h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Every time I hear someone rhyming off that thing they heard from someone else, and took on trust, about communication being 93% non-verbal, I ask myself:

a) Why they are choosing to communicate it to me *verbally*,

and

b) If they'll be annoyed if I put ear plugs in.

I have often said that verbal instructions are not worth the paper that they are not written on

F S

And

c) If I can safely disregard all that stuff they're saying, because they can explain it all through the medium of interpretive dance.

If only Charles Darwin had chosen to produce his findings non-verbally. He might not have been so misunderstood if he relied on reporting science non-verbally.

And d) whether Florida Sailor pinched that line from Sam Goldwyn

You think FS pinched that line from Sam Goldwyn do you? Well, when I want your opinion I'll give it to you!

*ahem*


Geggs

Do they class radio and television as non-verbal?

In fact, what do they class as communication? Telling someone something could be classed as communication, but there's no guarantee they heard or understood it. In the same way that sticking a huge great billboard up in the street could be classed as communication, seen but ignored.

I think this figure may well be pulled out of thin air by someone who needs to get out more, and meet people.

It's been trotted out a few times on these training courses you get sent on (the ones so bad you wish you were at work).

Still, sometimes they give you Lego and felt-tip pens to play with, so it's not entirely a waste of time.

The bit that's starting to annoy me is the inevitable introductions, in particular the question "what do you hope to gain from this course?"

I've decided to start talking utter tripe from now on whenever I'm asked that.

"what do you hope to gain from this course?"

- the power to quell all nations and cast down the mighty!
- two donner kebabs and a pint of scrumpy!
- a farm in Galway and a set of bagpipes...

A Blankety Blank cheque book and pen!

A fridge freezer!

Dolphins with lasers!

A night out on the town with a celebrity of my choice!

Absolution for my sins!

I read an article somewhere explaining the origin of that myth, but I forget all the details. All I recall is that there is actually a real, sensible study underlying it, but it was completely misunderstood by whoever popularised it.

TRiG.

That sounds about right.

Non-verbal components of communication, badly done, can scupper the whole attempt, of course - and that seems to be their point. But then, if there's a hole in your rowing boat, it can sink the bugger, whether it makes up 10% or 90% of the surface area.

Or perhaps in cliché-speak, a chain's only as strong as its weakest link.