COM 325 / Week #9 Discussion: Communicating identity nonverbally

    I heard the other day that tattoos and graffiti mean a great deal to the gang/mafia community.  Some gangs have had their pecking order based on members' tattoos. I cannot help pondering over the numerous nonverbal messages in our daily lives that signify who we are. Call me ridiculous if you want but I have the faux-hawk hairstyle even though I am considered way too old to have that kind of hairstyle. In the past 30 years, the 20 top leaders of the Chinese government have collectively dyed their hair jet black even though they were well over 60 or 70 years old. But here is my question:  How do we use nonverbal communication (appearance, body odor, skin color, body movement, vocal characteristics, personal space, seating, punctuality, furniture arrangement, etc. ) to signify our cultural identity? Have you ever been surprised by the nonverbal messages of people from other cultures?