Sound Off
2012-04-18 - by
Most political people are word people. We pay enormous attention to the words we read and hear from politicians and the media, to facts, rhetoric and arguments.
But much of human communication is non-verbal. It’s visual and physical clues: Does this person look trustworthy or sneaky, hostile or well-intentioned, strong or weak?
So I tried an experiment during last night’s Democratic debate. I turned off the sound and watched. I didn’t watch every second, but I watched steadily throughout.
The experiment confirmed the reaction I had Monday night when I watched and listened.
Again, Bob Etheridge looked the most comfortable, confident and in command. He even smiled a bit.
Bill Faison looked mean and angry. Walter Dalton looked scared and nervous.
The most famous presidential debate probably was in 1960. The oft-repeated story since is that people who listened on radio thought Nixon won, while people who watched TV thought Kennedy won.
My – admittedly subjective – opinion is that Etheridge is winning the debates, whether by design or by accident. And I would have bet anything against that outcome 48 hours ago.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats
Sound Off
2012-04-18/
Most political people are word people. We pay enormous attention to the words we read and hear from politicians and the media, to facts, rhetoric and arguments.
But much of human communication is non-verbal. It’s visual and physical clues: Does this person look trustworthy or sneaky, hostile or well-intentioned, strong or weak?
So I tried an experiment during last night’s Democratic debate. I turned off the sound and watched. I didn’t watch every second, but I watched steadily throughout.
The experiment confirmed the reaction I had Monday night when I watched and listened.
Again, Bob Etheridge looked the most comfortable, confident and in command. He even smiled a bit.
Bill Faison looked mean and angry. Walter Dalton looked scared and nervous.
The most famous presidential debate probably was in 1960. The oft-repeated story since is that people who listened on radio thought Nixon won, while people who watched TV thought Kennedy won.
My – admittedly subjective – opinion is that Etheridge is winning the debates, whether by design or by accident. And I would have bet anything against that outcome 48 hours ago.
Posted in General, North Carolina - Democrats