I used to get this, but now I don’t. :shrug:
I’m bad at reading non-verbal cues, but I’m learning how to do that.
Not that email is always an improvement. A few years ago, I was talking with someone over email, and we kept reading the wrong attitude into each other’s messages. It wasn’t pretty.
I’m particularly sensitive to tension in the room (even if people are trying to hide it by playing nice with people they’d like to behead), and it makes me woefully uncomfortable–but other non-verbal cues (for example, if two people in the room are secretly romantically involved (or just wish they were) or something) fly right past my radar.
Pretty good at picking them up. I sometimes read into situations, and get paranoid, but most of the time I seem to be accurate. I worked with a girl who would only get that you were having a bad day if you started sobbing, and even then it would take her a bit of sitting and staring at you beofer she understood. It was weird.
I’m very good a picking up non-verbals. So much so that my so thinks I’m a witch.
I’m even pretty good at reading non-verbals from people from other cultures.
Go figure. 
I’m very good at interpreting non-verbal subtext.
I can also instinctively tell what the appropriate reaction is in a given situation and use that to steer the situation in the direction that I want it to go.
It sounds very manipulative, but it’s really just split-second processing of all the cues - both recieved and sent.
People also tend to ask me for directions and reveal personal information.
I am so relieved to hear that I’m not the only female who is terrible at picking up non-verbal cues.
I’ve found it helps me in relationships with men, especially geeks- they’re not trying to send any non-verbal messages, I’m not trying to read any, and we understand each other on some level.
I’m the same way. One of the questions I usually ask before seeing any movie is “will I be able to follow it?” I often have to ask Mr. Neville questions like “Why did such-and-such character do whatever?”. (Note: I do NOT do this during the movie- I do it afterward) The fact that he puts up with this and answers those questions as best he can is yet another reason why he is the bestest.
I’m usually pretty terrible at picking up non-verbal clues. I seem to be especially bad at telling when people are joking unless I know them very well. There’s been many a time when I’ve laughed at someone who was genuinely annoyed with me, or apologised profusely to someone who’s pulling my leg over some minor upset.
Strangely, I think I use non-vebal clues myself a lot, and I have trouble getting my point across in writing without worrying if I’m coming across as too formal or too informal or whatever.
[exageration]Non-verbal clues? People communicate non-verbally?![/exageration]
Yeah, I not good at picking up non-verbal clues. At least consciously. I think I can unconsciously.