We'd all like to think we're pretty good at keeping our thoughts to ourselves. We smile when we're supposed to smile, nod along during conversations, and try not to look too suspicious when we're absolutely lost. But apparently, our bodies aren't always as good at keeping secrets as we are. The way we stand, where we look, what we do with our hands, or even how quickly we respond can give other people little clues about what's going on in our heads—often without us having the slightest idea we're doing it.
To find out exactly what these tells are, we dove into a Reddit thread where people with jobs like poker dealers, bartenders, TSA agents, and loss prevention officers were asked what they notice within the first 10 seconds of meeting someone. The answers were fascinating, so we gathered some of the most interesting responses, revealing the “tells” people often broadcast without even realizing it.
The intriguing part is that these aren't necessarily dramatic gestures or obvious signs. Sometimes, it's something incredibly subtle that most of us would never think twice about. So keep reading, Pandas, and see which everyday habits might say more about you than you realize.
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#41
I did casino security for 10 years. Usually the people that were overly friendly and approached me just to joke around were up to something. They seemed to think being friendly to me would get me to ignore them, I guess.
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5points
#42
Pro poker player here, most people are bad at reading people and looking for tells is overrated. I'm sure you will find some live pros who disagree with me, but I base my decisions much more heavily on the math and player tendencies.
To answer your question though, people will verbalize and try to sound more confident to project strength. I actually even noticed with myself that I would say the size of my bet when I was bluffing more than I would than when I had a good hand, when I had a good hand, I would just slide the chips out. People will often do things that are a precursor to what they want to do. If they look at their cards and then touch their chips, they may be more likely to have a hand they want to bet.
To answer your question though, people will verbalize and try to sound more confident to project strength. I actually even noticed with myself that I would say the size of my bet when I was bluffing more than I would than when I had a good hand, when I had a good hand, I would just slide the chips out. People will often do things that are a precursor to what they want to do. If they look at their cards and then touch their chips, they may be more likely to have a hand they want to bet.
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5points
#43
I worked as a bartender to get myself through school, and am now a clinical psychologist.
Both settings, immediately obvious, when someone makes the kind of eye contact that feels like I’m getting actively penetrated by their pupils - that kind of forced intimacy - I’m clocking a narcissist. They talk fast, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster, and we go way too deep, way too fast.
As a bartender, it meant big tips if I get them to like me. As a psychologist, it means I am referring them out. Either way, it’s intense, and I empathize with anyone whose nervous system gets jacked by that.
Both settings, immediately obvious, when someone makes the kind of eye contact that feels like I’m getting actively penetrated by their pupils - that kind of forced intimacy - I’m clocking a narcissist. They talk fast, I feel like I’m on a roller coaster, and we go way too deep, way too fast.
As a bartender, it meant big tips if I get them to like me. As a psychologist, it means I am referring them out. Either way, it’s intense, and I empathize with anyone whose nervous system gets jacked by that.
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5points
#44
As a former OTR trucker now turned yard trucker, it's the way people stand.
I know this sounds weird, but most good drivers (mostly men here) that are halfway decent people will stand a certain way.
The others stand like their either about to announce a massive decree that they think everyone needs to abide by, or they're going to cause issues with my traffic officer or gate guard.
The former usually are easy going, understand delays, and they're overall respectful. The latter.... The only word that comes to mind is jerk.
I know this sounds weird, but most good drivers (mostly men here) that are halfway decent people will stand a certain way.
The others stand like their either about to announce a massive decree that they think everyone needs to abide by, or they're going to cause issues with my traffic officer or gate guard.
The former usually are easy going, understand delays, and they're overall respectful. The latter.... The only word that comes to mind is jerk.
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5points
#45
I work in a liquor store, and every so often we get stings to make sure we aren't selling to minors. But these stings always have the same setup that I can smell from a mile away. Typically the young individual comes in, looking very nervous, either goes up to the counter and asks for Velo or Malboro, not really knowing the specifics regular smokers would know, and I would ask which flavor/mg, or they would go to the single section and grab the same tall boy. I have seen these so often, I don't even bother scanning the product, and I just ask for the ID and send them away for not being old enough and telling them to have a good day. Been doing this for 5 years and never sold to a minor. Sadly other cashiers have fallen for this simple trap.
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5points
#46
Worked in an ER and dealt primarily with psychiatric patients as well as people in police custody that had to be medically cleared. Watch their eyes and breathing and compare it to their baseline. If there's a sudden marked difference, things highly likely is about to go down.
For example: They came in erratic, eyes constantly looking around and breathing heavy, then they suddenly go calm, breathing focuses and so do their eyes.
For example: They came in erratic, eyes constantly looking around and breathing heavy, then they suddenly go calm, breathing focuses and so do their eyes.
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4points
#47
Therapist… people’s eye contact and body language in the lobby as I bring them back for the first session informs me how the next hour and a half will likely go. Social cues and responses to prompts in those first 30 seconds are very telling.
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4points
#48
When a fight breaks out in a bar/club setting, the calm ones are the most dangerous.
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4points
#49
Ocean lifeguard for 15 years... goggles, sunglasses, water shoes, clothing or regular shoes in the ocean is a giveaway that you might need some help out there. yes we get people trying to swim in full overalls or jeans with timberlands sometimes.
Not looking behind you at the waves while exiting the water...asking if theres "undertow" (hint...theres always rip tides they just pull harder some days)...asking if theres sharks out there...
mostly just watching how people move in the water tells us all we need to know.
Sometimes its good to broadcast your lack of awareness because then you get the attention you need.
Not looking behind you at the waves while exiting the water...asking if theres "undertow" (hint...theres always rip tides they just pull harder some days)...asking if theres sharks out there...
mostly just watching how people move in the water tells us all we need to know.
Sometimes its good to broadcast your lack of awareness because then you get the attention you need.
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4points
#50
When someone is telling you a confusing story, they want you to be confused , for the sake of concealing something. 99.99% of the time I’ve found this to be true.
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4points
#51
I absolutely know who is an alcoholic when they walk into my bar, before they've said a single word, even if they're stone cold sober at the moment.
You cannot control alcohol withdrawal tremors with anything other than more alcohol.
You cannot control alcohol withdrawal tremors with anything other than more alcohol.
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4points
#52
Flight Attendant here. Someone who refuses to acknowledge me during boarding. Not replying to my greeting and refusing to make eye contact, is immediately suspicious to me. Also if you're wearing a mask, sunglasses and have your hood up. On the other hand, people who are *too* friendly and talkative are also going to draw my attention. 99% of the time it's those passengers who make trouble in the air.
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4points
#53
ER physician here - people who compliment me immediately and say a lot of unnecessary and supportive things almost always want something (meds, attention, imaging, paperwork) that is not medically indicated.
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4points
#54
If they're paying a lot of attention to staff and/or the ceiling (looking for cameras or mirrors), or they're quite quick or jerky in their movement, they're probably thieves. If they're just very casually browsing, they're probably fine. If they have a bag or mask, the chances also increase.
I used to love how some thieves would think engaging me in conversation or doing something else very noticeable might make me think they're not a thief. The thing is, though, often times they're not, they're just trying to take away your attention from the real thief elsewhere and that's where it gets real fun.
That said, I do some of the same things and staff often think I'm a thief when I'm not. I'm just an observant person and like to be fully aware of everything that's going on around me.
I used to love how some thieves would think engaging me in conversation or doing something else very noticeable might make me think they're not a thief. The thing is, though, often times they're not, they're just trying to take away your attention from the real thief elsewhere and that's where it gets real fun.
That said, I do some of the same things and staff often think I'm a thief when I'm not. I'm just an observant person and like to be fully aware of everything that's going on around me.
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4points
#55
I was a pawnbroker for 12 years. Loaning money to desperate people on the worst day of their lives. You deal with a ton of desperate liars and a ton of people trying to sell you busted things.
The number one thing people don't realize is that the average person simply isn't very smart. When I say the average person, I am talking about the majority of people, which statistically includes most of the people reading this. So all this to say, the average person isn't very smart and you are probably an average person, which means you aren't that smart, which means you probably aren't as good at lying as you think you are, which means if you lie to someone that gets lied to daily for a living they can probably tell.
The number one thing people don't realize is that the average person simply isn't very smart. When I say the average person, I am talking about the majority of people, which statistically includes most of the people reading this. So all this to say, the average person isn't very smart and you are probably an average person, which means you aren't that smart, which means you probably aren't as good at lying as you think you are, which means if you lie to someone that gets lied to daily for a living they can probably tell.
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3points
#56
I worked many hotel front desks in many states and am still in a customer service field of sorts.
Anyone who tells you they are a member of Mensa is almost guaranteed to have a dissociative disorder of some kind.
Anyone who tells you they are a member of Mensa is almost guaranteed to have a dissociative disorder of some kind.
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3points
#57
Recruiter/Headhunter here…
It depends sometimes on in-person or on the phone.
Language and syntax tell a lot…. the pace of speaking, word economy, word choices and volume of voice.
In-Person, I’d also be looking at the eyes, hands and choice of attire.
I’m assessing your knowledge, personality, fit into our fishbowl.
Like the ethereal legend Miles Davis once said ….”it’s not the notes you play. It’s the notes you DONT play”.
It depends sometimes on in-person or on the phone.
Language and syntax tell a lot…. the pace of speaking, word economy, word choices and volume of voice.
In-Person, I’d also be looking at the eyes, hands and choice of attire.
I’m assessing your knowledge, personality, fit into our fishbowl.
Like the ethereal legend Miles Davis once said ….”it’s not the notes you play. It’s the notes you DONT play”.
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3points
#58
Bartender, if you don’t start our conversation by returning my hello/ greeting, automatically know you’re going to treatment like a servant rather than a person.
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3points
#59
Bartender- people who want your attention but don’t want to talk skeeve me out. It’s not a one man show I’m doing here. Talk or sit there.
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2points
#60
Working loss prevention, I knew if a woman started flirting with me, I should immediately move the camera onto the guy that walked in right before or right after her.
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2points
