The Word: Antarctic stare

YOU are sitting in a business meeting when you notice a colleague staring off into the distance with a vacant expression on her face. This may not be a case of plain old boredom – this could be the Antarctic stare.

Often described as the 12-foot stare in a 10-foot room, it is not surprisingly often exhibited by those living in the Antarctic. A spontaneous fugue-like state, the stare can last up to an hour and those who have experienced it describe it as feeling as if their mind has gone totally blank.

“A spontaneous state, the stare can last up to an…