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Watch your body language people

#19 Standing with Your Hands Crossed Over Your Genitals

well, how else am i supposed to hide my awkward/inappropriate erection?????

But is it really awkward and inappropriate? A big towering erection suggests confidence, masculinity and an emotional engagement with whoever you're talking to. It's only negative body language if it's provoking other negative body language, or if you're around small children
 
As someone with ADD and some anxiety issues related to having ADD some of these seem unavoidable unless I'm consciously aware. It's sucks being misinterpreted a lot.

According to the article if you use your hands at all during a conversation, you are a nervous wreck or hiding something. I think it looks more odd if you keep your hands strictly to your side like a solider at attention.
 
The article should be retitled "25 acts of body language to avoid in North America".

In many South American countries, speaking at very close range is quite acceptable and backing away out of discomfort is considered rude.
 
I have my own business and a big part of my job is meeting clients and business owners on a regular basis. Because of my job Ive paid special attention to learning body language, behavior and speech patterns in order to not not only analyze the non verbal communication of the people in front of me but also to learn how to best project the image that I want to project.

Some of the things that the article say are true, BUT you can not generalize actions, and say they "always" represent the same thing. Holding objects in front of you "MIGHT" mean what the article says but you must have the intelligence to see the person in front of you and analize if he is really is representing shyness or if he IS JUST FUCKING HOLDING THE CUP IN FRONT OF HIM! because maybe its just comfortable.

Im constantly analyzing the people Im meeting to give a better presentation but I dont analyze details like this, I analyze the entire behavior of a person, or their level of comfort, speech, eyes, those type of things give you a better idea, yes I do analyze details but I dont think they are a big indicator because like I said sometimes people take postures for many other reasons and not exactly for what the articles says. Their office, their desk, their clothes and especially their behavior are a much better indicators of how a person really is than small postures. Peace!
 
List is stupid, but some of the acts are typical.

I am guilty of the fake smile, the coffee cup, the drifting off during conversations and crossing my arms.

I hate close talkers, 1-uppers, staring idiots, and egomaniacs.
 
reading those body language signs, i always wonder what the fuck am i supposed to do with my hands not to give off any signs?
anything you do with your hands seems to give one sing or another!
 
I think it's a bit unnuanced to say you should avoid those gestures outright. Take the first one - holding objects in front of your body. It's supposed to express shyness. I really didn't think about the reason for this before reading this post but I work in sales management and I often am called upon to deliver fairly assertive and persistent pitches to dealers as to why they should carry a certain product. I always carry my iPad with me on sales calls and I find myself increasingly holding it in front of my body. And the reason is that I've found people are more comfortable with me and respond better to my pitch when I do so. In light of this article I might guess that the reason why it that that gesture is somewhat disarming. On the other hand body language that a lot of experts call confident often seems to make people a bit on guard and resistant.
 
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