I say "rude gestures," but when you hear that, you're going to think of the MTV music videos from the 1990s (er, depending on your age) and how, when Cypress Hill flipped off the camera, they blurred it and put "[rude gestures]" in the closed caption. We're all aware of the finger, the middle one, of course. A classic for letting people know you are disappointed in their driving skills. However, there are far more than just your lonely middle finger, even if raised in anger and accompanied by profanities in abundance.
Many cultures have their own gestural slights. We are going to explore them.
The Fig
You know what it is. It's sort of the "got your nose" gesture, wherein you put your thumb between your index and middle finger. Here in these United States, nobody really cares about this one, but don't try it in Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, or Russia. It is considered very offensive in those countries—basically, an Eastern version of the middle finger. In Turkey, it means you are trying to pick a fight. So be careful you don't sling that one, or you might be the recipient of a "Turkish handshake," where you get stabbed in the buttcheeks. Turkey considers a stab below the waist not to be attempted murder, and thus, you are off the hook for a serious crime, even though you stabbed someone. Don't pull out the fig, unless you want trouble in those countries.
Thumbs-Up
Dating back to antiquity, the thumbs up has had many meanings, and not all of them were positive. It is commonly seen as a sign of approval, indicating that you enjoy what is going on or what is up. It is a common misconception that in ancient Rome, a thumbs-up from the emperor or anyone in the front seat of a gladiator fight meant the fighters were to be spared their lives. Not so. The thumbs-up back then meant "kill that fool." To spare them, they would hold out a closed fist, thumb tucked in. In the countries of Nigeria, Iran, Russia, and even Australia and Italy, it's the physical equivalent of telling someone you fucked their mom. Avoid doing so, should you be in one of those places. I've a hard time believing the Australian thing, because that's a society that uses the word "cunt" as punctuation.
OK Sign
There has been recent talk in the USA about this being some sort of pejorative, or even racist, sign. Typically, most not-insane people do not mind the OK sign, but that's not to say it doesn't have different meanings in other countries. France and Germany consider it offensive for reasons, as does Brazil. My research indicates that this hand gesture references not the letters O and K to mean things are okay, but instead, that those places think it is a reference to you being an asshole. I sorta get it...if you don't speak English, it can be seen as a symbol of you calling someone an asshole, because it kinda looks like a blown-out anus. Richard Nixon famously flashed the OK in Brazil, where they basically thought he was giving the entire country the finger, and booed him for doing so.
Peace Sign
Two fingers in a "V" shape. We know what it is, but it has different meanings elsewhere. When you throw it, palm facing the crowd, it is a well-known signal against war. When the palm faces you, it's seen as an anti-peace sign or a signal of warlike intentions. I don't think people here in the USA would even notice, but they certainly notice it in places like the Arabian states, where it is top-tier assholery.
Two Finger
This is a British one. The Brits will send you off in disapproval with their index and middle fingers, raised and held tightly together. Research reveals that they did this as a salute to the French during the Battle of Agincourt in the year 1415. The result of that battle was a decisive English victory, despite being outnumbered by the French, who, having succumbed to the English archers in droves, would cut off their bow fingers if they captured an Englishman. So, the point of the gesture at the time was to let the French know they could still wield a bow. Take it forward a few centuries, and it just basically means fuck off.
Pointing
You might think this to be innocuous. Pointing your finger to say, "Hey, yes, I'm talking to you in particular." However, it is considered quite a slight in Arab countries, Africa, and Asia, depending. The Japanese don't really care because it's a way to suggest you're interested in an item or referring to a person, but Koreans consider it very rude. Several African states do so, as well. Watch out where you point your finger, as you could be inadvertently pissing someone off.
Beckoning
The idea of using your index finger to be like "come here" or "I should like to speak to you" is taboo in a number of places. South America in particular, as they think the gesture is one that would summon an animal. Thus, you are calling them animals by merely wagging your finger. They really do not like that, and it could even start a fight. So if you're down in the Amazon domains, and I don't mean the website where I buy cheap Chinese shit, do avoid using your finger to call someone. Just say "Hey Paco!" and “It's good.”
Finger Cross
It is known in our country that if you cross your fingers, you're either lying or want to win the lottery. However, in Vietnam, it is, to them, a symbol of female genitals. So, if you cross fingers in front of a Vietnamese person, you're basically calling them a cunt. Even worse if you do so behind the back, as we in the U.S. often do.
Hang Loose
The raised thumb and extended pinky typically describes a notion that you should be taking life easy. Typically used by Polynesian islanders, it is a familiar gesture, but not all people think it is something to celebrate. Greeks, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Brazilians consider the hang loose or "shaka sign" to be offensive. Apparently, it means you are suggesting that the recipient's wife is a whore. That got dark real fast! Not to be confused with the metal horns, which are index and pinky raised, preferably while headbanging flowing locks of hair, but the two get mistaken for one another, and I'm not sure how or why. Are there a lot of Greeks at GWAR shows?
Let us think about this colossal confusion of contemporary conflation of gestures. Now you know, and be mindful, or just be an asshole when you travel. All good either way.
Have a safe journey when traveling, but make sure you stick to not gesturing to people. They just may take it in a way you did not expect.
Enjoy life.
-Wombstretcha
Wombstretcha the Magnificent is a finger provider, fig enthusiast, a hanger of looseness, writer, and retired rapper from Portland, OR. He can found at his website, Wombstretcha.com, on Twitter/X/whatever as @wombstretcha503, and on MeWe and (begrudgingly) Facebook as "Wombstretcha the Magnificent."
