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Well, I have the tendecy to 'speak with my hands'. In other words, sometimes when I explain something - usually long stories - I tend to, well, use my hands to do so. Now, some people, I noticed, tend to litterally look at my hand movements instead of listening to what I have to say! Isn't that rude? I mean, they are litterally standing there, looking like zombies, and looking at my hand movements! I don't know if they think I'm not noticing that or are they plain rude, or what? And what do I do in situations like that? Do I stop the explanation and ask them if my hand movements are irritating- or whatever -, or what do/would you do in situations like that? Thanks!

2006-08-08 10:17:20 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Other - Society & Culture

Is not that much of hand movement!!! I relaize things like that and I really try to keep them under control! Just sometimes, when I'm tired, I use the hands to get myself going, that's all.

2006-08-08 10:29:06 · update #1

I have many people saying that i shall simply put my hands in the pockets and that's it. But, I can do that if I'm just saying something quickly, short etc. How can someone explain something for like 3,4 and more minutes without using their hands? That would be like standing there with hands in your pockets and looking like a zombie!!!?

2006-08-08 10:37:15 · update #2

And it's not EVERYBODY!!!! JUST SOME PEOPLE!

2006-08-08 10:53:39 · update #3

19 answers

OMG i do that all the time... and i have the same problem people always like stare at me instead of listening to me talk. I just usually say to them ARE YOU LISTENING? cuz they are totally rude. but some people dont really mind

2006-08-08 10:22:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

I don't know how anyone else feels about this, but I've always found it extremely annoying when someone "speak with their hands". It's one thing to use your hands to give relative sizes or emphasize a point; but when you're moving your hands around all the time, it only subtracts from the message. Like captions on the TV, you wouldn't be reading it if you could actually understand with your ears. So unless you're extremely monotonic or terrible at expressing yourself, hand movements only distracts the listener. I usually ask them to stop waving around, but if your listener doesn't have the guts to ask, you should ask if your waving is distracting them.

2006-08-08 17:29:46 · answer #2 · answered by Alfred Y 3 · 0 0

First, you aren't supposed to speak with your hands unless you are deaf. It's called gesturing and should only be used to accentuate points of your conversation to convey emotion or importance or to direct someone's attention elsewhere.

If you are doing this during the entire conversation, it's only normal for a human to watch these movements (which is why gesturing is so effective during speeches and presentations.) It doesn't mean they are rude and they probably ARE hearing everything you say-but the movement is catching their eye so they focus on that, rather than your face/eyes.

Magician's call this trick 'slight of hand'. You keep them busy in one place while something else is going on over here.

If you don't like them avoiding eye contact, you should make a concious effort to use less hand gesturing so the focus will be on your eyes/face instead of your hands.

2006-08-08 17:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by southrngirl2724 3 · 0 0

Try to control your hand movements. Like put them in your pockets and finish the story. If they STILL arent listening to you, then yes that is rude. But maybe your hands flying all over the place are distracting them and that is why they cant listen.

2006-08-08 17:21:29 · answer #4 · answered by katybeth212001 3 · 0 0

I say you need to stop with the hand movements. Sit on your hands if you have to. It's really quite irritating.

2006-08-08 17:24:14 · answer #5 · answered by SassySours 5 · 0 0

Eyes are attracted to movement. You are using your hands to explain something as you vocalize it as well. It is entirely normal for them to look at your hands. If anything, be complimented that they care enough to listen and watch as you explain your story.

2006-08-08 17:24:06 · answer #6 · answered by PandaCard 1 · 0 0

Maybe you should try not to move your hands so much since it seems to be distracting to anyone you're speaking with. Also, you mentioned you tell long stories. Maybe the people are zoning out because you're giving them too much information.

2006-08-08 17:21:38 · answer #7 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 0 0

I would keep my hands in my pockets....I do the same thing with my hands, and people will always watch your hands because they are moving, if you want their full attention, quit moving your hands.

2006-08-08 17:24:06 · answer #8 · answered by Bethany 5 · 0 0

if you talk with hand movements then that is what people are gooing to watch or notice! so if you dont like it then put your hands in your pockets when you talk!

2006-08-08 17:33:28 · answer #9 · answered by shaddy 2 · 0 0

Oh..............I find that soooooooooooooooo irritating!!! Why do you have to do that? We have enough English words as adjectives without you having to resort to using your hands to describe things. I think its you that is being rude and forcing people to have to put up with this nonsense. Learn English properly and you wont have to resort to this irritating habit. It is not clever its just damned annoying.

2006-08-08 17:22:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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