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When I read the original post story I simultaneously thought ‘great’ and upon looking it up ‘that is far too generic a motion with the hand for a signal’.

by jorvi 5y ago

dathinab 5y ago
But then add: - repeating that signal - looking quite distressed and it might be useful.
- Cerium 5y ago
  Agreed, I think signs like this are a way of pushing someone's thought from "I wonder if they are ok?" to "They need help." In essence, it makes a situation actionable by an outsider.
wolverine876 5y ago
> 'that is far too generic a motion with the hand for a signal’ When does anyone make that hand motion? I never have in my life.
- dylan604 5y ago
  You've never made a fist "wrong" for punching? Lot's of people have done this when "pretend" boxing with friends. I do it when trying to convey I'm definitely joking about "putting up dukes" in an overly comedic way.
  - burkaman 5y ago
    The signal is showing your open palm with the thumb tucked and then closing into a fist, not just the fist on its own. It would be a very weird motion to do unintentionally. This particular signal was also created during Covid lockdowns and was intended to be something you do to a camera, because you don't have any opportunity to see people in person and ask for help. So you raise your palm towards the camera and then close it into a fist.
    - dylan604 5y ago
      yes, thanks. i understand the signal. however, if you've ever made a "wrong" fist, you've made this signal. you may not have done it while pointed at a camera or out the window of a moving car, you people have probably gone through the motions of making this signal more times than they think. you could make this signal with your hand down by your side while being "walked" to a location while in public. it would be much less noticable by the one doing the taking than trying to get people to do it in an "upright" position.
      - burkaman 5y ago
        Yeah, fair enough. Again it wasn't really intended to be used in public or to mean "I am in immediate danger, call 911 now", although obviously it worked out well for that purpose in this case. The idea was that if you see a friend do it in a video call then you make an effort to reach out privately and ask if they need help or someone to talk to, and only with further confirmation do you call the police or find them a shelter or something. If they didn't mean to do it, no harm done. I think you're right that this hand signal is not ideal for "I am currently being kidnapped by the person right next to me", despite this success story.
      - mkl 5y ago
        > > The signal is showing your open palm with the thumb tucked and then closing into a fist, not just the fist on its own. > yes, thanks. i understand the signal. however, if you've ever made a "wrong" fist, you've made this signal. You still don't seem to understand the signal. It is not simply a wrong fist.
    - jorvi 5y ago
      When your hand is stiff the basic motion is fully stretching your fingers and then closing your hand over your thumb, repeating a few times. Pretending this is some obscure combination of gestures is just disingenuous.
  - kortex 5y ago
    That's a great way to pop your thumb out of your socket, or sprain it. Yeah okay you'd have to actually make contact with your first, but this is like the first thing they teach you in any kind of martial art / pugilism / punching bag work.
    - dylan604 5y ago
      Why do you think I called it the "wrong" fist?
  - corobo 5y ago
    If someone tries to help you out of that situation then you can use your words to say "Hey dumbass, I'm just fighting wrong. Can you go away please" The silent signal part is only needed if you're in need of assistance. You can use your words in most other situations.

When I read the original post story I simultaneously thought ‘great’ and upon looking it up ‘that is far too generic a motion with the hand for a signal’.

by jorvi 5y ago

When I read the original post story I simultaneously thought ‘great’ and upon looking it up ‘that is far too generic a motion with the hand for a signal’.

dathinab 5y ago

But then add: - repeating that signal - looking quite distressed and it might be useful.

Cerium 5y ago
Agreed, I think signs like this are a way of pushing someone's thought from "I wonder if they are ok?" to "They need help." In essence, it makes a situation actionable by an outsider.

wolverine876 5y ago

> 'that is far too generic a motion with the hand for a signal’ When does anyone make that hand motion? I never have in my life.

dylan604 5y ago
You've never made a fist "wrong" for punching? Lot's of people have done this when "pretend" boxing with friends. I do it when trying to convey I'm definitely joking about "putting up dukes" in an overly comedic way.
- burkaman 5y ago
  The signal is showing your open palm with the thumb tucked and then closing into a fist, not just the fist on its own. It would be a very weird motion to do unintentionally. This particular signal was also created during Covid lockdowns and was intended to be something you do to a camera, because you don't have any opportunity to see people in person and ask for help. So you raise your palm towards the camera and then close it into a fist.
  - dylan604 5y ago
    yes, thanks. i understand the signal. however, if you've ever made a "wrong" fist, you've made this signal. you may not have done it while pointed at a camera or out the window of a moving car, you people have probably gone through the motions of making this signal more times than they think. you could make this signal with your hand down by your side while being "walked" to a location while in public. it would be much less noticable by the one doing the taking than trying to get people to do it in an "upright" position.
    - burkaman 5y ago
      Yeah, fair enough. Again it wasn't really intended to be used in public or to mean "I am in immediate danger, call 911 now", although obviously it worked out well for that purpose in this case. The idea was that if you see a friend do it in a video call then you make an effort to reach out privately and ask if they need help or someone to talk to, and only with further confirmation do you call the police or find them a shelter or something. If they didn't mean to do it, no harm done. I think you're right that this hand signal is not ideal for "I am currently being kidnapped by the person right next to me", despite this success story.
    - mkl 5y ago
      > > The signal is showing your open palm with the thumb tucked and then closing into a fist, not just the fist on its own. > yes, thanks. i understand the signal. however, if you've ever made a "wrong" fist, you've made this signal. You still don't seem to understand the signal. It is not simply a wrong fist.
  - jorvi 5y ago
    When your hand is stiff the basic motion is fully stretching your fingers and then closing your hand over your thumb, repeating a few times. Pretending this is some obscure combination of gestures is just disingenuous.
- kortex 5y ago
  That's a great way to pop your thumb out of your socket, or sprain it. Yeah okay you'd have to actually make contact with your first, but this is like the first thing they teach you in any kind of martial art / pugilism / punching bag work.
  - dylan604 5y ago
    Why do you think I called it the "wrong" fist?
- corobo 5y ago
  If someone tries to help you out of that situation then you can use your words to say "Hey dumbass, I'm just fighting wrong. Can you go away please" The silent signal part is only needed if you're in need of assistance. You can use your words in most other situations.