To feel unsettled by Handsy Chatters?

[RocketSurgeon]

Folk who wave their hand around when they talk, I've always felt that it really distracts me from concentrating properly on the conversation.

Now that I'm a misanthropic, curmudgeonly menopausal shrew though, I actually think that on some (perhaps primeval) level I'm feeling slightly on edge that there's mild danger in front of me.

I fell that same no matter the sex notgender of the speaker, just sit on your hands or hold yer Costa Coffee bucket, Shirley, please.

So AIBU to feel at best, distracted, at worst slightly mildly threatened by the wavers and gesticulaters?

Gesticulation, fine.

Lightly touching my arm, NO.

🤢😂

I do it a lot. It’s necessary to communicate vividly where I’m from

Am I the only one who thought Handsy Chatters was some dodgy children’s entertainer?

I'm a handsy chatter. Can't help it. Don't be irritated, it's just the way I'm made

Omg.

Let's all just

(As if you could do that on MN

You can choose not to get annoyed with it though, OP! A common saying when I was growing up was “ Blimey, #name#, if we cut yer hands off you wouldn’t be able to talk!” In a friendly tone, diffusing the situation while letting them know you had noticed.
But, that was before people took proper offence at everything!

I do it because I am the hearing child of a deaf parent. Gestures are a key part of how I learned to communicate.

It did really annoy my ex husband.

My current lover regards my waving hands as part of who I am.

I have seen videos of me teaching, yes, I look like one of those inflatable arm waving flag people. But it's totally unconscious. I am too old to be shut down now. If you don't like it, don't talk to me.

I gesture - but not always - I don't think I always did it.
Not sure why it happens, sort of excitement at trying to describe or explain something, perhaps anxiety a bit. I don't like it so don't choose to do it.

I thought this was about a drag queen.

People who are “professional communicators” such as teachers and TV presenters do it a lot. My DH (uni lecturer) does and so does David Attenborough!

I do it because I use BSL to my deaf DS.I expect you’d feel quite threatened seeing us in animated conversation 😂 if he’s not around I still do it sometimes thinking everyone knows signing so lord knows what you’d think of me 😂

@DameCelia. You’re being ridiculous.

OP my dh gesticulates to the point of knocking things over.
It annoys the life out of me but in France it’s 30% of conversation so he’s more easily understood than I am.

Hope you don't meet anyone who uses BSL anytime soon.....

@megletthesecond

I thought this was about a drag queen.

Me too 😂😂

I thought this was going to be about those people who can't seem to talk to you without touching your arms constantly! I don't mind the gesturing though.

I think the problem is yours

I do it all the time. I like to express myself I'm also Glaswegian, comes with the territory!

I do it a lot. Since I started back up working at special needs school I casually throw in signs as well. I literally see easily distracted people switch off and start watching my wild hands flailing.

I like to think they're so expressive they don't need to listen to understand....hopefully.

and just like that, she found a new user name

I’m aware I gesticulate a lot when I talk. My DC have adhd and I scored quite highly on the adult test so maybe that’s why. Either way, I can’t help it but I am conscious of it and try and calm it down but it’s hard! Maybe I’m just very passionate in everything I say.