I once worked with an older guy who had a boy and girl, about 12 and 10. He thought it was very important for his kids to learn and practice all the words you can’t say on TV (plus a bunch more) so they could handle themselves in tough company.
I once went with him to the Washington Navy Yard because someone in the Navy was talking about leasing out space there for start-ups. (The decrepit conditions and the superfund issues nixed that idea.) As we walked to and from the Navy Yard it was amazing to see this old white guy (picture Colonel Sanders) striking up near-jive conversations with the black guys in the ‘hood. He had ‘em laughing and hugging and shaking his hand.
I can’t say he was wrong about his kids, but it was certainly different from how we raised ours. They would be in their late twenties by now. I wonder how they turned out.
They would be in their late twenties by now. I wonder how they turned out.
Assuming he also taught them to communicate without using those words, and if they inherited their dad's social savvy, they probably turned out fine. You've got to be attuned to nonverbal cues (and probably have a fair bit of charisma) to pull that sort of thing. I suppose to some extent it's a learned skill, but it's not one everyone can learn.
Wouldn't try it in a family of computer nerds and musicians (i.e., a family prone to Aspergers).