Faint nods and slight smiles

[hyzhenhok]

I'd like to understand what people intend that their characters communicate when, for example:

"The slender, blue-tressed man nods faintly."

Is the slender, blue-tressed man only barely agreeing with what is said?
Is the slender, blue-tressed man indicating your character is hardly worth an acknowledgement?
Is the slender, blue-tressed man indicating he is superior to overt communication?

Getting further out there,

Is the slender, blue-tressed man indicating that he is subtle?
Is the slender, blue-tressed man having a neck problem that makes a full nod too painful?
Is the slender, blue-tressed man feeling faint?

What are -you- trying to indicate by having your character nod faintly?

I'm not allowed to tell you how your character reads my character's actions/expressions/etc. Thus, I nod faintly. The interpretation is up to you.