I can block out someone talking...I do it every morning on the way to work, just pop in some headphones and I'm done. With a "starer"...you just can't do it. Even if you close your eyes, you can sense them...their crazy eyes staring you down, wondering what your hair tastes like...or if they could get any closer, so they can smell what you had for lunch with their hairy, oversized, flaring nostrils! Try getting THAT out of your head when you close your eyes!