Why

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

…do people clap?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

…do people clap?

To show appreciation for something someone else has done. Be it a performance, or a comment.

 

[Lumpy1106]

https://c.tenor.com/BHEkb1EYsaMAAAAM/aplausos-clapped.gif

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

To show appreciation for something someone else has done. Be it a performance, or a comment.

I mean, why do we clap at all? Doesn't make sense, flapping our hands together to make noise! Why don't we whistle instead? Or slap our thighs?

 

[dizneegirl]

Blame it on the ancient Greeks.

And if you can read this... thank a Phoenician.

 

[BrianL]

Blame it on the ancient Greeks.

And if you can read this... thank a Phoenician.

Right - there are different forms of applause used in other cultures or in previous time periods. Things like snapping or stomping might also be used to show appreciation. Hand clapping is just kind of what has become most common.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I mean, why do we clap at all? Doesn't make sense, flapping our hands together to make noise! Why don't we whistle instead? Or slap our thighs?

Maybe because one of the first things we do with little babies, in the learning process, is hand clapping and smiling when something good/fun happens. It's easy to learn. Whistling and slapping one's thighs are more difficult to learn.

 

[Joanna71985]

because not everyone can whistle

 

[team bradfield]

because not everyone can whistle

or fart on queue

 

[Dug720]

To show appreciation for something someone else has done. Be it a performance, or a comment.

Or landing a plane.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Or landing a plane.

Yes, certainly that. We just flew back from our Alaska trip and the passengers on our flight gave the pilot applause, but, IMO, that landing didn't deserve it and I didn't participate. The whole flight was rough, and landing certainly was.

That said, we did land "safely".