116 upvotes, 3 direct replies (showing 3)
View submission: What’s the weirdest “unwritten rule” everyone just follows?
If I remember properly how I've seen this behavior explained is that nod down makes you smaller and protects your throat, so on a primal level it displays that you're not a threat - a sign of respect. Nod up makes you bigger and exposes your throat, so it shows that you're not threatened by someone, either because of familiarity and friendship, or becasue you feel you have the upper hand in adversarial relationship, as a taunt. Note that nod up makes sense among rivals and enemies, too.
Comment by [deleted] at 03/12/2024 at 10:02 UTC
34 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by FireTheLaserBeam at 03/12/2024 at 16:54 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Guinea pigs see who's in charge by lifting their chins. Whoever can lift their chin higher wins that particular tiff.
Comment by woodwork16 at 06/12/2024 at 23:22 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Disagree, showing your throat makes you vulnerable to attack and shows that you’re not a threat.
Lowering your head is a sign of submission.