Assignment task:
Facial expressions and eye behavior (oculesics) often aid in creating our initial impression of a person. If you think of a traditional business greeting: we shake hands and as we do so, we make eye contact and usually show some sort of pleasurable expression on our faces. Though the handshake may be going the "way of the dodo", reading facial expressions and relying on eye contact certainly are not.
With the advent of face masks during Covid-19, we learned to rely on oculesics more than ever. In this virus-fearful climate, the question of what happens to greetings has become a pressing topic. Perhaps the different greetings used in the world may be especially instructive at this moment. Take a look at the article in D2L under Readings entitled"Greetings and Beckonings" for an overview of what greetings and beckonings look like around the globe. Also read The New York Times article entitled "What Greetings Will Look Like in a Post Coronavirus World?" (I've uploaded a .pdf version). Consider what these articles suggest about greetings and what greetings may look like in the future. Also consider differences between the future described by the Times, and your own experience 3 1/2 years after the article was published.\
This prompt offers three questions. Please write a cohesive essay, breaking your thoughts into paragraphs. The discussion post should be 300 words minimum and not more than 500 words. (You will not be penalized for writing a long post, but be succinct.) You must THOUGHTFULLY respond to at least one other person's discussion post in at least 100 words.
This Discussion Post #2 and classmate response is due Tuesday, March 5th, by noon
What cultural display rules did you learn about facial expressions and eye contact growing up? What did you learn about "masking" your feelings? What did you specifically learn about how to greet people (Family? Friends? Strangers?)?
After reading "Initiating Interaction: Greetings and Beckonings across the World" and "What Greetings Will Look Like in a Post Coronavirus World" as well as thinking on recent personal experiences, what suggestions do you have for how we should greet one another in the U.S. in the foreseeable future? Consider practicality and context (the difference among family, business setting, etc.) as part of your response. How do you think the general public would receive your ideas for greetings?