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One of my memories from basic training (circa 2002), was standing in formation and hearing an indistinct conversation between a platoon member and the platoon s

One of my memories from basic training (circa 2002), was standing in formation and hearing an indistinct conversation between a platoon member and the platoon sergeant. At some point, the platoon sergeant loudly interrupts and yells "DO NOT SPEAK WITH YOUR HANDS PRIVATE!", while forcefully slapping the private's hands out of the air. This has stuck with me my entire life, and I have a very real urge to mimic that behavior in the civilian world when someone begins using their hands during speech. Right or wrong, I don't know (and don't care), but that's the "talking with your hands" story that has been burned in my brain since being an uppity 18 year old.

bones6 6y ago
If gesturing is a more effective way of speaking, then it make sense for the power structure to take it away from the subordinates. If a private could convince his superior to believe something or do something then it upsets the hierarchy. Maybe there's unscientific words like hypnosis or mesmerization you could attach to this idea of gesturing with speaking. In D&D, there's somatic, verbal, and material components to spell casting. Somatic components are the precise hand movements to aid in spell casting. That fictional idea/meme had to have been generated by some real-world phenomena, no? Edit to expand: I also think this may be why even beyond the military there seems to be a widespread stigma against gesturing while speaking. Not that a majority of people look down on it, but that some significant percentage tend to do so at least. It might seem unfair to some parties to have these extra gestures "used" on them to convince them of things that go beyond what the words they use actually mean. I know personally, I much much prefer to read what politicians said, via a transcript, rather than watch them speak. Their body language + gestures + tones can really change perceptions so significantly that I don't want to let myself be preventably persuaded by otherwise disagreeable positions.
- aksss 6y ago
  I think it’s far, far simpler than that, and no conspiracy about power is required: moving hands attract the eye of enemies, pointing and mimicking movement give away elements of what’s being said. Hand signs require visual contact with those being addressed. If you’re behind me and I ask you “where” and you say “over there” and point, what good does that do unless I turn around, take eyes off what I’m doing and ask you to repeat. There’s more overhead involved in communicating that way. I think these are some very practical reasons for it. I also think the advantages of using hands in explaining something (to clarify) may imply that your words alone are not clear enough. It’s an important skill to be able to speak clearly and succinctly in times of collective stress.
  - bones6 6y ago
    Very fair and thoughtful counterpoint. I think I may have been imagining that 'smart aleck private trying to get one over on the brute drill sergeant' trope. Totally agree that tactical communication requires brevity and clarity.
- prashantsengar 6y ago
  Your idea of reading a politician's speech's transcript is really good. I will do this too. Thanks for this valuable idea.
quercusa 6y ago
> "DO NOT SPEAK WITH YOUR HANDS PRIVATE!" Could that have been part of learning to use your voice in a noisy (battle) environment where you may need to communicate with people who can't see you?
- flycaliguy 6y ago
  Or where the enemy can see you.

bones6 6y ago

If gesturing is a more effective way of speaking, then it make sense for the power structure to take it away from the subordinates. If a private could convince his superior to believe something or do something then it upsets the hierarchy. Maybe there's unscientific words like hypnosis or mesmerization you could attach to this idea of gesturing with speaking. In D&D, there's somatic, verbal, and material components to spell casting. Somatic components are the precise hand movements to aid in spell casting. That fictional idea/meme had to have been generated by some real-world phenomena, no? Edit to expand: I also think this may be why even beyond the military there seems to be a widespread stigma against gesturing while speaking. Not that a majority of people look down on it, but that some significant percentage tend to do so at least. It might seem unfair to some parties to have these extra gestures "used" on them to convince them of things that go beyond what the words they use actually mean. I know personally, I much much prefer to read what politicians said, via a transcript, rather than watch them speak. Their body language + gestures + tones can really change perceptions so significantly that I don't want to let myself be preventably persuaded by otherwise disagreeable positions.

aksss 6y ago
I think it’s far, far simpler than that, and no conspiracy about power is required: moving hands attract the eye of enemies, pointing and mimicking movement give away elements of what’s being said. Hand signs require visual contact with those being addressed. If you’re behind me and I ask you “where” and you say “over there” and point, what good does that do unless I turn around, take eyes off what I’m doing and ask you to repeat. There’s more overhead involved in communicating that way. I think these are some very practical reasons for it. I also think the advantages of using hands in explaining something (to clarify) may imply that your words alone are not clear enough. It’s an important skill to be able to speak clearly and succinctly in times of collective stress.
- bones6 6y ago
  Very fair and thoughtful counterpoint. I think I may have been imagining that 'smart aleck private trying to get one over on the brute drill sergeant' trope. Totally agree that tactical communication requires brevity and clarity.
prashantsengar 6y ago
Your idea of reading a politician's speech's transcript is really good. I will do this too. Thanks for this valuable idea.

quercusa 6y ago

> "DO NOT SPEAK WITH YOUR HANDS PRIVATE!" Could that have been part of learning to use your voice in a noisy (battle) environment where you may need to communicate with people who can't see you?

flycaliguy 6y ago
Or where the enemy can see you.