Go ahead, Tell me again how I'm the hysterical one misinterpreting this hand 👌 sign as racist..

[kpete]

Go ahead, Tell me again how I’m the hysterical one misinterpreting this hand 👌 sign as racist...
👌is the updated Nazi salute

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[snort]

1. My thoughts to those who had the joy of serving these creatures.

Scum.

[guillaumeb]

2. Recommended.

Hand signs evolve, and sometimes a common sign has a specific meaning for a specific group.

If they act like racists, and speak like racists, and associate with known racists, and support other racists, forgive me if I assume that they are racists.

[TommyCelt]

76. Agreed....

Just look at how the swastika evolved; originally a Sanskrit symbol of well-being.

[niyad]

3. and all this time, I thought dimwit was indicating the size of his penis when he does that sign.

[classof56]

42. Good one!

[guillaumeb]

47. That would explain Trump's anger,

and Melania's bored look.

Poor Melania.

[japple]

49. Jake Tapper calls that Trump's "pinchy fingers" gesture.

eom

[JHan]

59. lol

[irresistable]

4. They are making trolling great again.

[niyad]

5. I think we are insulting the actual trolls.

[Cha]

15. Really. they're trolling and doing it poorly

[AnotherMother4Peace]

16. What do you mean? I see it as identifying themselves as racist & efforts to make it acceptable. nt

[budkin]

24. That's the beauty of it

They can openly display their support of white power, but if they get called on it they just say that they are trolling and it's just a joke! Brilliant!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

28. Zina Bash openly supporting white power, while sitting directly behind Kavanaugh should disqualify

him. This was not "just trolling". This was a message to white supremacists that "hey, we got this." She flashed that sign for prolonged periods, in awkward positions, at different times for a couple of days. "just trolling"?? - Kavanaugh needs to provide some answers

[irresistable]

56. It isn't "just" trolling. It is definitely both.

No right winger would ever acknowledge it, though.

[irresistable]

53. It is horrifying. It is a technique that abusers of all types use.

In the past, the same technique has worked with sexual harassment. The excuse that “I was just joking” becomes the fallback position for perpetrators when they’re called out

[yardwork]

66. Exactly.

[John Fante]

51. Until they get doxxed. Then they make standing in line

at the unemployment office great again.

[lillypaddle]

6. K&R nt

[AndJusticeForSome]

7. How long has that been the racist gesture?

Only since Trump have I even noticed anyone use it. As a kid, that used to mean "okay", but somewhere along the line it was replaced by thumbs up (maybe around early Siskel & Ebert days?)

I don't think I use it anymore but can't be sure. It would horrify me if I had inadvertantly used it!

So when (and how?) did they co-opt this gesture?

(If anyone ever co-opts the shrug I'll be SOL)

[zipplewrath]

12. Like alot of signs

Hand signs often are dependent upon the orientation of the hand towards the target. "The finger" is usually on recognized when the back of the hand is facing the target. The "peace" sign is the reverse, with the palm facing the target. Otherwise it tends to mean "two" as in "two beers please". The "Okay" sign is with the "O" facing the target. What you see in these signs is the "W" should be facing the target. It is the "W" that is the point, not the "O".

[AndJusticeForSome]

18. Ahhh, I see what you mean

The peace sign was a good example.

I just thought Agent Orange was too stupid to know how to make the okay sign. The "Scout's honor" sign is also similar, but with all the fingers together.

So to clarify: Racist gesture = palm facing out to make "W";
90 degree turn toward body = OK

Does 90 degrees more mean "3"? I see people do 3 like that.

Interestingly, the deaf sign for "W" uses 3 different fingers, wonder why they didn't co-opt that one?

ETA: As noted below, the racist gesture also has a "pinching" aspect, whereas "OK" has more of a thumb-wrap.

[zipplewrath]

22. It avoids the O

I was thinking about signaling 3. A bit like ASL, the thumb attempts to completely collapse the "down" fingers.

[AndJusticeForSome]

27. Agreed

The "pinching" seems a significant part.

I'm already averse to that motion just because of how often (continually) Trump does it. Eww.

Should be easy to avoid.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

19. I first noticed it in a picture of Steven Miller, both hands flashing signs while buttoning his coat

The most awkward way of buttoning up that I've ever seen. And how about Zina Bash behind Kavanaugh holding the white power hand sign for quite a while in an awkward hand position. She might have meant it to be subtle, but it was noticed as a purposeful signal to Kavanaugh's/Trump's base.

[geardaddy]

29. That's weird that she's making it.

She's a Jewish Mexican. You'd think she wouldn't be welcome in white power circles.

[ProudLib72]

34. But Zina Bash's best friend is Stephen Miller who is a Jewish Nazi

Somehow they can live with the contradiction.

[geardaddy]

37. Fair point.

[yardwork]

67. Miller is welcome and he's Jewish.

Greed trumps everything for these people.

[geardaddy]

82. Yep, that makes sense.

[FakeNoose]

21. Don't make this "Okay" sign in Germany

American GIs in Germany used to go around signalling"OK" to each other, but then they learned about cultural differences in different countries. In Germany when somebody gives you this "OK" finger sign, they're telling you "you're an asshole." It's the same as when an American gives somebody the finger.

Germans think that most Americans don't know they're being insulted by the "OK" - "You're an asshole" finger sign.

Just sayin'

[volstork]

40. Same thing in Central America.

I got in big trouble doing that once!

[elmac]

30. Its very confusing, like the green frog

I have no idea how these signs, symbols become "owned" by Nazis and other racist's. I have a bad frog beer shirt, with a big green frog giving the finger, a local beer label that's been around for decades. Lately, green frog symbols have been linked to racist's, what's a guy to do, how do we keep up?

[whistler162]

57. About 10 seconds

[Doreen]

8. I feel kind of stupid but what is the differnce

between this and the sign for OK? I used to use the OK sign for OK but now I am scared to do it because I do not want to make someone think I am being supremacist and hateful.

[salin]

14. When it first started out - reportedly as a 4 chan troll, the difference was in the "O"

formation. In okay the fore finger and thumb almost wrap (usually the thumb outside of the fore finger.) With this the finger and the thumb sort of pinch together making a shape that looks more like a child's drawing of a bird's head. That was (reportedly) a big troll of "the libs" to get a reaction.

Since then it appears to have been appropriated by members of some white supremacist groups, like the Proudboys, and others - thrown around more like the gang style 'signs flashing' of the nineties. Some signalling, others, I agree are trolling. In the latter case sometimes it is the okay sign rather than the pinched fingers.

[Doreen]

20. Thanks for making it clearer.

I still think I will not use it just in case I do it wrong or make someone in my stupid red county think I am on their side.

[Cryptoad]

31. I thought it was a three pointer!,,,,,,,,

[salin]

9. Those pacific wedt proudboys sure do like throwing their 'gang' hand sings.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-young-men-of-color-are-joining-white-supremacist-groups

Scroll down for image towards the end of the article.

[uponit7771]

10. K&R, At this point some people are feeling safer by denying that so many people are racist

[Iggo]

11. They're embarrassed to admit they lived their whole lives thinking that shit was over.

[mythology]

13. Go ahead and tell the ADL that they are too stupid to recognize racism

Don't mistake bring trolled by people who happen to be racist for literally everything they do being a secret racist code. They are capable of being assholes in multiple different ways.

[Caliman73]

23. I will ask you again...

When does trolling stop being trolling and start being simply a new sign that enters the lexicon?


Does there have to be some kind of board meeting and vote? A public announcement.

Yes, they are capable of being assholes in different ways, but the fundamental way they are assholes is that they are a racist organization. They know they are, We know they are. They are using the sign to tweak and piss people off. To signal to their supporters that they are intentionally doing it.

[brush]

79. Right. They've re-purposed the sign with their own meaning just as the did the Pepe the frog...

character.

It evolved in their white supremacist subculture an to continue to deny the obvious or call it just trolling is getting into "head in the sand" territory.

And then there's the three parentheses bracketing of names or words to signify that someone is Jewish—(((John))).

This stuff evolved organically and most people not associated with the racists you don't expect them to know about it but when it's explained and the evidence is there and it keeps getting pointed out, to keep denying it is...

I won't even say it. And then there's google as well.

[yardwork]

68. ADL published a set of racist hsndsigns. This is one. Check it out:

https://www.adl.org/education-and-resources/resource-knowledge-base/hate-symbols?cat_id%5B153%5D=153

[JHan]

72. ..yeah they just want to make sure we're okay

[dembotoz]

17. black flashing gang signs...white fine people on both sides

[geardaddy]

25. 👌 is the "finger" in Portugal and Brazil n/t

Learned that from our Brazilian exchange student.

[mcar]

26. K&R!

[VOX]

32. It's a hard-ass group that names itself after a Disney show tune.

These little "me-me-me" shits are trying to make racism and sexism "cool," as in, "anti-establishment." It's nothing to be very proud of.

[klook]

77. Apparently the "WP" stands for

"Wimpy putzes," or possibly "We're pathetic." It's a cry for help. I'll give 'em some help all right:

[VOX]

80. That particular move might give a PB some neurological problems.

But who would notice?

Apparently, there’s some degree of social “hipness” in (allegedly) being part of an atavistic, alt-right, nihilistic boy’s club.

I can’t think of anything more pathetic at the moment. But give me some time!

[handmade34]

33. they think it's funny

and use it to troll... but that doesn't mean they are not racist and simple minded

[Johnny2X2X]

35. It's now a racist symbol

And it is being used to promote White Supremacy. And they love the fact that someone giving the OK sign could be mistaken for this racist hand sign. It gives them both deniability and gives them a chance for liberals to see racism where it might not exist.

Trump knows exactly what it means and has used it to give a sign that he supports White Supremacy.

[heaven05]

36. I don't think

you're hysterical. I like the truth.

[matt819]

38. Next step

Will someone with a tad more time than I have please do the following:

Line up this photo with other white power photos and then with that woman, Bash, behind Kavanaugh.

One after the other after the other.

Then e-mail to as many news sites as you can find. (One after the other after the other.)

[KY_EnviroGuy]

39. I interpret that sign to mean....

"I'm an asshole".

Very fitting.........

Link to tweet

[paulkienitz]

46. +1 to you and Almighty God

[druidity33]

64. That's Fantastic. And 2012 no less! K&R, nt.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

71. Yes, he or she retweets the good ones when appropriate.

Like many other folks, he was on to tRump a long time ago.

Here's another good one for chuckles:

Link to tweet

...........

[klook]

75. He is all-knowing. :) (nt)

[VWolf]

41. Maybe they're all divers!

In SCUBA, that's the "ok" gesture (because the "thumbs up" gesture literally means "let's go up" ) ……..

Nah, they're racists.

[paulkienitz]

43. Since it's a co-opting of an existing hand sign

(as illustrated by the fact that there's an emoji of it), there's no way to know whether it's racist or not except by context. I mean, I used to use that hand sign myself back in the day. If it appears in a surprising place, we can't presume it's racist unless we have some independent reason to suspect that the signer is into alt-rightitude.

[IrishEyes]

44. I thought they were just showing the size of their penises with that hand signal.

[Nasruddin]

45. Be seeing you

As prisoners, perhaps?

[TheBlackAdder]

48. Proud Boys sounds like someone rebranded the Circle Jerk Society.

[barbtries]

50. i'd say that's no mistake.

fucking nazis. sitting behind a nominee to the supreme court that's disheartening to the extreme.

[Timewas]

52. Rotate

90% and it is American sign language for asshole

[Stainless]

54. Getting ready to have a circle jerk........

Roger Stone is obviously the pivot man!

[geardaddy]

58. Win!

[rockfordfile]

55. We already know they're racists. It just that they picked up that hand gesture from a troll.

[Honeycombe8]

60. Stupid sign. It's an "OK" sign? Stupid. Not very imaginative or meaningful. nt

[Initech]

61. They would be kicked out of my bar if I had owned such an establishment!

And I'm not normally one for wasting beer, but they would be walking out wearing their drinks.

[dem in texas]

62. Kid giving this sign at Trump Rally

At the Trump rally with the plaid shirt guy, there was a young boy on the front row that kept giving this sign. I thought it stood of "Q", one of the right wing's current conspiracy theories.

[mountain grammy]

63. They're all fucking psycho.

[spike jones]

65. Back in the day (1968) the pinching one was a sign of a pot smoker

, as in holding a “roach” between the thumb and finger to take a hit.
Nowadays, in relating to Trump, it would be the way someone would hold him to give him a blow job.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

69. George Takei's response

Link to tweet

[Pachamama]

81. +1000

Perfect

[Grasswire2]

70. yes, I found that months ago and posted it on twitter and FB.

Proud Boys.

The one where Gateway Pundit "publisher" and his minion Lucian Wintraub (credentialed for WH press corps by Trump) flash that sign as they pose in the podium of the James Brady Briefing Room really pisses me off.

[Historic NY]

73. Sphincter Boys.....

assholes making asshole signs.

[IronLionZion]

74. They're deliberately trolling us since it has both meanings: OK or white power

Is This an Innocent OK Sign or a White Power Symbol?
https://lifehacker.com/is-this-an-innocent-ok-sign-or-a-white-power-symbol-1825575794

Forget hand gestures in photos. Many of these assholes have advocated for white supremacist policies and been associated with hate groups.

[Gothmog]

78. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

[backscatter712]

83. One of the tactics of fascists is appropriating well-known symbols

👌 Is one of them.

As was the Gadsden flag. And even the swastika itself.

[IronLionZion]

85. Correct, the swastika means something very different to Hindus

and people of some other Eastern faiths.

[yuiyoshida]

84. Pretty much!

It was debated that maybe she had held her hand against her arm, flashing signs, while others said she was Hispanic and of Jewish origin so she couldn't possibly be flashing White supremacist "gang" signs, well this photo seems to be a bit more obvious, don't you think?
Or was she just saying, "Hey i am A-OKAY!" or maybe she was just saying "hi mom!" ?

Link to tweet

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211112050