Anybody else annoyed by people that "talk with their hands"?

[blueamy66]

I've almost been smacked numerous times by my boss. He cannot speak without throwing his hands around.

We went for a business lunch last week...my co-worker let him drive to the restaurant....she insisted on driving home, cause his hands were never on the wheel.

I duck now....I've learned.... :-)

[Chan790]

1. No. I'm a hand-talker too.

That said, I don't drive.

[Graybeard]

2. Hand-talkers on TV are annoying too.

It's very distracting with their hands flying around. The worst has to be the host on PBS "America's Test Kitchen", Chris Kimball. It's a good show ruined by his constantly waving his hands around in an almost threatening manner.

[Denninmi]

4. There was a local sportscaster here in the 80s and 90s.

We called him "Mr. Hands" -- extremely annoying. I'm not a sports guy anyway, so I just tuned him out. It looked like he was making imaginary balloon animals or something.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

3. I'm Italian and in Italy hand talking and gesturing often convey

passion, genuineness and openness. In fact, hand talking is encouraged in school because it helps with creativity (they say). I feel uncomfortable not using my hands

[madmom]

5. same here, when I was little my grand father tried holding my hands while I talked...

I did nothing but stutter.

[IcyPeas]

6. not usually, but...

I've seen people waving their hands around in their cars on their cellphones. It's funny to look at actually.

[KamaAina]

7. I should say not!

[Taverner]

8. Stay away from Long Island then!

They are major "hand dancers" out there :)

[Angry Dragon]

9. are you against people that use sign-language??

[nolabear]

10. This thread reads like a Seinfeld episode.

"Did you ever notice how annoying Hand-Talkers are?"

And yeah, I kinda do it. Just be glad I'm not a Foot Talker.

[msanthrope]

11. Take your index finger and your middle finger and clap them to your thumb.

That is my answer.

[Odin2005]

12. I find it vaguely disturbing. I don't know why.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. and then there are assholes like me that can't explain a procedure

without getting out pen and paper and drawing a picture :D

[Xipe Totec]

14. Sorry, no.

It's a cultural thing for me.

Mexicans talk with their hands.

:)

And, I guess it's a Latin thing, because Italians do the same thing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxzUrWrSWIc

PS: If you're wondering what she's singing about, she's singing about what it feels like to loose a love, when silver streaks begin to appear.

[Maine-ah]

15. twice while trying to refill

a customer's coffee, he whacked me with his hands the other night. Friggin' idiot almost wore it the second time.

[Swede]

16. Try describing a spiral staircase without using your hands.

nt

[Quantess]

17. I find myself using my hands a lot, when I'm trying to communicate in a foreign language.

My hands aren't really helping the other person understand, I don't think. I do it for my own sake.

[blueamy66]

18. Okay...he's German

and I love him to death, but he's gonna clock me one in the head some day.....

[raccoon]

19. Put your forearm up as a barrier when he does this too close to your face--I do that to protect

myself from such clueless morans.

I don't mind someone talking with their hands, just don't get that hand, especially if it's holding a pen or pencil, too close to my face.

It annoys the piss out of me too; I think it shows a lack of respect. Or at least lack of boundaries and disregard for the other person's personal space.

[blueamy66]

21. I've started to do that now.

I move backwards or put up my hand or whatever....it's so annoying

[femmocrat]

20. I'm a hand-talker too.

Just keep your distance! :rofl:

I think it's an ethnic thing.

[eyepaddle]

22. It's a regional/ethnic thing. Aparently it's big in the NYC area, which

would seem to be consistent with the Italian influence. My wife isn't Italian, but she is from Long Island and she pointed out to me that her "hand talking" often seems to make midwesterners nervous! I hadn't really thought about it untl she pointed this out, but when she did I had to admit to myself, that yeah, it kinda made me nervous!

Last summer when we went to NJ/NY for a vacation I could see that hand talking is pretty much the rule, and for a change of pace I was the exception!

[Patiod]

26. Philly, too

It's funny to watch my SO talk on the phone - he gesticulates even when no one is around!

[MorningGlow]

23. Nah, I'm Italian

It's like breathing. :)

[HappyMe]

24. Doesn't bother me in the least.

How can you make your point with your arms hanging limply at your sides? :shrug:

[Duppers]

25. it annoys the hell out of me

my hubby once did until I broke him of the habit...but I'll catch him once and awhile doing it while he's talking on the phone!!! On the phone!! As if the caller can see him. Subconsciously I think he doesn't feel confident that he can get his message across verbally very well. But he has a better vocab than I do.

What's with men and phones?

[whistler162]

27. Yeah especially a fiend from my last job... she always talks

with her hands. Of course she is going for her Bachelor's in Sign Language Interpretation(not neccassarily the correct name of program).

I also tend to talk with my hands.