Learn English – Word or phrase describes looking around trying to gain information from surroundings

Sounds like a case for understatement for ironic effect, such as "less than forthright"

I have seen the neologism "Ninja'd" for a similar situation applied to Internet forums, on several forums. But this certainly doesn't describe what one may feel in reaction, it only describes the action.

Where I've seen it:

• I've first seen it on Keenspot webcomic discussion forums.
• I see it most notably on the TV Tropes forum (which adds a tendency, on threads dedicated to works containing a ninja character, to use that character's name instead). The administrators recently added a ninja smiley to the forum just for this purpose.