caused me to curl down even more than usual. After the interview, he came over and sat beside me and started talking quietly to me. I didn't hear what he was saying, at first, but he finally got my attention. The last part of his monologue has stuck with me to this day.
"Bobby, looking people in the eye is a way of keeping control of a situation. Now, you can control a situation, or, you can let others control you, or you can run away and live alone. However, you can't control anything until you can control yourself. Now, I'd like you to look at me."
He then sat there, not saying anything more for some time. I don't know how long it took, but he did wave off relatives twice during that time. I finally was able to get my head up enough that I could raise my eyes WAY up and look at him. He grinned that big grin of his and said "Thank you." He then shook my hand and got up to rejoin the others.
I admired that man and started practicing his "steely gaze" until I perfected it. To this day, I get comments that I appear "intimidating" because of the way I look people right in the eye, without wandering over their face and posture while having a discussion. lol
Google him and be surprized.
Pops
I noticed the man he interviewed, Mr. Marion Morison, was watching me, which caused me to curl down even more than usual. After the interview, he came over and sat beside me and started talking quietly to me. I didn't hear what he was saying, at first, but he finally got my attention. The last part of his monologue has stuck with me to this day.
"Bobby, looking people in the eye is a way of keeping control of a situation. Now, you can control a situation, or, you can let others control you, or you can run away and live alone. However, you can't control anything until you can control yourself. Now, I'd like you to look at me."
He then sat there, not saying anything more for some time. I don't know how long it took, but he did wave off relatives twice during that time. I finally was able to get my head up enough that I could raise my eyes WAY up and look at him. He grinned that big grin of his and said "Thank you." He then shook my hand and got up to rejoin the others.
I admired that man and started practicing his "steely gaze" until I perfected it. To this day, I get comments that I appear "intimidating" because of the way I look people right in the eye, without wandering over their face and posture while having a discussion. lol
Google him and be surprized.
Pops
Comment
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Comment by MrZip66 on March 14, 2009 at 2:32pm - I love your story. I have it bookmarked and refer to it often.
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Comment by ec Roberts on March 21, 2008 at 1:47pm -
This was in 1945, so he wasn't yet that famous, although he was doing quite well. The thing that impressed me was that he took that much time to talk to a 6 year old kid.
I now wonder if he wasn't, perhaps, borderline AS. hmmmm Might explain some of his late life actions. I know that some of my symptoms are returning at age 69.
Pops
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Comment by ariane321 on March 21, 2008 at 1:16pm
- Fantastic story! I googled him and was completely shocked :)
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