May 16, 2013
As most people know, there are agreed upon nonverbal signals ranging from fairly minor – like the “okay” signal or an eye roll to communicate an “Oh, brother” reaction – to very important non-verbal distress signals.
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But the truth is, there are an incredible number of situations in which non-verbal communication is crucial. Here are some of the more handy ones:
Recently voted "The Best Humor Site in America That I, Personally, Write," The Byronic Man is sometimes fiction, but sometimes autobiography. And sometimes cultural criticism. Oh, and occasionally reviews. Okay, it's all those different things, but always humorous. Except on the occasions that it's not. Ah, geez. Look, it's a lot of things, okay? You might like it, is the point.
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[…] Your Guide To Non-Verbal Communication Signals (thebyronicman.com) […]
The Byronic Man 
May 16, 2013 at 4:30 am
I need a sign for sarcasm. Air quotes just ruin it, and I misleadingly look too sweet to ever be sarcastic.
May 16, 2013 at 7:37 am
Perhaps a prolonged, blank stare after speaking? That tends to sink in and wither the soul after a moment.
May 16, 2013 at 7:39 am
I thought about that, but there’s a chance of appearing more *special* than I’d like to be perceived as.
May 16, 2013 at 4:34 am
The Byronic Man,
Odd that you interpret my thumbs up for a great post for something someone crude would do.
Le Clown
May 16, 2013 at 7:35 am
*gasp!* He thinks I’m pretty! Teehee! Teehee!
May 16, 2013 at 4:44 am
Brilliant as usual or as my face would say: 🙄
May 16, 2013 at 7:39 am
Oh, you people with your fancy emoticons. I usually end up having to write mine out long-hand. *embarrassed face*
May 16, 2013 at 4:46 am
Your artwork is superb. Have you thought of submitting it to a museum, perhaps?
May 16, 2013 at 7:39 am
The art world is apparently too stodgy and closed-minded; they’re not ready for my stuff yet.
May 16, 2013 at 4:50 am
I’d use my favorite nonverbal gesture, but nothing here warrants it, TBM. By the way, what’s wrong with a vat of horseradish?
May 16, 2013 at 7:40 am
What I think is interesting about horseradish is if you take a big whiff of it, it smells like it would turn any sandwich into a rancid piece of death. Then it tastes really good. Sniff = death. Eat = delicious. Weird.
May 16, 2013 at 7:49 am
Other edible things like that: broccoli (when boiling), vodka, pigs, cows, some cheeses and kimchi.
May 16, 2013 at 8:07 pm
I’ve been known to order roast beef just as an excuse to eat horseradish.
May 17, 2013 at 12:41 am
I also love horseradish with french fries, instead of ketchup (Canada) (or is it catsup (US)?).
May 16, 2013 at 4:54 am
Hee hee hee Love it. (Well, except the dishwasher one.) I especially like the guy who’s sharing all the secrets.
May 16, 2013 at 1:33 pm
AAAAAAAUGH!! Dishwasher one…!
May 16, 2013 at 5:15 am
My favorite’s the Face-Melty Guy. It’s a good thing the Ark is being kept safely away in that warehouse being examined by top men. Top. Men.
May 16, 2013 at 5:55 am
Haha, what Michael said for me too!
May 16, 2013 at 7:41 am
I like to think it was eventually purchased by Charles Foster Kane and kept in one of his warehouses.
May 17, 2013 at 12:43 am
…Right next to *Rosebud*
May 16, 2013 at 5:30 am
Phew! Thank you so much for this handy guide. I don’t know how I would have reacted otherwise were I to encounter the Ark. Now I know. Face meltingly. Got it. Good tip!
May 16, 2013 at 1:34 pm
4 out of 5 archeologists recommend closing your eyes, I hear.
May 16, 2013 at 5:45 am
so you can imagine my pain–only being able to move one eye.
May 16, 2013 at 6:32 am
Ha, love me some drawerings! Nice work, sir.
May 16, 2013 at 6:36 am
Can I make a suggestion that hopefully won’t cause u too much trouble? Can u put you URL in the bottom corner of these? I sooooo want to share te meeting one…
Of course if it is trouble, then you can draw up another cartoon for showing the body language for infuriating technology that should be “easy”
May 16, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Hm, I thought you could just click on them – does that not take you to their url/page? I’ll play with it. I always approve people passing my stuff along!
May 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Oh yeah, there’s a few ways to grab it and I’m sure ur stuff is downloaded all the time. Was just saying that u should mark them so that u get full credit, that’s all.
May 16, 2013 at 1:42 pm
Oh, good point. God, I’m bad at this stuff.
May 16, 2013 at 6:46 am
Love the nuclear cloud above the head of the betrayee.
May 16, 2013 at 1:36 pm
It is the nuclear bomb of sins.
May 16, 2013 at 6:59 am
I’m so glad you got over the f***-strength jealousy (see how I referenced your earlier post on your new JAFFEE Awards? I really am caught up on my reading, honest, even at the end of the semester, yup) and started posting your stick-figure drawings again.
May 16, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Well, you can’t keep a good stick man down for long.
May 16, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Apparently not. 🙂
May 16, 2013 at 7:59 am
Horseradish is icky. I recognized that face.
Fun post! You ROCK.
May 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm
It took me years to actually try it, because it smells so bad, but now I really like it. Wasabi, too.
May 16, 2013 at 9:48 am
The choker’s nonverbal also seems to communicate a zen-like acceptance of his/her impending demise. Nice work ::exclamation point::
May 16, 2013 at 1:38 pm
I just always like in first aid instruction how serenely calm everyone always is. “I seem to be hemorrhaging.” “I am going in to anaphylactic shock.”
May 16, 2013 at 10:08 am
Is it permissible to comment on non-verbal communications with actual words?
May 16, 2013 at 1:37 pm
😀
May 16, 2013 at 10:12 am
There must be a gallery willing to display your art. It’s so avante guarde. And quirky. Just the thing rich people pay big bucks for. If not, maybe you could develop flash cards for International Business Communication seminars. Why aren’t you a bazzillionaire, B-Man?
May 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
The question I ask myself every damn morning…
May 16, 2013 at 10:20 am
The last one looks like an early study of a Dali painting. Nicely done.
May 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Dali got his inspiration for surrealism after he quit his day job as a world-traveling archeologist.
May 16, 2013 at 10:26 am
This is a great beginning to a much needed “Non Verbal Signs for Dummies” book. I’d say you have a lot of people willing to contribute. Make sure you include the one for sarcasm and you will be rich and famous. Ok, more rich and famous.
May 16, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I know a few people who could use that book.
May 16, 2013 at 11:04 am
I think this should be a regular feature.
May 16, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Hm, that’s a good idea! I love ideas that don’t require me to come up with new topics.
May 16, 2013 at 12:53 pm
The dishwasher one is me for sure. (the ark of the covenant FYI one made me shoot coffee out the nose, for the third time this week. WTF, B-man??? I’m officially JAF of YOU, you big ol’ WordTurd. (sorry, I guess I’m a wee bit grumpy today)
May 16, 2013 at 1:43 pm
The alternate caption was “The garbage needs to go out but it’s slightly cold and/or rainy.” I kind of like that one better, but I didn’t have time to change it. Plus, the dishwasher plagues me. It PLAGUES ME.
May 16, 2013 at 1:13 pm
I so do not have a poker face. You can read me even if I’m not in the room! My expressions tell my whole story. Funny post! 🙂
May 16, 2013 at 1:44 pm
I always like people like that – that their faces just radiate whatever they’re feeling. People like that are usually so honest and open. I guess they have no choice.
May 16, 2013 at 1:51 pm
As a teen, when I would come home late and my father would get mad at me, I looked guilty even if I hadn’t done anything bad! So my face radiates feelings I’m not even feeling! LOL
May 16, 2013 at 1:47 pm
That last look is exactly what happened to me last time I cleaned out the fridge. I think I threw the Ark of the Covenant away. Sorry, everyone. It looked like moldy broccoli cheese soup in there. I wasn’t taking any chances.
May 16, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Love this. You are so talented. Too talented.
Maybe one of these days you should let us see a less perfect side of you, to remind us that you are indeed human…unless maybe you’re not… 😳
May 16, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Thanks for this handy guide. It seems that the non-verbal communication is cross-cultural. Cool!
May 16, 2013 at 5:16 pm
The old horseradish face. Gets me every time
May 16, 2013 at 5:24 pm
I was in a meeting yesterday in which, instead of doing the gun-to-the-head thing, the only man in the room pretended to hang himself with his necktie.
Draw, please.
May 16, 2013 at 9:37 pm
I will not be distributing this to colleagues, but the probability of this raining upon my friends is very, very high.
May 17, 2013 at 1:05 pm
I’m new to your site and believe I’m going to have a great time following your posts and working through your older ones. Blessings on your day.
May 19, 2013 at 7:24 am
Please demonstrate the aforementioned eye rolling via stick figure……
May 19, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Man, I wish I had known the “Ark of the Covenant” has just been opened non-verbal expression yesterday, because that would have come in handy. Now it’s too late.
May 20, 2013 at 6:12 pm
hilarious stick figures! WHERE in the world did you find? make them? how? now I am so jealous 😛