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Jewish World Review March 24, 2005 / 13 Adar II, 5765 ‘Shame-shame’ gesture has U.S. origins; why is college basketball different than all games?; why does hard water feel so ‘hard’? By Jeff Elder
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: Why do people put one finger over the other and rub it forward when
they say "shame on you"? — Ashlyn
A: For the full effect, I believe you're supposed to shake your head and
lightly cluck the tip of your tongue while pursing your lips.
For help with this pressing issue, we turned to experts in nonverbal
communication.
They wouldn't talk to us.
Actually, communication studies professor Mark Knapp of the University
of Texas was lots of help.
He and other experts say the whittling motion of the non-pointing finger
indicates "friction." Making this gesture toward someone indicates "you
are causing trouble between us!"
The origin of the "shame-shame" motion is unknown, but it does seem to
be limited almost entirely to the United States. They've got a similar
hand jive in Wales, Germany and Austria, but in those places you make a
sawing motion with the non-pointing finger. Weird, huh?
The motion appears to have no connection to the great Fats Domino
composition "Ain't That A Shame." But perhaps the American listening
public deserves the "shame, shame" sign for giving Pat Boone the bigger
hit with the song.
What else don't we know about nonverbal communication?
"Women use eye gaze more effectively than men," said Knapp.
This surprised me, and I communicated that nonverbally. I said: "!"
"Yes," Knapp said. "Women look longer, more frequently and are more
sensitive on when to look away."
Studies have consistently found that women are better than men at
interpreting nonverbal communication, regardless of the age or sex of
the other person involved.
Why? Experts say because across many cultures and for many centuries
nurturing and caregiving were expected from females. So they became more
sensitive to interpreting the needs and emotions of others.
Q: Now that we're in March Madness and the obsession with college
basketball, I have to ask: Why are high school and professional
basketball games divided into four quarters, but college basketball is
divided into two halves? — Joel Rountree
A: It doesn't seem to make much sense, does it?
High school basketball games are divided into four eight-minute
quarters, college games are split into two 20-minute halves, and pro
games are four 12-minute quarters.
Why have three such different set-ups for the same sport?
But high schools experts, the NCAA and the NBA all say the logic is as
fundamentally sound as a two-handed bank shot.
Here's what my research dug up.
The high school game is broken down into four relatively short quarters
to ensure sufficient rests for younger athletes. This setup also gives
coaches plenty of time with their players.
"The high school game is at least intended to be more of a teaching
opportunity," says Mac Morris, co-executive director of the North
Carolina Coaches Association.
The tempo of the college game, on the other hand, has traditionally been
a strategic element controlled by coaches. As any March Madness watcher
can tell you, the last minute of a close game can actually last 10
minutes in real time, as coaches call time outs and instruct their
players to foul the other team. So while the configuration of two
20-minute halves might seem wide-open and free-flowing, the guys with
the clipboards stop the clock when they need to. And TV timeouts stop
games constantly.
The NBA says it brought in four 12-minute quarters in the league's early
days to give fans their money's worth.
Maybe.
This four-quarter arrangement does make for a longer evening, and the
NBA does put on a little show of hip-shakin' dancers and mascot
shenanigans whenever the action stops.
But.
The pro game also sells one heckuva lot of stuff between quarters. So
maybe the money's worth consideration also takes into account concessions.
You also might note that a high school game is 32 total minutes of
playing time, a college game is 40, and a pro game is 48. So the
endurance of players as they develop and excel is also a factor.
Incidentally, the NCAA has experimented with games divided into quarters
in exhibition play. And for the 1951-52 and 1952-53 seasons, college
games were actually played in four 10-minute quarters. Then they were
changed back.
What other rule changes happened about that time? Before the 1948-49
season, coaches could not speak to players during timeouts.
Then that rule changed, and some of the most vein-bustin' discussions in
history began.
Q: Why does soft water feel so slippery compared to hard water? —
William Tasker
A: Water softeners remove certain "hard" ions — often calcium and
magnesium — and add sodium or potassium ions in their place. The old
ions in the hard water leave deposits. The new ions in the soft water
don't.
The deposits in the hard water strip the natural oils from our skin.
Soft water leaves the oils in place. That's why sometimes it seems like
the soap just won't come off. Actually, you might find later that your
skin is softer due to the lingering of the natural oils.
Why have a water softener at all? Makers of water conditioners say that
if you live in a place with hard water, it can age appliances, and make
your laundry and dishes look bad, among other problems.
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Jeff Elder is a columnist for The Charlotte Observer. Comment or try to stump him by clicking here. If you send him a great question, he'll send you a Glad You Asked T-shirt.
© 2005, The Charlotte Observer Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. |
Arnold Ahlert | |||||||||||
