Please, hold your applause.

[EmpNapoleon]

Is clapping a primitive form of appreciation, or did it arise in a particular civilization (I know seals clap)?  It seems to me that the audience's approval (most of them) is determined beforehand on the basis of a performer's merit or popularity, not on the specific performance.  I've never heard boos?

Can anyone think of an alternative to the applause?  I'm not suggesting a Rite of Spring riot, but the thought of making your hands and ears sting is quite stupid.  We just heard great sounds, now it's time for barbarity.

One night, I went with my friend to a Mahler concert.  He doesn't listen to our music (our, classical, good, whatever you call it), and after the performance, screamed out, "Mahler your rock!" in a funny, deamonic voice.  A few people turned their backs in bemusement, while others laughed.

I suggest, instead of clapping, the audience makes the sound a crowd makes when their favorite team scores a goal.  This is just a joke.  I know most people at classical concerts are older.  But there are old people at soccer matches who cannot control their emotions when a goal is scored.  Different crowd, different cheers?

[Kullervo]

I suppose one could wave his/her arms in the air, like the deaf.

[Bonehelm]

Or yell like some of those retarded Japanese audience, "AHHHHHHHH!!!!" the moment the last chord ends.

[EmpNapoleon]

 funny!

[Solitary Wanderer]

People often clap, cheer AND stamp their feet.

I like all of the above and contribute with the former and latter examples.

However, I dislike whistling at classical music concerts   When I hear that I cringe  

[Mozart]

"Mahler your rock!" in a funny, deamonic voice.

I wish I had the courage for that!

[Renfield]

I've once been to a fantastic live Mahler 6th, conducted by Marcus Stenz (!) with one of the two Cologne orchestras (I think the WDR one), where at the end the applause was accompanied by football-stadium-like roars from the back seats.

[max]

Clapping your hands is the easiest thing to do when you are not amused but almost everyone else was! After all who wants to look like an idiot in a crowd of appreciative spectators!

[Kullervo]

If we should get rid of any old common traditions, it should be handshaking. I can't stand shaking someone's hand!

[Mozart]

Yes clapping sucks...after every freggin pause people clap...even if it sucked!

If we should get rid of any old common traditions, it should be handshaking. I can't stand shaking someone's hand!

Agreed, like in CYE, Larry David and doesn't shake Ben Stiller's hand because he cough on it.. why assume they hadn't coughed on it before?

[Anne]

If we should get rid of any old common traditions, it should be handshaking. I can't stand shaking someone's hand!

How are you going to know if that caveman has a rock in his hand unless you check it out by clasping his hand?

[Kullervo]

How are you going to know if that caveman has a rock in his hand unless you check it out by clasping his hand?

That's why I don't like doing it. It's an outdated custom that exists only for the fact that everyone else does it which means nothing to me.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Yeah, hand shaking is a bit of a drag.

When clients come to meet with me, theres an expectation that you're gonna shake hands before and after the meeting 

I'm always quick to wash my hands after they leave! 

[EmpNapoleon]

I tried to bring the "heil" back with some friends.  Not because I'm a Nazi, because it was used by Roman nobility (not that I'm Roman nor noble).  It's a better form of salutation.  But at least, unlike clapping, the handshake doesn't sting my ears.

[Renfield]

That's why I don't like doing it. It's an outdated custom that exists only for the fact that everyone else does it which means nothing to me.

It also implies a level of intimacy, and recognition of one's "peers". The fact that it developed in a now-outdated social context does not mean it is necessarily something to "drop": the acquired "meaning" is as important as the original one.

Especially given how both ultimately imply physical intimacy of some sort, which to my mind is not something to "drop" this early. Perhaps in a few thousand years, but not yet!

If nothing else, shall we stop hugging, too? Kissing? All these behavioural "check-points" - inherent or acquired - are still as useful as ever, in my opinion; even if only through their proper extrapolation into our current collective world-view.


Umm... Though please, EmpNapoleon, do drop that "heil". I, for one, would not be very happy to hear someone next to me so "intensely" reminisce earlier times of this sort, to be frank.

[12tone.]

Does anyone here still use or do you still hear people yell "Bravo!!!"? 

That's another way...

[EmpNapoleon]

Umm... Though please, EmpNapoleon, do drop that "heil". I, for one, would not be very happy to hear someone next to me so "intensely" reminisce earlier times of this sort, to be frank.

As you wish, Ren.  From whom did you quote "intensely?"  We were merely saluting eachother with a straight hand.  Nobody was screaming "heil!" 

[Don]

If we should get rid of any old common traditions, it should be handshaking. I can't stand shaking someone's hand!

Intimacy is hard for some folks.

[12tone.]

What about giving a few quick 'byoot byoot byoot's from an air horn after a symphony?

[Kullervo]

Intimacy is hard for some folks.

Some people are much more reticent than others.