There was an interesting editorial in the Chicago Tribune today about the Elmhurst City Council throwing a lobbyist out of a public meeting for rolling her eyes!
quote:
Now the city attorney has been directed to research the legal definitions of disorderly conduct and disruptive behavior (we're shaking our heads here), with an eye to drafting an ordinance to curb non-verbal outbursts. His work should begin and end with state law, which defines disorderly conduct as "an act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another, or to provoke a breach of the peace."
Where do you draw that line? (Eyes uplifted, palms outstretched, as if beseeching the heavens.) Menacing others, throwing objects and setting fire to the dais are clearly out of line. But is it disorderly to yawn, fidget, smirk or scowl? To circle an ear with an index finger to signify "cuckoo"? To feign a self-induced upchuck, as we're doing now?
What do our communication-loving friends here think of this?
It's certainly normal for any meeting I've ever attended. And doubled in spades for conference calls! Since the others can't see you, often there is much nonverbal communication.
