Should facial expressions be their own language?
814028
I have studied body language for many years, at both uni and as part of my professional life...it is an extremely powerful thing to know in every aspect of life \n\n(he says whilst trying to lick the end of his own nose)
189770
Yes, I agree. It makes people look unintelligent when they don't use proper english...let's face it, it isn't that difficult. Unfortunately language is always developing. I think that when they have developed effective and wide spread voice recognition for computers then this type of thing should correct itself.
207969
Language has the power to inflame, incense, persuade, comfort, inspire -- it can affect my emotions, explain ideas and concepts, inform, and move people. I can't explain your point of view; only you can do that.
439339
chemistry/body language
94824
patzky99 wrote:\n\ni had read an earlier answer about how we use descriptions of animals' behavior to apply to humans. i'll check back and see if i can find it...\n\nwell of course i can't now. if i recall the gist of it was that we lump some of our 'worst' behaviors along with animals... so you get a 'wolf whistle', or a person or a movie is a 'real dog', or someone is 'crazy like a fox'. some positive behaviors can be ascribed too, 'proud as a peacock' or 'busy as a bee'. perhaps these phrases are just an extension of the days when we assigned human characteristics to the animal world.\n\nwho was that guy who was 'acting like a loon'?  thanks for the 2nd chance :)
1050945
I am of the belief that language should work for us humans.  In almost every area of our lives things are constantly being redesigned and improved, so why not language? Why should we as people work to conform to language?  I think that language should work for us, the contemporary people, and not according to some scribe or scholar of yesteryear. Language should incorporate abbreviations for commonly used words and basic lingo or slang- when they are common knowledge anyway. My girlfriend happens to be a correct you all grammarian wannabe-- and it can just drive me crazy! If you communicate your thoughts, ideas or points in a clear and precise manner- then why be persecuted for grammar faux pas! The Darwinian theory of language must live on.. Evolve, improve and be efficient. Cheers!
404654
I know what you mean.\n\nI do that too.\n\nBut I don't mean to.  Sometimes people go around with a mad look on their face and they dont even know it.\n\nso  smile more often when you talk to peep.\n\nThats a start. more smiley face
644309
d) None of the above...\n\nActually... (oh dear, this isn't going to be a popular answer!), the jury's still out on this one. It's a saying that has been around for so long and penetrated our culture to the extent that everyone assumes it's true without remembering specific details or sources. You will find many seemingly reputable sources swearing that it's true, but interestingly enough they report widely different figures for the number of muscles. Some of the more popular ones are 43 muscles in a frown vs. 17 muscles in a smile and 62 muscles in a frown vs. 26 muscles in a smile (nice symmetry... too nice if you ask me!). So we definitely know what majority opinion is on the subject, but they don't seem to have anything to back it up!\n\nThings are further complicated by the fact that those crazy researchers who are actually puzzling over this can't agree on certain fundamental things: do they count muscles with a major involvement, do they count every teeny-tiny muscle that twitches even if it doesn't play a large role, do they count eye muscles because some people's eyes crinkle up a bit when they smile, etc., etc.? Frowning could involve more muscles, but smiling could still require more effort if those fewer muscles need to be flexed more. Do a random google search like I did; I swear you will find all of this and I am not making it up! Nobody knows for sure, but everybody has ideas.\n\nA few facts that may or may not also be relevant to answering the question: studies show that people are more apt to smile when they see other people smiling and frown when they see other people frowning, some believe that smiling just seems easier because we do it more and the muscles are thus better conditioned for it, and the sort of smile that we label "insincere" requires significantly less muscular effort than a sincere and spontaneous grin.\n\nI vote for smiling, regardless of how many muscles are involved! :)
1064223
Speech, Expression, Torture...
583334
Good question, I guess its due to how we react.  when conversing, The person listening will make gestures with their face that we automatically recognise.  Raised eyebrows, smiles, frowns.. all tell us what the person is thinking, and the eyes tell the most.  \n\nAlso, To look anywhere else on the body is considered rude by modern culture.
530624
I'd say we read people by what we see. Certain gestures they make or do. The way they say things. People can give out certain kinds of vibes too. Good, bad, or wierd. But i think that's derived from facial expressions or from the eyes.
316270
I would wish us to be mute so that we can communicate more clearly by the things we do. Smiles would have more meaning as would a handshake, a hug, a pat on the back- we would not take gestures like that for granted and there would be less misunderstanding about what people want-maybe. It's just an idea.
559214
yeah but every time u want to use it you would have to ype i the normal form like :) for a smily face and so on!
331823
erm, body language? because it's the only langauge everyone understands most of?
282004
How is it that "things we say to ourselves" is genetic?  It is a little more then that.  \n\n"because we interpret a stimuli as threatening"...well, yes.  Externally, anxiety can be triggered. \n\n"more important than the actual stimuli?" Of course it is.  You look at fire and you can think...get burn...or you can think it as a tool.  We all have automatic thoughts.  Those who suffer with anxiety do associate a thought, word, object, e.t.c. with a negative and threatening value.\n\nA. Not be able to recognize their automatic thoughts and decode them(in which cognitive behavioral therapy would help)\n\nor...\n\nB. Have a few neurotransmitter out of whack and need action therapy.\n\nBTW, in most cases, action therapy only works with some other form of therapy applying the idea of reconditioning the thought process.  \n\nNature/Nurture...is that your real argument?
613910
I disagree. Everyone here can only see words- not actions. Obviously if I am making obscene gestures at you right now, that doesn't speak so loud, does it? But if I write these words:\n\nMY THINGY IS SMALL AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!!!\n\nLoud and clear, huh?
423191
Yes.  Here's why:  when in a social situation it is every participant's responsibility to ensure that all of the participants can enjoy the highest amount of value from the experience.  Speaking a language that you know some of the others don't understand (unless you're explaining stuff about it to them) ensures that those people experience significantly diminished value.