Women & "The nod"

[Catalyst6]

If you're a guy theres a good possibity you know "the nod".

Its that slight gesture you do when you see someone you want to acknowledge.

I knew *exactly* what you were referring to upon reading this. I guess it really is that ingrained, eh?

I do the same thing, but I would say that a small smile is more prevalent for women. That's just based on my personal experiences. No women ever acknowledge me, of course.



(kidding). Also, you have an AMAZING avatar, Stu.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

A curt downwards nod is my acknowledgement for people greeting me.
Never seen a girl do it. Might have something to do with me finding my shoes more interesting than them.
But yeah, I know what you're talking about.
Edit:

Really? There's a down version of The Nod? I didn't know.

I didn't know about the up version until now. Lol.

 

[Thundero13]

I do that, i'm a guy, didn't know girls didn't do it though, have never really noticed...

 

[iDoom46]

I'm fairly certain I've seen girls do it before, but I could be mistaken. They probably just don't do it as often.

But, it is a petty subtle movement that we're talking about, here. You practically need to be looking for it. It is entirely possible that simply nobody has noticed it because it didn't matter to them.

 

[Faine']

I'm a girl. I do 'the nod' but I'll always accompany it with a smile.

 

[RastaBadger]

Guys get an upward nod. Girls get a downward nod.
Never worked out why I do it that way but I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[rutger5000]

I use it all the time, haven't seen a girl doing it. I think it's a manly gesture.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

I do the nod, but i've been told that many women find the nod to be quite rude. My sisters do the nod, but they're quite weird. To be clear, i do the downward nod, which is actually an evolution of the "tip of the hat". The upward nod is much more informal.

 

[SangRahl]

I nod. I've even been asked why I was so standoffish by someone who didn't know me very well. My response: "What? I nodded. Do I have to smile and wave EVERY time I see someone in the morning?" And my wife has had to actually retrain herself to stop using a nod as a morning greeting, and begin saying "Good morning" and the like. One of the downsides of moving up the ladder, I guess.

In fact, one of my biggest gripes about MMO emotes was the complete lack of understanding by game developers about what a nod actually is... A form of greeting, an acknowledgement of equal standing, and for the more flamboyant types perhaps even a tip of the hat. Yet every MMO I've traversed in my [REDACTED] years of playing, any game that puts an animation to /nod leaves my character standing there, flapping his head in agreement like an idiot.

Sure, they'll go so far as having both /clap and /golfclap, but they always make /nod the stupidest animation imaginable.

 

[Sarahcidal]

I am a female (tomboyish) and I utilize both classes of "The Nod".
Likely because the majority of my friends are male I suppose.. all of which I have seen do both forms of The Nod.
..the majority of the few female friends that I have could also be classified as "tomboyish" and also perform both forms of "The Nod" on a very regular basis.
Good day.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

:3 Well this sounds sexu*reads thread*ohhhh :/
I guess its a guy thing, I haven't seen many women give the "nod" (that still sounds sexual)

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

I nod, never once saw a girl do it, as most of us have said.

 

[SillyBear]

Yeah I never do "the nod". You might be onto something there, I certainly think it is a male thing.

 

[Xlr8DETH]

i have one friend who is a girl who does the upwards nod to mock my friends and i that do it but other than that ive never seen a woman do it

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

Girls usually smile at me and say hi, I think thats a lot better than just a nod. A nod sounds like I'm discreetly making contact with someone without anyone knowing, like I'm embarrassed that I know them or something.

 

[Andalusa]

When I pass someone I know in the street I smile and say hi..

 

[Camaranth]

To guys I nod, upwards to mates, down for a more respectful acknowledgement
to girls I wave (or at least raise my hand), and I always smile. best of both worlds...?

 

[kittii-chan 300]

i grew up in japan and you're supposed to bow slightly as a greeting. and women always have to give respect to men, and everybody has to respect those older or higher than you. so sometimes i bow to people when im not paying attention much but otherwise i do a slight wave,a bigger wave, a hug, or a run and jump hug (depending on how well i know the person). i found that bowing to people in england makes you seem a bit weird...

oh yeah, girl btw

 

[Mersadeon]

I didn't really think about it until now, but you are exactly right. Slight nod upwards to show that you acknowledge what they've done, nod downwards to show you are paying them respect. Between men, it can be very powerful. Haven't seen it often with women. Not even with my girlfriend, probably the manliest girl I know (personality-wise, mind you.) - but I did see some more mature women do it.
Also very interesting that this sign is pretty much international, as far as I can tell. Well, in western nations at least.