Let's Talk About the Silent 'Sup—or When Guys Feel the Need to Nod at Each Other Public

Patti was interviewed by Men's Health on the subject of "Silent Sup."  Her insights are featured in the article below:

You’re walking down the street and make eye contact with a dude going the opposite way—what do you do?

As a recent Reddit thread revealed, if you’re like a lot of guys, you probably do some kind of nod—a subtle, some say instinctive nonverbal greeting you may not even be aware you’re performing. It’s a small, platonic gesture jam-packed with semiotic meaning—a sign of mutual respect, of friendly recognition, of acknowledging another’s presence without being too pushy.

Call it the Silent ‘Sup.

Some guys seem to do it consciously as a way of communicating regard, diffusing tension, or simply saying hello without needing to stop and chat. Others may do it without even thinking about it, almost as a reflex. It can be done for the most seemingly mundane of reasons, like noticing that someone has the same headphones as you, or it can be done as a meaningful show of recognition and support, as is the case with some men of color who say they sometimes use a version of the nod to acknowledge one another in primarily white spaces. In any case, it can be a complicated gesture, one whose meaning can change for some based on the circumstances and the subtlest of nuances.

“It makes you feel that there’s a connection,” body language expert Patti Wood told Men’s Health by phone. “This is a ritual you can do from a distance that still has some purpose to it.”

Given the subtle nature of the Silent 'Sup, it would be completely understandable if you weren’t aware it was a thing. I hadn’t given much thought to this oddity of male behavior until last week, when I saw a popular Reddit thread on /AskMen. It asked: "Why do we nod at each other when making eye contact with random dudes? 

Read on ...

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.