Wait, is the finger wiggle for agreement a thing that rationalists do too? I picked this up from the authentic relating community in Austin and didn't realize it was more widespread.
I've encountered it in another personal development type thing, where it was said that it came from activists holding clandestine meetings in South Africa in the days of apartheid, as a silent substitute for applause.
5ChristianKl
It's based on American sign language for applause (http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/a/applause.htm).
I have heard from another rationalist that it was popularized by the occupy movement given that they had a lot of need for managing discussions with large amount of people.
Various communities have adopted it afterwards, because it seems good social tech.
3Qiaochu_Yuan
CFAR instructors introduced it a few years ago, I think. Not sure where they got it from but it may have been authentic relating.
Wait, is the finger wiggle for agreement a thing that rationalists do too? I picked this up from the authentic relating community in Austin and didn't realize it was more widespread.