Comparison of communication overhead: high-latency social cushioning versus low-latency technical precision.
Figure: Performative Social Cues

Noun: Performative Social Cues

The insertion of non-functional conversational padding, such as introductory clauses or empathetic buffers, into technical text. These cues prioritize social alignment over information density, resulting in increased communication latency and a degradation of signal-to-noise ratios. They represent the antithesis of spec-driven, imperative documentation.

See also: Related concept on Wolfram