Discoveries in Human Behaviour
May 4, 2005
There was a lady sitting next to me on the bus last night rubbing her eyes and sniffing occasionally. I thought she might have been crying. I hoped she wasn’t crying. What does that say about me? Not that I hoped she wasn’t sad – how happy can you be on the commute back from work? I just hoped she wasn’t crying, because then I would feel I had to say something and that’s a tough one. Do I ask what’s wrong? Do I ignore it? Do I try and make eye contact or would that be staring? Maybe she wants to talk. Maybe this is a cry for help. Maybe she won’t be on the bus the next morning. Then a week goes by, then a month without a trace. Could I have done something? Etc.
I once cried the whole way on a train from Manchester to Cornwall and I was desperate for someone to ask me what was wrong. Yeah – I’m not ashamed. I can admit that. I’m enough of well-rounded, sensitive individual to be honest about it. Lots of people go to Cornwall.
So this lady was rubbing her eyes and sniffing and the situation was getting uncomfortable. Then she yawned. And that cleared everything up. She had allergies and was tired. I’d never though of it before, but have you ever seen someone cry and then yawn, mid-blubber? It doesn’t happen. It’s one of those things.
After 33 years I am still finding out about about people.
Aliens reading this with a view copying our strange behaviour to blend in before attaining power and enslaving us as their minions, take note: yawning and crying at the same time is something we humans do not do. The two practices together will just arouse suspicion and are not a part of our Earthling ways.
9 comments
I once cried on a train all the way from Edinburgh to Manchester. Just before we got to Manchester, a slightly drunken off-duty policewoman got on the train, and decided it was her duty to cheer me up. She came out with every cliche in the book… “tomorrow is another day”; “he’s not worth it”; “well, it’s not as if someone’s died, is it?”; “eventually you’ll look back on this and laugh”; etc.
I really, really wanted to hit her.
Interesting. I’ve seen people cry in public before, usually in passing. I always go away wondering why they’re crying, and then making up a story about why I think they’re crying.
Interesting blog, BTW. I found you through a comment of yours at ZenDiary.Org.
Yes … aliens … that’s who I’d put my money on reading blogs
As for the whole, “Don’t look at the embarrasing person” .. how S.E. English.
Embarrased?
I came across this ‘Discovery’ of yours by googling ‘cry yawn’. When I sob, as opposed to weep, I yawn. Always. It’s as though I am crying with my entire torso, then I must take in air. I yawn during my saddest cries. Always have.
My son died 4 years ago in July…he was 22 years old. I’ve cried a lot in my life, but nothing with more agony then when I trying to understood that I would never see my baby again.
Since that time EVERY time I cry, not just tearing of my eyes but really crying, I yawn every few seconds. I just completely stop crying and a BIG yawn happens.
It has been extremely frustrating because it makes me feel like people will think I am faking the crying. Usually people aren’t around me when I cry (I don’t like to cry in front of people – my controlling nature,) but it has occurred during moments when people are present.
It makes me very, very angry not to be able to show my emotions the way I want to. I’ve been looking this up on the internet and still haven’t found out why.
Hi Adena, that’s really touching and thank you for reading this post and for sharing your comments. I like to think that the internet gives a new angle to self expression and that we may learn more about ourselves.
Perhaps it’s caused by the exhaustion from the sadness? I find that easier to understand now through comments here and experience since. Best wishes and happiness – you have my deepest respect and gratitude.
Adena, I am so sorry for your loss.
Yeah, whenever I’m really, really crying, I yawn mid-sob. It’s really annoying, actually, because when the yawn is over I have the impulse to keep crying, but I have to sort of start over.
I just googled “yawning when crying” as today, when I heard about Michael Jackson I was crying and as per usual of late, I yawned. It just started a few months ago. Whenever I’m crying, hard or not hard, I stop and yawn. I thought at first it was just a one time thing but it happens every time I cry now. I have no idea what it is but yes, it’s kind of annoying. I’m in the middle of a good heart-renching cry and I yawn and then yes, I feel like I’m starting all over again. So, sorry, I have no idea what causes this but it happens. If there is anyone out there who can explain why this happens and why it just started with me (48 years old) just a few months ago, I’d be grateful.
Debbie in Toronto.
Leave a comment. Play nice. I will turn this blog around.