I think everyone has those moments you just don't want to communicate with anyone, in any way. And just at that moments, it seems people want to discuss there biggest problems with you, or people want to know where a certain street is, or what time it is, or friends call you without a reason, just talking... To avoid these kind of situations, I suggest to create a signal that's discreet but clear, a verbal and a non-verbal one. An idea for the non-verbal one is sliding your hand down your face, to end up wih your hand placed on your heart. A verbal signal can be something like a phrase that's familiar with anyone, and it has to be meaningless. Any suggestions?
-- BartJan, Jun 14 2001

(?) V sign http://www.slipups.com/items/3184.html
It's just a messageboard, so who knows how accurate any of it is... [PotatoStew, Jun 14 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

(?) Other ambiguous gestures http://www.nps.gov/...erp/340/issue10.htm
depending on where you do them [PotatoStew, Jun 14 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Two fingers have nothing to do with longbows. http://www.straight...assics/a980904.html
Now for the facts. The "one-finger salute," or at any rate sexual gestures involving the middle finger, are thousands of years old. [StarChaser, Jun 14 2001, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Talk to yourself and look at people in a derranged way?
-- Aristotle, Jun 14 2001


A hat with a big sign saying 'SOD OFF!'?
-- angel, Jun 14 2001


i find wearing flippers, a snorkel and a big black shiny gun whilst walking around tends to deter the most persistant people?!
-- belindafish, Jun 14 2001


Would the message you are trying to convey be, "yes" or "no"?
-- reensure, Jun 14 2001


Why is the V sign rude to Americans? It's not very common here, but I don't think anyone would find it rude. (Assuming you mean the "Victory" two-fingers-in-the-air sign...?)
-- egnor, Jun 14 2001


The 'V' Sign only has relevance coming from an Englishman and directed Frenchwards. Something to do with the Battle of Agincourt I think.
-- Spidergoat, Jun 14 2001


It means "I can still shoot a long bow".

When the supremacy of the long bow was established due to a large body of skilled English archers the French took the prudent step cuting off the first two fingers off of Englishmen with an axe when they were captured. The "V sign" shows these unsevered fingers in a prominent manner.
-- Aristotle, Jun 14 2001


See links for V sign and some other gestures.
-- PotatoStew, Jun 14 2001


Adapt the international signs used to warn of intense radioactivity or nuclear waste dumps.
-- mcdornan1, Jun 14 2001


Egnor and waugsqueke, the American 'victory' finger sign <Usually reversed, so the back of the hand is toward the viewer> means the same thing as the middle finger raised does in the US.

Doesn't have anything to do with longbows, though.
-- StarChaser, Jun 14 2001


Waugsqueke, I'm American. Why do you think the multitude of anti-American rants here pisses me off so much?
-- StarChaser, Jun 15 2001


When I see this item in the directory I think it's about a physical sign, in international territory, saying "don't bug me".

"GO AWAY, I'M BUSY. GO BOTHER FRANCE OR SOMETHING. (signed) SWITZERLAND."
-- wiml, Jun 15 2001


UnaBubba: No, because I get sick of seeing over and over how bad the US is...Especially by people who haven't ever been here. Or all the people who keep coming...I don't have a particularly thin skin, I just don't suffer idiots lightly.
-- StarChaser, Jun 16 2001


PeterSealy: I recognize your 'Indian' experience. During my work on the airport of Amsterdam I was confronted with the same head gesture, as I was later told it ment it's not a 'no', but it isn't a 'yes' either. It's more like a confirmation of what you just said, without giving it their meaning to it. Another thing I see is Japanese people tapping with one finger on their chin while asking something. Any ideas why?
-- BartJan, Jun 17 2001



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