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The Cringe Is Strong With The Zoom Wave

Published 2021/08/10

Last updated on 2021/09/26

Cringe: to feel very embarrassed or awkward; react with discomfort. That strange, awkward feeling that one gets when you do something that everyone else is doing, but it feels really weird when actually performing the action.

This specific action is one that was never performed in a pre-pandemic world. Walking out of someone’s office or out of the meeting was the final action in the workplace play.

Now, we all awkwardly stare at each other while surreptitiously trying to blindly click the ‘Leave’ button without breaking eye contact. That or we all end up committing the most cringy action of all to end a pandemic video conference.

I am talking about waving.

This action is one I never remember doing in the workplace before now.

Sure, maybe occasionally out a window or across a parking lot. But never before in a meeting or workplace interior.

Think of how strange this behavior would have been 5 years ago.

“Hey, Chris! How are you today? Me? I am great. hope you have a good day.” *Wave*

Ugh. No thanks.

The Zoom Wave is one of the cringiest and most awkward parts of working rom home. Should we keep doing it or are there better alternatives out there?
Photo by Beci Harmony on Unsplash

The problem is, this has become a part of the culture. This past week I even tried to not wave which felt even more awkward and strange than in doing the act itself.

Were people judging me for not waving? Did they think I was upset or in a bad mood?

Did slamming the ‘Leave’ button just to get away without watching everyone else wave send the wrong message?

There is a whole lot to love about working remotely. The optional pants are wonderful.

Fresh, homemade coffee is amazing. Wearing my house slippers for eight hours a day is a luxurious feeling that used to be reserved for wet, rainy, and cold Sundays.

Not anymore! We get to do and experience all of these wonderful things.

All for the cost of a wave.

But I am not the only one that feels this way!

According to the article: Unable to resist the urge to wave at the end of Zoom calls? You’re not alone there are others out there!

Cody Kennedy never plans on speaking extra loudly during videoconference calls. He never plans on leaning in so close to his computer camera that barely anything other than his forehead is visible to his colleagues. And he certainly never plans on ending virtual meetings with a wave goodbye that is so exaggerated, he cringes at the sight of his own video feed.

Yes, Cody! We are kindred workplace spirits! Begone with your wincing waves and flapping fingers. Stow that gesticulating grasper and raise a fist in solidarity with the rest of us non-wavers (just don’t move that fist around in any way that could be construed as a fingerless wave).

Save the waving for the sports arenas and the parades. Enough is enough.

Except reading that article further, body language experts agree that waving is a good and healthy thing for us mere mortal humans to acquiesce to at the end of a workplace assemblage.

The article goes on to state that the theory is that the wave is a nonverbal identifier indicating the end of a meeting. It replaces the more traditional in-person cues that used to come from the shutting of laptops, the rearranging of papers, and the checking of notifications on cellphones.

Some people have even come up with elaborate schemes and plans for when and how to wave:

Sure, we could always go for alternatives. More emails.

We could record video messages (although waving will probably sneak in here as well).

The worst thing would be if we actually had to go back into the office and see everyone in person again!

Me? I guess that I will be stuck performing this perfunctory response to the end of business meetings over video chat and that means waving.

Hey – at least it is better than going back to the office and having to wear pants!

So, to close, the best tweet and response that exists for this topic:

*Wave* Thanks for Reading *Wave*

Published in #engineeradvice, #general and #workplace

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