# What do you, personally, do when you are not able to clap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996 "2014-06-17T16:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/1 "2014-06-17T16:59:06Z")
This could be that you’re holding a drink, holding a child’s hand, holding a book, etc - what is the sound of one hand clapping? 😃 Or it could be when your hands don’t work so well any more and you can’t clap. I usually make some other sound, like saying “yeah!” if it’s a sport, slap my thigh, or stamp (if I can). But I have noticed some people looking at me oddly for not clapping in situations where only clapping is allowed. No whooping or stamping. Thigh-slapping gets very odd looks even though it creates a similar sound. So I’ve started kinda moving my hands towards each other as best I can, which creates no sound (which is the point of clapping) and makes me look stupid, but seems to satisfy those around me more. What do you do? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/2 "2014-06-17T17:04:26Z")
Thigh slapping or whooping, generally. I’ve never noticed being given a funny look. I don’t think I’d care if I were, but I’ve never noticed to find out! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/3 "2014-06-17T17:06:34Z")
I fingerspell “clapping”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/4 "2014-06-17T17:08:55Z")
WooHooooooo!! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/5 "2014-06-17T17:13:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Thigh slapping or whooping, generally. I’ve never noticed being given a funny look. I don’t think I’d care if I were, but I’ve never noticed to find out! I saw an orchestra performance where they were doing exactly this. Worked for them! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/6 "2014-06-17T18:37:26Z")
I don’t bother. It’s not like I’m going to be arrested, and I don’t give a shit what people around me think. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/7 "2014-06-17T20:02:17Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I don’t bother. It’s not like I’m going to be arrested, and I don’t give a shit what people around me think. Agreed… there’s often enough collateral clapping, that i won’t be missed. But if I want to participate, I whistle. Will often do that \*instead \*of clapping. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/8 "2014-06-17T20:22:15Z")
For loud clapping I usually slap my thigh, for the more polite, restrained clapping (e.g. after a speech) I sort of pat the arm of the hand holding my drink, trying not to spill. Sorta works, I think. It’s mainly for me, of course, knowing that I am showing my appreciation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/9 "2014-06-18T00:39:59Z")
Masturbate. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/10 "2014-06-18T00:45:24Z")
If we’re on stage after a choral performance, we’re not allowed to clap the soloists until the third curtain call. Before that, I stamp my feet (which can’t be seen by the audience). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/11 "2014-06-18T00:52:06Z")
Depending on the circumstances, I recommend barking like a seal. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/12 "2014-06-18T02:00:52Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > . > > So I’ve started kinda moving my hands towards each other as best I can, which creates no sound (which is the point of clapping) and makes me look stupid, but seems to satisfy those around me more. > > What do you do? this is what I do too. At a recent graduation ceremony I had paper in one hand so I use the other and clap it against my wrist. It’s silent but it’s the gesture that counts. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/13 "2014-06-18T02:04:59Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Masturbate. Right, fwapping. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/14 "2014-06-18T03:01:56Z")
I’m not much of a clapper myself. I don’t care if the artist (or whoever) is belting out their magnum opus, I’m probably not going to clap anyway. (That however is no indication that I don’t appreciate their work.) ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/15 "2014-06-18T03:28:04Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Masturbate. That’s one way to avoid the clap… ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/16 "2014-06-18T16:39:53Z")
I shake my free hand in the air, like deaf people do. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/17 "2014-06-18T17:43:21Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Masturbate. If I’m holding a drink I use the other hand to point at masturbators. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/18 "2014-06-18T17:50:38Z")
I clap with [one hand](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1tsCOkCoC8&feature=kp). ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/19 "2014-06-18T20:37:26Z")
> [@GrizzRich](#): > > I shake my free hand in the air, like deaf people do. Same here ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996/20 "2014-06-18T22:54:33Z")
Yell my appreciation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-personally-do-when-you-are-not-able-to-clap/690996.md?page=2)