The north and south nod is familiar to all government workers who have given a briefing when the facts that you have to provide are not the facts that are wanted.

It is also familiar to anyone in a bureaucracy such as a management hierarchy. The north and south nod is a condescending nonverbal expression of disdain; it says, when the hell is this guy gonna shut up so I can do what I was gonna do anyway? It's a kiss of death for any meaningful discussion of the issues.


TEd