this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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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!

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[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 3 points 8 hours ago

It's so they don't point their finger and wag or shake a fist while they are taking. It is seen as a less offensive gesture to people watching body language.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 12 points 18 hours ago

trump and his accordion hands are very noticible, especially when he has to make a lie on the spot.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 10 points 21 hours ago

Remember Biden's "I did that!" (lying) stickers that were placed on gas pumps by maga freaks? It's trivial to put your political opponent in an ad where they are saying something they're not, because pointing is seen as an aggressive gesture by the people coaching them for speeches, debates, etc. So they do the silly thumb-point for emphasis recommended by political strategists...

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 29 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Its what you do when you naturally want to point but dont want to be seen as rude and aggressive.

[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Correct answer right there. Politicians and business people are very aware of their body language. Another rule is never touch your face. When they do, photographers will snap a picture. In the photo they will look frustrated

[–] netvor@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

LOL that's why I will never be a politician. I would be so frustrated by not being allowed to touch my face! The irony of it would just overwhelm me.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Oh that?

Thats the motion you make when fanning through dollar bills, one handed, to count em.

They're doing a pavlovian reflex everytime they need to remind themselves where their money comes from, and how its time to focus in on delivering ~~shareholder~~ lobbyist value.

[–] Devjavu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 day ago

You have to do something with your hand. This one's pretty neutral, because it's nothing.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bill Clinton started it. Drives chicks crazy.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Way before Clinton. Jfk was doing it in black and white days. I dunno if he was the first though either.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 12 hours ago

As I said, drove chicks crazy, even Marilyn Monroe could not resist.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 10 points 1 day ago

Trump just channels his childhood accordion lessons. He doesn't even realize he's doing it.

[–] acme401@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day 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.

Jerking themselves off to the idea of fucking their citizens over

[–] Cricket@lemmy.zip 76 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's one of many gestures that are used by trained public speakers as non-verbal communication cues. Here are some examples, including the one you asked about: https://qz.com/work/1093701/a-guide-to-ted-talk-hands-seven-signature-moves

There are many more beyond those. Using hand gestures in public speaking has been around since at least classical times.

[–] ShaunKL@startrek.website 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nobody likes being pointed at. The fist point, then, is a way to underscore an important point without the scolding, accusatory associations of a raised index finger—because it uses a thumb instead. Clinton Thumb works best when paired with an intellectually complex point, making it a TED talk favorite. “It is articulating that you’re focusing on something, and that you’re grasping it cognitively,” body language expert Joe Navarro told Business Insider.

[–] Cricket@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago

Thanks for posting that quote from the article.

[–] yum_burnt_toast@reddthat.com 213 points 2 days ago (3 children)

from what i remember, they are coached to do it because pointing is seen as too aggressive but not making any hand gestures is too robotic. so its a way to make a non-aggressive emphatic hand gesture.

[–] Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 124 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Which, ironically, makes them seem even more robotic

[–] netvor@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Still, maybe if Zucc did it people would actually find him cool.

("Cool" as in, like an average politician, which is still way cooler than he is now.)

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 76 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Only to people who are actually paying attention to a lot of politicians and likely looking exactly this up.

For the majority of the public? it is just "good public speaking".

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I miss Obama and other politicians who could actually speak.

[–] andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 15 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Yeah.

Although I recently heard him on Marc Maron's podcast, and was rather disappointed.

He's still far, far more lucid than most other politicians, but he came off as wildly out of touch, which I didn't recall him being 10 years ago.

Oh well, that's the match of time for you.

[–] coreray00@discuss.online 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Was he wearing a tan suit?

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Obama 》》Grandpa Freeman

[–] balance8873@lemmy.myserv.one 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

you don't remember him ordering grey poupon? Like a french aristocrat?

[–] andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 day ago

Oh that's right!

And now I'm remembering his scandalous tan suit!

[–] Railing5132@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago

Well, the man's retired so he can be I suppose? When (if?) I'm able to retire, I plan on being as out of touch as possible :D

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[–] TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 139 points 2 days ago (4 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironomia

They are taught by "experts" that pointing is an ugly aggressive hand gesture.

[–] netvor@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

wow, so Trump is doing "Liberatem resigno" ("I give up my freedom") but with rubber shackles.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 43 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It's silly how some of them do this while simultaneously pushing ugly and aggressive policies.

[–] anomnom@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 day ago

They’re squeezing their hands like that so they don’t accidentally do the nazi solute again.

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 day ago

Gotta make those policies seem friendly and non-aggressive!

[–] BlameThePeacock@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 days ago (2 children)

That's neat.

Why does that article contain no references more recent than 1806 though. Is it called something else these days? It seems like there should be more modern information on the practice.

[–] netvor@lemmy.world 2 points 13 hours ago

honestly with drawings like that I half expected at least one panel be involving bloodletting

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 64 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No the real answer is that literally nearly every possible configuration of your hands and movement is offensive and rude to some culture, person or religion.

It's fucking damn near impossible to find ANY that are actually safe.

This has been a problem of public speaking for longer then America has been a country, and longer then the ivy leagues have been a thing.

Public speaking hand gestures go back literally hundreds of years.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 1 points 1 day ago

Okay but the reason they all do it today is because they went to the same rich people colleges and courses. The reason those courses teach these things may have historical background, but that’s not what we’re referring to here.

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 25 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 days ago

"How dare you insult me with your flaccid mockery of a fishing pole grip, you will pay for your insolence"

[–] SpicyTaint@lemmy.world 32 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I wanna say I've heard that be referred to as the "Clinton thumb" since Bill Clinton did it a lot when president.

Wikipedia mentions it here

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[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago

It's the I'm-pointing-at-you-with-a-pen-but-I-forgot-my-pen gesture.

[–] mechoman444@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's so other lizard people know.

[–] balance8873@lemmy.myserv.one 3 points 1 day ago

Actually it's only a small part of the secret handshake that lets you into Epstein island. But it is a prerequisite.

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