Hmmmm....an interesting article! And, I now know what NOT to do in Australia - y'all have quite a few, ummmmm, offensive gestures, don't you?!

What gestures are common where you are? Do you know what their meaning is elsewhere? Maybe we could help each other learn how not to get beat up when we visit each other's countries!

That was a fascinating article, Linda!

I remember my parents saying that, when they went to Greece many years back, their tour guide was attempting to tell the group that the bus would be leaving for the next destination in 5 minutes. As she was holding up the correct number of fingers, she very swiftly switched so that the back of her hand (rather than the palm) was facing outwards. She remembered just in the nick of time that to hold up one's hand palm-outward, in Greece, was about the equivalent to saying "feck off" to anybody who could see it!

I tend to think of all the gestures I use as "usual", but perhaps they aren't to other members here.

Not Rude
Making a circle with the thumb and index finger - "OK"
Making a "V" with withe index and middle fingers - "Victory" or "Peace"
Making a fist with the palm upturned and index finger extended... then curl the index finger towards yourself - "Come over here"
Index finger raised, palm outwards - "Wait one minute" or "Just a minute"
Thumb, index and pinky fingers raised - "I love you" (Ameslan)
Index and pinky finger raised (one or both hands) - "Rock on"

Rude
Making a fist, palm inwards, with middle finger raised - "butthole" (though ruder)
Drawing a circle at the side of your head with your index finger - "You're crazy"

There are probably many more rude signs that are slipping my mind, but I'm not in the habit of using them, so they don't stand out in my memory.

The two gestures that I have found to have opposite meanings in several countries both involve tapping your head. Over here tapping your forehead with your index finger indicates that you think someone's stupid, whereas tapping your temple with your index finger means you think someone's very clever. In some countries, I can't recall which ones though, both gestures do exist, but with opposite meanings...

LadyC, having just returned from Greece I can tell you that I had great problems with the hand gesture. I knew that it is offensive but it is a reflex action to hold my hand up to say that I don't want something, or that I have enough and everytime I did it I flinched as I realised it was offensive, I just could prevent myself from doing it automatically. I dread to think what the poor waiters thought about this dreadful English woman who kept being so offensive.

A little aside here. That 'V' sign that we so eloquently use to tell people to go away, has its origins in archery. Around the time of Agincourt English longbowmen were the weapon of mass destruction of their time. To draw the string on the bow the archer had to hook two fingers around it. The two finger salute started to be used to mock the French. Any longbowman captured had his two fingers cut off so he could never draw a bow again.

Interesting article but the hitch-hiking sign isn`t a rude gesture here in Sydney. If it is then I have been picked up by people that prefer the company of offensive people many times. The only rude gestures I can think of that are used here are the two fingered salute mentioned in the link and the middle finger, "giving someone the bird" is what that one has been refered to as being named,though that may be an American term that we have adopted?

We have friends who live in Brunei, a muslim country. Before we visited them for the first time, we did some research about the country and found that some of the gestures which were forbidden, or considered offensive, included:

1. Using your finger to point. (You use your thumb instead).

2. Smacking the fist of your right hand into your left palm. (I have no idea what this means but apparently it's one of the most offensive things you can do).

3. Pointing the soles of your feet or shoes at someone.

We didn't have any problems with (2) and (3), but not using your finger to point was a hard habit to break.

Well in many parts of the world what you consider not rude is in fact very rude
1 pinky and index finger raised is the sign of the evil eye
2 Circle formed by index finger and thumb is part of female anatomy
3 making a v sign with palm facing inwards means f--- off
4 beckoning signal in the east is offensive as they think it is dog like behaviour
In fact LadyCatriona when in doubt do nought is maybe the best policy

Quote:

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beckoning signal in the east is offensive as they think it is dog like behaviour

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I have found that to be true here, but it is O K to point the hand downwards and beckon. This is what you do to call someone over to you, like a taxi, a minibus, a person to whom you are giving a seat on the train. No one seems to mind if the hand points down (strange!)

Thanks Linda, now know bunch of flowers (and A BIG KISS) for Copago or offering to buy Bertho or Ozz a drink would not be appreciated, will have to think of something else! )there must be a smiley to say "Just give me the chance to offend them!(LOL all versions))

[color:green]I used to work with a woman from Afghanistan. I thought this was interesting. The thumbs up symbol that we use all the time here in America, is considered very rude in Afghanistan. Over there it is the equivalent of the middle finger here.
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[Trying the color thing again for you, G! Linda1]

[ARRRGGGG, I give up. I have no idea why it's not working for us.]