Anybody interested in reading body language should check out this pictorial of President Obama meeting with his various underlings. Two of the more interesting snaps:
Eric Holder guarding his mouth
Plenty of other photos of cabinet members and politicians and Obama himself guarding their mouths.
I (and I think most people) are tempted to look for the most dramatic interpretation of these types of gestures. The caveat here is that all of these people are sitting around a table. Their hands have to go somewhere so it could be that they naturally gravitate towards the face. Some gestures, like Valerie Jarrett’s, could be indications of deep thought while others very well may be subtle hints that they are holding back or are incredulous to what the speaker is saying. These are people of power who, while being on the same general team, are still competing for power. And we can assume that at these high levels, as at higher levels of business, self-editing is a routine part of the job.
Joe Biden’s gentle gesture is interesting to look at. One fingertip rested lightly on his lips. I usually do this one too when I’m hyperaware of my facial expressions. Biden is notorious for his quick mouth and gritty, aggressive manner, yet his pose here is incongruent with those behaviors. I see myself in the picture in that I often realize that I’m either talking too much or being too aggressive and then adopt a softer pose to counteract my aggression. It’s similar to how when I realize that my arms are crossed and that I look closed off that I will let my arms either rest at my sides or clasp my hands at their natural meeting place right in front of my junk.
Like this:
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“The caveat here is that all of these people are sitting around a table. Their hands have to go somewhere so it could be that they naturally gravitate towards the face.”
Nothing too illuminating from the pictures; I’d go with the above as the best explanation. When sitting at a table, the most comfortable place to put your hands is your chin. I generally match this with a slight lean back and a pensive gaze.
Give Biden credit for being awake anyway!
Holder — holdering in a fart.
Lesbian — wondering if Holder’s gonna fart.
Dude with bad haircut — just farted.
Biden — surprised by own squeaker fart.
Lesbian #2 — smells something.
They may as well be doing this, for all the good they’re doing.
Man, Holder and Jarrett are black? Cory Booker has blue eyes and he’s black? We sure this isn’t some conspiracy by the je- sorry, the big donors of the Dems to find white people to pass as blacks for politicla reasons like when Eddie Murphy did the SNL sketch where he went undercover as white.
CH’s comment is really funny.
“I will let my arms either rest at my sides or clasp my hands at their natural meeting place right in front of my junk.”
OT, but your sentence reminds me that until the guy went off on the TSA guy and his comments found widespread ink, I’d never heard the word “junk” in reference to a man’s genitals, and I’d just like to say I am saddened it’s in use.
I like men and appreciate their emotional and physical differences from us women and “junk” is not worthy of that part of the male’s anatomy . It seems a negative word in the way “package” is not.
(Sorry that I posted this on another thread accidentally.)
Holder and Lieberman do not hold their hands – they do not know what to do with them
a paid political class
and without meaning to be all esoteric – what does it mean that these guys do not know what to do with their hands –
like and for real – what does that mean – …
a man can not still his hands
he is waiting for a payoff
pol’s got their pleasure center activated with power
can you imagine
they do all that, for real – what would all the money and power bring – it aint a hard guess
so at the highest levels reachable without family banking connections – we got the guys with the most wanna get their knob done drive
OT… sorta, but too good not to share.
marie,
lighten up.
“Some gestures, like Valerie Jarrett’s, could be indications of deep thought…”
That has to be the first, and probably the last, time anyone will use Valerie Jarrett’s name in the same sentence, or even paragraph, as the phrase “deep thought.”
Highlight of “God Made a Liberal:”
@ 1:09 – “a worthless PhD in 17th century Belgium lesbian studies”
Touching the face is a submissive gesture, seeking approval – very feminine. Who are these guys, Holder and Lieberman and Obama, kowtowing too. Whose approval are they seeking.
Obama, as we know, went on The View; so he seeks women’s approval. It can probably be explained as vote currying. These voting women are not going for Alexander the Great type guys. Alexander the Great did not touch his face too often, at strategy sessions.
The diabolical explanation up thread – the sublimated touching – seems off in the morning. But think on it – a man with worldly power and feminine posturing – Well, what is the resolution there ?
Pillow bitters!
Pillow biters
Curled up and dead
Pillow bitters would be an obscure spice, maybe juniper berries and mace
I love Joe Biden’s gesture, and I my interpretation for this gesture that he’s holding back a thought, his face even looked a little surprised.
I wrote myself on the body language of hand gestures to the face. And while often touching the face is a sign of deceit it can also be an evaluation or stalling gesture.