I think some of it is that people don’t like the thing where they can tell people talking about them, and pointing causes that, but I think there’s more to it than just that?
Kind of like how people don’t like it when people use 3rd person pronouns for them in their presence?
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Anyway, I’d like to hear other people’s thoughts on this—why is it considered rude to point at people?
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Thanks to all everyone who discussed this with me :-)—I’m not more convinced there’s a component that’s something like about not objectifying people.
Pointing is an I-it thing not at I-thou thing
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And I guess my hot take is that chin pointing is noticeably more I-thou than finger pointing bc you do it with your head??
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I think I would also never chin point at something inanimate (unless my hands were incapacitated or something), which helps
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Replying to @wes_on_the_web and @StefanFSchubert
I think it’s sort of an interesting intuition pump to consider when it would feel fine or not fine to point at a photo of someone 
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Aaaah I keep putting my tweets in the wrong place
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Replying to @diviacaroline and @tlbtlbtlb
Okay, I feel pretty satisfied with this formulation:
(At least in modern America), pointing is basically the gestural equivalent of using “it” pronoun
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Addendum, “only you” is an interesting case where people point at people. There’s the forest fire one off, but searching twitter gifs for “only you” turned up some other ones too (that I don’t think are just references to the bear?)
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Celebs and politicians getting into a stage often point to specific audience members, as well as during press conferences
Pointing with finger gun has different connotations I think
I don’t buy the I-it theory. I think it’s more the connotations of accusation or singling out.
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Yeah that’s a good point about people on stage. And I agree finger guns are different.
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Specifically while walking onto a stage to applause… literally taught as a power move to act like you recognize and are acknowledging people in the audience whether or not you do. They point to random people or ambiguously.
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Do you know whether norms around pointing are different in places that aren’t America?
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No idea. I’ve only encountered it here and had to be taught here as an adult. I don’t recall it in India.
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