# Clapping

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clapping/75891>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 12, 2001, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clapping/75891 "2001-08-12T07:44:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wxbill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dfb087/32.png) [@wxbill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wxbill)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clapping/75891/1 "2001-08-12T07:44:52Z")

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Anyone know how/when clapping started to show appreciation?

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**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clapping/75891/2 "2001-08-12T07:49:32Z")

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Monkeys do it when they are excited. Wait a minute so do you! Just a carryover.

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**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clapping/75891/3 "2001-08-12T07:55:23Z")

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Clapping to show appreciation is supposed to mimic genuine enthusiam and admiration. Most of the time I clap I am just hoping a mosquito will fly inbetween my hands to make it all worth while.