Does it annoy the dickens out of anyone besides me if someone is sitting very close to you and talking with their hands?

[raccoon]

Yesterday, in a group, someone was doing this, and I called her on it. She was invading my personal space.

The group was in a circle, sitting right next to each other.

Are people so clueless they don't realize that?

[wnylib]

1. Very often, talking with your hands is cultural,

so people who do it are not consciously aware of it.

I grew up in a city that had a lot of Italian-Americans. Several of my friends and classmates were first generation Americans of Italian descent. A few had arrived from Italy with their parents. Moving their hands around as they talked was quite common. Sometimes they use a hand gesture in place of a word.

I picked up the habit from them, although I do not have any Italian ancestry, AFAIK. My husband, who was from a small WASP town, used to say that I would be mute if I sat on my hands.

People who use ASL (American Sign Language) obviously speak with their hands, but also with facial expressions and whole body language. My mother's cousin gradually lost her hearing over the years so she and her family learned sign language. She had a daughter my age who was in some of my junior high classes. A hearing impaired student was mainstreamed to our school from a school for the deaf. She and my cousin taught me to use sign language with them.

So between my cousin, our friend, and Italian-American friends, I was destined to become a hands talker. I don't use ASL unless I am with a hearing impaired person, and even then, I have forgotten many signs over the years due to disuse, so I seldom use it. But hand movements and body language expressions are so automatic to me that I never notice myself doing it unless someone points it out.

You could bring it up if it bothers you, maybe with humor, depending how well you know the person. You might duck and say, "Careful. Incoming hands." Or, "Whew. You just missed me."




.

[ms liberty]

7. Same situation for me. Italian, Greek, Cuban immigrants/first gen americans all around me growing up

All hands talkers. It is a natural part of conversation in many cultures. I'd be mute without my hands.

[PJMcK]

2. Too many people are unaware of others' personal space (n/t)

[bucolic_frolic]

3. They probably think they're communicating just fine

Hand gestures ... I don't know. Depends on how close people are sitting, how far the gestures intrude into whatever the perceived personal bubble space is ... maybe we have 18" around us, up to an arm's length?

[raccoon]

8. The chairs were right up next to each other, folding chairs.

[mitch96]

4. My father always talked with his hands flying around.. The family joke was if you held his hands he could not talk..

My mom would do it often just to piss him off.. !! Great fun
m

[yorkster]

5. The thing about talking with your hands is

that you have to be aware of how close you are to others. Since childhood I have been expressive, shall we say, but as someone who was about 5'2" I've often had someone's hands within a few inches of my face. You feel both threatened and invisible.
Fairly often I will make some slight counter move and the person will catch on. Of course, much easier with someone you know.

[raccoon]

9. Thank you. I do know this person.

I put up my arm to ward off her arms and said you’re invading my personal space, laughing as I said it, and she got it. But I’ve had people to do it before. Once I held up my arm as this woman was waving her hands all over the place. Right next to me. But from now on, I’m going to speak to them about it.

I don’t think people are doing it maliciously but it shows a lack of self-awareness

She said something about being of Italian ancestry . But people need to watch their hands when they are that close to somebody else.
.

[Niagara]

6. I can be a hand talker and as far as I know I'm not Italian

If I get really animated and talkative watch out!

I like wnylib's suggestion about using humor to let them know that they're too close.