Does body language mean a lot to you?
By Phyrre
@phyrre (2317)
United States
May 22, 2009 11:49pm CST
To some people, like myself, body language means a lot. I can tell a lot from a person just by watching how they interact with others.
Then again, I know some people that THINK body language is important, but they don't know how to read it properly. I went for an interview and the interviewer asked me if I was nervous (I was bobbing my foot up and down). I said no, I was cold, but the truth was that I was slightly annoyed because I had to wait 45 minutes for an interview that I had to schedule with them ahead of time. There was no one waiting before me and the next interviewee (scheduled half an hour after me) had already showed up and been waiting for a while by the time I got to my interview.
So, keeping in mind how confusing body language can be sometimes, do you think it's an important part of your life? Do you rely on body language for certain things and are you concerned about giving the wrong impression with your body language?
3 people like this
17 responses
@arkansos (545)
• India
23 May 09
Yes I do. I can read body language a little bit and rely on it to judge impressions basically but sometimes character as well. Some people learn to fake body language. I don''t like that. I think body language is a great way to learn the truths about a person. It is hard to unconsciously supress signals. Faking body language is hard, but those who do so become successful people by deception
2 people like this
@nikhil_sun (576)
• India
23 May 09
Of course body language does mean a lot to me.When I was young I did not think much of it.I thought it was not that important.But now I know.Over the years after observing people of different types - some are articulate and have great body language,some are very reserved and don't use body language that much.And I have found that those with great body language are much successful in their life,career etc.It is very important that we hone this skill and project a good personality through our body language.
2 people like this
@malcomteh (29)
• Singapore
24 May 09
yes it does,i use it to show like get away from me or i dont want to listen to you.but i always control what body language i use as i dont want to hurt other peoples feelings.body language is like a hint.and my family always use body language to tell what they say
1 person likes this
@aikhong (661)
• Malaysia
24 May 09
Ya, i think body language does mean a lot and for those who knows and can read it are surely beneficial and have an advantage of knowing other person's thinking. However, as for myself although i know the importance to know the body language but i seldom pay attention on other people's body language and so sometimes i'll just missed out or misinterpret their thiniking. I'll prefer the person himself or herself to just speak up what is in their mind, but i know this is quite impossible,haha. Some people will not just so honest and frank that they can tell you everything in the mind. Perhaps i should start to learn and do sme study on body language from now on. I believe this would be of beneficial as well as make it as an additional way to read people's mind. 
1 person likes this
@nirmalsaurabh (205)
• India
23 May 09
yes,body language matters a lot in each field..your fist impression is your last impression,on the first view an image or yours traced on the viewer's mind..about what kind of person you are..and this image creates doubts/surety which leads throughout the relationship with that person..
its upon you how to present yourself..in my view a man become only what he want to be..if he look himself and ask whether he is up to mark or not then he must get answer..i strongly believe that body language added up with attitude confirms your selection status..
2 people like this
@harryt123 (327)
• United States
24 May 09
I actually think that body language means a lot to everyday communication and more than words that a person can say without even saying a word. Our body language can give others a lot of information about us and they might be able to tell that we are nervous during an interview to friendly and inviting while doing our everyday tasks at our job. I do know that it is very important to display the appropriate body language for the specific situation in our lives as this is what others will see.
1 person likes this
@cathiesblogg (753)
• United States
23 May 09
I think "Body language" says more than a persons words ever say! I have seen where a couple can say their relationship is "wonderful", "perfect" but if their body language speaks distance between them, ususally there is something not right and usually in time the truth will submerge. The same can be said for other circumstances too. Words people speak can sometimes be untruth. A persons body language can speak volumes.
1 person likes this
@shalli17here (627)
• Indonesia
23 May 09
hmmm...it means alot yes, specially if i'm facing my man lol but as for an interview like u did, hmm...as long as i won't be nervous, my body will follow me and stay cool in front of them..they would have known it if i was nervous, so just try to relax but serious, and then do my best..
i will try to hide my nervous with an opposite body languange though haha..like if i could lol
1 person likes this
@billzehua (573)
• China
23 May 09
it means nothing to me before you brought this thing up,but to dig it up, it indeed is part of me,coz people have said quite times about me being passionate in speaking big things.being emiontal-presenting.but anyway sorta of tiring job if to specially study this technic, but i bet it's quite a useful tool for some people in certain working realm.
1 person likes this
@cbhomework (545)
• Malta
23 May 09
Yes I do think that body language is important, but as you said, it is not easy to read a person from his/her actions. Sometimes it's also a matter of culture. People from different cultures may express themselves in different ways (even though the basic rules are the same for most of the people)
I did have a few misunderstandings when trying to read just out of body language, although I am usually exact when I see what a person is doing. However, I am less conscious of the body messages I send.
Have a go at these tests from BBC. On this page you will find a test on how to spot a fake smile and also on face perception. Real eye openers. let me know if you like them.
www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/index_surveys.shtml
1 person likes this
@yoyozhou (356)
• China
23 May 09
Hi,I think body language is important when we communicate with others. It can tell others our sense like nervous, shy, confident and ect.I have some unsucessful interviews where my body language gave the interviewers how I was nervious, not confident and not prefessional. In fact, I always think I can do the job and I have practice a lot and work hard. Body language is also important for our daily life. How to get along with your friends ,colleagues or parents does not only depend on your speech but your body language. Your body language in some way shows the attitude on the matters.
1 person likes this
@fishkingback (430)
• China
23 May 09
hi,phyrre.
To be honest, I almost have no body language when i was taking to somebody.Maybe i have, and i didn't realize it myself.But anyway ,i never use my body language intentionally ,i just talk with my body still like a stone,i just feel natural so.
Of course ,i have to admit that body language is quite important,especially when we talk to someone that we say the diffirent languages.In that case ,sure we have to use our body language,and that would be a funny situation.lol.:D
1 person likes this
@xprincessx (99)
• Malaysia
23 May 09
yes..body language mean a lot..it can help some shy people to express their feeling and thinking..from their body language you can know what actually they think..
1 person likes this
@dimbaka (10)
• India
23 May 09
I think being too conscious about body language would do more harm than good as you may reveal yourself involuntarily trying to feign some positive body language, though a knowledge about nuances of negative body language may help you keep check on them. As far as I am concerned, negative body languages such as avoiding eye contact, nail biting,drooped sitting postures and emoting too much with your hands in action are to be to be avoided at best and these negative traits are no rocket science that calls for a consultation with Allen Pease books.
Learning body language and observing others would help you have an edge over others and certainly turn the tables for your benefit. Carrying yourself with aplomb and confidence with a good dress sense is all that would make miracles for a win. Follow these and bingo! you have won the job. That's the simple down-to-earth prescription and nothing much to worry about body language.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
23 May 09
I can tell quite a bit from body language. I can tell by interacting with and by talking to people if people don't want to talk to me, interact with people, or if they want to avoid subjects. I can tell when people are uncomfortable, in pain, sad, just everything. I'm a people watcher at heart. I love watching people because I find them facinating I just don't always like interacting with sad people.
1 person likes this
@kapil_poundarik (960)
• India
23 May 09
oh thats one of my hobbies , when ever i'm bored i just watch my family members and try to think what they are thinking and most of the times i'm rite , now it has been in my routine to know more about people by seeing their body language as well as to know who is speaking a truth or who is telling a false.but this has made me very much ,but still that payment was for betterment as now i can protect myself from friends that try to make me fool as i know if they are correct or they are right.
1 person likes this
@med889 (5941)
•
23 May 09
Yes indeed body language means a lot to me.I have read a lot on this and I found how important it can be, we can be saying YES when infact our body language is saying NO to someone, this is so natiral, our sub concious also play an essential role in it.
I am someone who shows many expression on my face and I find myself sometimes saying something which is going into contradiction to my body language so it is therefore a very vital concept.
I do rely on my body language for certain things for example if I don't wanna reply to a person I may be behaving which shows that I am denying something to him.
