The V Sign and other assorted insults

[Minjin]

I was just reading this article about a cyclist who is being punished for using the V sign:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8652628.stm

At first I was thinking huh? Then I finally found the wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign

Anyone ever heard of this (outside of britfolk, of course)? It's kind of funny how an insult got co-opted to mean something completely different. Even victory and peace which have an identical sign have such dissimilar meanings.

Silly humans and their failed attempts at communication.

Any other local insults that you guys know of that are strange or misunderstood?

edit: relevant picture

Surprise....

 

[amdhunter]

I blame the Muslims.

 

[TridenT]

Was he doing this? 😉

 

[Dominato3r]

 

[ahenkel]

People should grow the fuck up and stop being offended about every little thing that might insult them. Some people need to go live in the Sudan for a year.

 

[lxskllr]

Remember when MS removed that(via patch) from a font file a few years ago? I was a little pissed. I don't have much use for either form, but I want the option.

 

[mmntech]

Uh oh, this is bad news for Asian teenage girls everywhere.

 

[thomsbrain]

Well, I think the Brits usually do their "fuck you" palm-in, whereas the American "peace/victory" is palm-out. So not quite the same thing.

Anyone who has ever watched Monty Python is well aware of the British meaning.

 

[destrekor]

Well, I think the Brits usually do their "fuck you" palm-in, whereas the American "peace/victory" is palm-out. So not quite the same thing.

Anyone who has ever watched Monty Python is well aware of the British meaning.

I show "2" with palm facing me.

Or a "much love" V also palm facing. Though, I actually can't recall if I've ever done that.

It's actually the U.S. Army counting style when communicating with hand signals - palm facing the person signing, back of wrist facing away.

So if you do 2, it's fingers up, palm facing the signer.
Conversely, 7 is just like the 2, but fingers facing down. (or... flash only the thump up, then flash 2 fingers up).

Brits are just pissy.

We should start a new movement: flicking only the pinky finger up, will be equally as offensive as the middle finger.