Have you ever felt the heebie-jeebies from someone? You know, the shady or just plain creepy person who you can’t seem to shake? Sometimes it’s obvious when you have a creep in your midst, but other times they start out as normal-looking people who slowly make their way into creepytown. To avoid letting a creepster into your life – and risking not being able to get them out – check out these 8 warning signs of a creep and look to see if they raise any red flags about people in your own life.
1. They stare too intensely.
There’s never been a creep who doesn’t stare, and I mean stare-stare. You know the kind – like when someone is looking at you so intensely that you feel their glare making a hole in your head? Yeah, that kind of staring. Creeps are lacking in social ability, so they don’t realize how staring for more than a couple of seconds at a time could make others uncomfortable. The worst part is that a creep will stare at you for a long time from anywhere – whether they’re a foot in front of you or behind a bush 30 meters away.
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2. They have a grimy appearance.
Grimy appearances are unkempt. These people look as if they just rolled out of bed, haven’t used shampoo since last week, and barely wash their clothes. Now, it’s important not to judge a book by its cover, so only consider someone with a grimy appearance a creep if they also show 2 or more additional signs on this list. After all, you never know what someone is going through.
3. They get too close.
Creeps have no concept of personal space. In fact, they might have never even heard of it! That’s why they always seem to get too close. If you’re in a group setting, they are just a few inches too close to you when they have enough room to move over. If you don’t even know them, you’re probably wondering why they’re standing so close to you and your friends in the first place. Creeps get close to eavesdrop and learn more about the targets of their creepiness. Some may not mean any harm by it, but your best bet is to put some distance between the two of you.
4. Their comments are inappropriate.
Creepy people will say things that people just shouldn’t say. This could be a comment that they think is complimentary, but is actually sexualizing or just weird. A normal person could say, “You have nice eyes,” but a creep might choose to say, “I want to swim in your eyeballs.” The wording is important. Creeps may also bring up taboo or uncomfortable topics, start talking about something that doesn’t go with the conversation at hand, or mention other strange things that people just shouldn’t say.
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5. They show up uninvited.
Most stalkers are creeps, and some creeps are stalkers. If this person is showing up uninvited to most places where you go, they may be dancing on the line of being a creepy stalker. Some people might take pity on them because – in some cases – they really just might be trying to make new friends. If this person is new in town or seems lonely, you might want to cut them some slack. But if they keep showing up uninvited and making people feel weird, then they are probably just a creep who can’t take a hint.
6. They don’t know when to leave.
Creepy people can’t take social cues, so they’re bound to be places where they shouldn’t be. Even if they’re invited somewhere, a creepy person doesn’t know when they should leave. Imagine this example. You throw a house party and invite a few friends, plus that one new guy who seems to be lonely. Everyone comes over, it’s a fun time, and finally, everyone leaves… except this creepy guy. He is hanging out and making uncomfortable small talk and doesn’t seem to notice when you yawn and say you should get to bed. If you have to literally tell them to leave, they are creepy.
7. They are too eager.
Another warning sign of a creepy person is that they are too eager. This person might get overexcited at the most basic of human interactions. Or worse, they get overexcited for topics that are strange or even dark. This kind of creepy person basically has no chill. Even their smile makes you shiver… yikes.
8. They make you uncomfortable.
The by-far biggest and most important warning sign of a creep to look out for is if they make you uncomfortable. Anytime this person enters the room, you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach and would rather be somewhere else. This will be a gut feeling that you just know is wrong. Well, you know what they say – always trust your gut.
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Conclusion:
If you know someone who is showing 3 or more of these warning signs of a creep, it’s time to start distancing yourself. Creeps can be harmless, but they can also cross a line into dangerous, so let’s stay safe out there, friends. Have you ever met a creep? Or maybe you think there’s one trying to creep their way into your life right now. Share your story in the comments! So there you have it 8 warning signs of a creep.