Is it an affectation that they’re trained to deploy? (If so, why?) Or is it just a natural thing that happens in the very specific circumstance of being a politician on the campaign trail, and that’s why no one else seems to do it?
I don’t think I’ve seen it in any other context 🤔
Cheers!
Gesticulation has long been a part of public speaker training.
It helps frame your words and your message and also direct meaning in a way that punctuation does in the written word.
As punctuation is to reading, as gesticulation is to speaking.
It’s part of body language being part of speaking to someone (a person or an audience) and can help people relate to the speaker.
That particular gesture was famously popularized/lampooned due to Bill Clinton
Its what you do when you naturally want to point but dont want to be seen as rude and aggressive.
Correct answer right there. Politicians and business people are very aware of their body language. Another rule is never touch your face. When they do, photographers will snap a picture. In the photo they will look frustrated
LOL that’s why I will never be a politician. I would be so frustrated by not being allowed to touch my face! The irony of it would just overwhelm me.
It’s one of many gestures that are used by trained public speakers as non-verbal communication cues. Here are some examples, including the one you asked about: https://qz.com/work/1093701/a-guide-to-ted-talk-hands-seven-signature-moves
There are many more beyond those. Using hand gestures in public speaking has been around since at least classical times.
Nobody likes being pointed at. The fist point, then, is a way to underscore an important point without the scolding, accusatory associations of a raised index finger—because it uses a thumb instead. Clinton Thumb works best when paired with an intellectually complex point, making it a TED talk favorite. “It is articulating that you’re focusing on something, and that you’re grasping it cognitively,” body language expert Joe Navarro told Business Insider.
Thanks for posting that quote from the article.
They all go to Ivy League colleges, and they all take the same public speaking classes.
It’s a big club, but we’re not in it.
This is the real answer.
No the real answer is that literally nearly every possible configuration of your hands and movement is offensive and rude to some culture, person or religion.
It’s fucking damn near impossible to find ANY that are actually safe.
This has been a problem of public speaking for longer then America has been a country, and longer then the ivy leagues have been a thing.
Public speaking hand gestures go back literally hundreds of years.
Okay but the reason they all do it today is because they went to the same rich people colleges and courses. The reason those courses teach these things may have historical background, but that’s not what we’re referring to here.
trump and his accordion hands are very noticible, especially when he has to make a lie on the spot.
Remember Biden’s “I did that!” (lying) stickers that were placed on gas pumps by maga freaks? It’s trivial to put your political opponent in an ad where they are saying something they’re not, because pointing is seen as an aggressive gesture by the people coaching them for speeches, debates, etc. So they do the silly thumb-point for emphasis recommended by political strategists…
I wanna say I’ve heard that be referred to as the “Clinton thumb” since Bill Clinton did it a lot when president.
I’ve heard that before too but being an old bastard, I’m pretty certain Clinton didn’t do it until after he was debating Bob Dole. Bob Dole used this gesture because he held a pen during debates. And he held a pen in his non-dominant hand because he had an injury in WWII and the way his hand curled made him look weak.
I remember it as a Dole gesture originally, too
If you work for a large company, ask around if there is a toastmasters group. If so join it and you will be let in on all the secrets of public speaking.
There are very few configurations of the hand and fingers that aren’t offensive to someone. This one is one of the last few remaining, with “thousand points o’ laght”, a list that doesn’t include “yuge” or the double “okay” sign.
So everyone does it.
“How dare you insult me with your flaccid mockery of a fishing pole grip, you will pay for your insolence”
Oh that?
Thats the motion you make when fanning through dollar bills, one handed, to count em.
They’re doing a pavlovian reflex everytime they need to remind themselves where their money comes from, and how its time to focus in on delivering
shareholderlobbyist value.Trump just channels his childhood accordion lessons. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
It’s so they don’t point their finger and wag or shake a fist while they are taking. It is seen as a less offensive gesture to people watching body language.
Jerking themselves off to the idea of fucking their citizens over
You have to do something with your hand. This one’s pretty neutral, because it’s nothing.
Bill Clinton started it. Drives chicks crazy.
Way before Clinton. Jfk was doing it in black and white days. I dunno if he was the first though either.
As I said, drove chicks crazy, even Marilyn Monroe could not resist.
