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!

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    37
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    5 months ago

    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.

    • gdog05@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      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.

  • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    15
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    5 months ago

    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.

            • anon6789@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              4
              ·
              5 months ago

              I just recently got a PZ2 driver from Vessel for my Honda. It was remarkable how nice it was to use compared to a Phillips screw and driver. I felt so much torque could be applied while the grip stayed rock solid.

              Also learned PZ screws are often used in cabinetry, and lo and behold, all my kitchen cabinet do in fact have that tell-tale X mark to indicate they are Pozidrive screws.

              I’ve still not had the opportunity to use a square drive Roberston screw, but would still like to use them for something one day.

  • acme401@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    5 months ago

    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.

  • MightBeAlpharius@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    5 months ago

    It’s more of a public speaker thing than just a politician thing, but… Well, politicians are all public speakers, so it makes sense that that’s the context you’ve seen it in.

    It’s literally a practiced gesture - public speaking makes use of some gestures that telegraph well to crowds, but seem unusual otherwise. IIRC, that fishing rod grip is an alternative to gesturing with a fist - it looks less aggressive, but gets the point across.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    5 months ago

    Public speaking is a performance and like any performance some people are good at it and some become good at it and some aren’t really good at it.

  • morphballganon@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    5 months ago

    “People who are more emotive with their gestures than me must be fake”

    “People who are less emotive with their gestures than me are robotic lol”

    Most people hold both of those views but have wildly different levels of emotiveness… The result? Posts like this

  • YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    5 months ago

    It’s all about portraying authority and trying to give off the “trust me” vibe.

    I’d love to see an interviewer respond with a bizarre hand gesture in response.