Is there a human bobblehead in your life?
While sitting with a group of family members, the only male in the group said, “You all look like a bunch of bobbleheads.” Apparently, we would all nod when someone else was talking. It has had me curious about this phenomenon ever since.
In a class on reading body language, the instructor said that this was relatively common in women. It means that they are listening, but not necessarily in agreement with what is being said.
Is it really true? Does this happen all over the world, or is it just a cultural habit in the US? Is it only seen being done by women? Do you do it?
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12 Answers
You want them to jump in and either agree with or challenge the speaker?
Silently nodding is polite and curtious. I wish they would do that more on these news shows where 4 people are shouting at each other, and I can’t understand what any of them are saying.
@filmfan, I’ve pretty much boycotted the American news shows because of that
@filmfann I agree with your comment about some of the talk shows. And no silly, I’m fine with the nodders, although I wonder if it ever causes confusion. If I stand there being a bobblehead while someone is speaking, and when they are done, say “I completely disagree with that”, could it be construed as giving mixed signals?
You should see me and my fellow Creative Writing peers when we go listen to one of professors read at a book signing. We nod at everything with big smiles, and they find it absolutely enjoyable when they’re standing in front of the audience.
I haven’t noticed any bobble heads among the people I talk to. I’ll be on the lookout. As to news on TV and panels of people, I’m often annoyed at the rude talking over other members of the panel. It’s like little kids fighting over a toy, only they’re fighting to be heard. . . me!, me!, me!. I often turn it off. I can’t hear any of them.
When speaking with people in India I noticed their heads wobble from side to side in a gesture that indicates that would be fine but on the other hand this would be fine also and I don’t really mind. A kind of easy oasy attitude.
* nods head * Yes, I catch myself doing this a lot. I just feel rude if I sit there like a stone and don’t respond at all. I have this problem with laughing too – I always laugh when somebody makes a joke because it’s just bad manners to silently regard someone.
I am a bobblehead. :D:D:D:D
I see men do it too. Especially in business meetings. Especially the more boring meetings. It means “I’m not really listening to this, I’m only pretending to give the impression I’m interested.”
I don’t pay that much attention to how people look at family gatherings.
I nod a lot in church. When Pastor says something. I like to make it clear that I’m listening. So I nod when he says something amazing…
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