6 ms·

Yeah, context is key. We played a game as kids where if you looked at one of us with the ok sign, the one doing the sign got to punch you in the arm. It was jok

Yeah, context is key. We played a game as kids where if you looked at one of us with the ok sign, the one doing the sign got to punch you in the arm. It was joke. Even though this new origin is a bit of the tail wagging the dog (it started as a joke on 4chan), the ok sign has taken on the meaning of a white power sign in certain situations. Unfortunately, people have trawled old pics and attacked people for using normal hand gestures. Context and nuance appears to be completely lost on many.

rendall 6y ago
> the ok sign has taken on the meaning of a white power sign in certain situations. >> When done when posing with Steve Bannon it probably means white power sign. When a no-kidding, self-admitted, non-LARPing, Stormfront-reading, Klan- or Nazi-party member says "Yeah we've been using the OK symbol for years" then I'll believe it. But all I've ever seen about this is leftists of a certain type asserting that it's true, with some variation of "I know it's true because all my friends and thought leaders say it's true, and you can see yourself that such people as Steve Bannon use it, and people have even been fired for doing it. Definitely true. Your move, white-supremacy-denier!" So, no. It's a conspiracy theory, in which denial of the conspiracy is yet more evidence of the conspiracy.
- WickyNilliams 6y ago
  How about the Christchurch shooter flashing it in court? He may have been doing it ironically still, but at that point does it even matter? He was explicitly associating himself and his actions with the symbol. Context matters of course, but what started as a joke has taken on its own life
marton78 6y ago
Wow, that game seems to be surprisingly common! It was played on my school in Munich, Germany. The rules were: if you look through the loop, you are punched in the upper arm. The puncher has to draw a bull's eye first, then punch, then the recipient must say "thank you" and the puncher must reply "you're welcome" (of course in German, i.e. bitte, danke). Any deviation from the rules is punished by a punch, to be administered in accordance with aforementioned ceremony. Where did you grow up?
- matwood 6y ago
  In the southeastern US. I'm a bit older so things like minor scuffles and fist fights with friends wasn't uncommon. We certainly didn't have as many rules as you outlined, and just used it as another reason to pick on and bruise each others arms.
- dharmon 6y ago
  I grew up in South Carolina and we definitely did this (without the "please" and "thank you" part). If I recall, there was an additional requirement where the ok hand had to be held below your waist, though.
  - mijoharas 6y ago
    UK here, the sign also had to be below the waist. I have relatives my age in new zealand, and it was also common there. Memes have an amazing power to spread, huh?
secondcoming 6y ago
The rules were - the person had to look directly at the ok sign - the ok sign had to be below the waist Played it in Ireland too!

rendall 6y ago

> the ok sign has taken on the meaning of a white power sign in certain situations. >> When done when posing with Steve Bannon it probably means white power sign. When a no-kidding, self-admitted, non-LARPing, Stormfront-reading, Klan- or Nazi-party member says "Yeah we've been using the OK symbol for years" then I'll believe it. But all I've ever seen about this is leftists of a certain type asserting that it's true, with some variation of "I know it's true because all my friends and thought leaders say it's true, and you can see yourself that such people as Steve Bannon use it, and people have even been fired for doing it. Definitely true. Your move, white-supremacy-denier!" So, no. It's a conspiracy theory, in which denial of the conspiracy is yet more evidence of the conspiracy.

WickyNilliams 6y ago
How about the Christchurch shooter flashing it in court? He may have been doing it ironically still, but at that point does it even matter? He was explicitly associating himself and his actions with the symbol. Context matters of course, but what started as a joke has taken on its own life

marton78 6y ago

Wow, that game seems to be surprisingly common! It was played on my school in Munich, Germany. The rules were: if you look through the loop, you are punched in the upper arm. The puncher has to draw a bull's eye first, then punch, then the recipient must say "thank you" and the puncher must reply "you're welcome" (of course in German, i.e. bitte, danke). Any deviation from the rules is punished by a punch, to be administered in accordance with aforementioned ceremony. Where did you grow up?

matwood 6y ago
In the southeastern US. I'm a bit older so things like minor scuffles and fist fights with friends wasn't uncommon. We certainly didn't have as many rules as you outlined, and just used it as another reason to pick on and bruise each others arms.
dharmon 6y ago
I grew up in South Carolina and we definitely did this (without the "please" and "thank you" part). If I recall, there was an additional requirement where the ok hand had to be held below your waist, though.
- mijoharas 6y ago
  UK here, the sign also had to be below the waist. I have relatives my age in new zealand, and it was also common there. Memes have an amazing power to spread, huh?

secondcoming 6y ago

The rules were - the person had to look directly at the ok sign - the ok sign had to be below the waist Played it in Ireland too!