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Didn't realize this was a thing, cool that it worked. As a loosely related note, there has been problems in the past where people come up with meanings for han
by TravisHusky 5y ago
Didn't realize this was a thing, cool that it worked.
As a loosely related note, there has been problems in the past where people come up with meanings for hand gestures without knowing the signed language of the region they are in, which leads to people misunderstanding something a person is signing as something completely different. Although probably not a problem in this case, just something to consider if you ever are so inclined to make a manual language.
If anyone was curious in ASL this is basically "B -> M", not that that was on purpose, just a different way this could be interpreted.
- xupybd 5y agoMy worry would be that as the signal becomes well known abusers will learn it to. Then using the signal will put people at risk.
- notacoward 5y agoThat is a possibility, but being able to communicate without making a sound might still be useful.
- tudorw 5y agocan the 'tiktok scenius' react in real time and just instantly spread a new signal for the next person, don't underestimate how powerful that network is, has the highest quality interaction I have witnessed. more jokes than HN too
- david_shaw 5y ago> My worry would be that as the signal becomes well known abusers will learn it I'm so glad that the signal worked in this case, but you're absolutely correct: the problem with clandestine signals like this is that they need to be somewhat widely known to be effective, but if they become too widely known they become ineffective and even dangerous (since the bad actor would likely know the signal and intent). I've heard stories about prevented tragedies via "code word" drink orders at bars -- maybe that tactic could be more widely applied (bars, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc.) Source (as an example): https://twitter.com/iizzzzzi/status/788387942242914305 https://twitter.com/iizzzzzi/status/788387942242914305
- XorNot 5y agoBeing able to be made surreptitiously can be enough though. Nothing's foolproof, but if an abuser is trying to over-manage someone's communications or hand gestures, that itself is a give away for people to pay more attention.
- BurningFrog 5y agoThis why you do it when the abuser isn't looking. In this case, he was driving and presumably looking ahead 99% of the time.
- wolverine876 5y agoFrom the FAQ: What if an abuser learns about the signal? As the signal is shared and becomes known by the public, there is a risk that an abuser might learn about it. People in abusive situations are also often closely monitored by the person harming them, and they may not always feel safe enough to use the signal. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone facing abuse. Everyone faces their own unique circumstance. The Signal for Help is one tool some people may be able to use, some of the time, to indicate they need help without leaving a digital trace. It is important that people reach out for support if and when they feel ready, and they should do it in the ways that feel safest for them. People supporting them should be ready to help without judgement, and they should follow the lead of the person who needs help. https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/ https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/
- dhosek 5y agoLetter signing is not typical in ASL and in any event BM is not a common letter sequence in English. I would also think that if I made eye contact with someone who signed BM to me, I would have to assume it was this signal or else they were being awfully rude https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/BM#English https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/BM#English
- xattt 5y agoEven that has its own logical sign(1) with a variation to indicate diarrhea(2). (1)https://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/poop/ https://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/poop/ (2)https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=5860 https://www.handspeak.com/word/search/index.php?id=5860
- ohyeshedid 5y ago> ...in any event BM is not a common letter sequence in English. Mainly names, no?
- falcolas 5y agoNot in the US, at least.
- thaumasiotes 5y agoThis would only be possible with a syllable break as in something like fub/moore. Even then, I can't think of a name, or a word, or a common collocation, that features it. Syllables ending in /b/ aren't so common, though they're possible.
- dr_zoidberg 5y agoI sometimes do a gesture similar to this one as a habit for cracking my (thumb) knuckles single-handed. Not as an intentional sign first tucking the thumb in the palm, and then traping it in, but rather as a single motion. I wonder if it could be mistaken for this gesture.
- corobo 5y agoNo. Rapidly moving your fingers to crack your knuckles is not the referenced hand gesture
- dr_zoidberg 5y agoI don't do it rapdily, and it's a single-handed motion, so not the usual "cracking your knuckles" movement/gesture. I do wonder because it could look similar, though I don't specifically direct it so that it'll be palm-to-viewer, as the guides for this gesture tell you to do.
- quantified 5y agoRight, just teach people this little bit of ASL, it’s already a language worth learning.
- wolverine876 5y agoFrom the FAQ: > Does the Signal for Help stand for something in a sign language? > The Signal For Help is not meant to refer to any words, letters, or ideas in American Sign Language (ASL) or other sign languages. It is designed as a single hand motion someone can make during a video call to silently communicate they need support. Deaf community members were consulted on the Signal for Help prior to the launch of the campaign to check in about using this hand gesture. https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/ https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/