• Rolando@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    “Xeepzorp, it’s not that complicated. The thumb-up is like crossing your eyestalks, and the middle-finger is like extruding your rectal tentacle.”

  • orphiebaby@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Wait until they learn that the thumbs-up in some countries means what the middle finger does in the US…

    • mycodesucks@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I’m still trying to wrap my head around the Czech Republic, where apparently holding up a single index finger means 2.

      • reinei@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Not a Czech but now that you mentioned it I want this here too!

        I mean have you tried counting from either end using all your fingers i.e. thumb == 1? That dexterous shit is hard so making a single index finger two instantly makes it nice and smooth!

        (Instant edit: this obviously only holds if index finger+ middle finger counts as 3, otherwise there really only seems to be an advantage in calling out 2 and my argument collapses)

      • angrystego@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I do have some experience with the Czech Republic and I’m pretty sure this isn’t the case.

        • mycodesucks@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I was only there a month. I can’t claim to be any kind of expert. But I do know I wound up eating two sausages.

  • smeg@feddit.uk
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    2 months ago

    It’s not that complicated, aliens

    The middle finger gesture was used in ancient times as a symbol of sexual intercourse, in a manner meant to degrade, intimidate and threaten the individual receiving the gesture. It also represented the phallus, with the fingers next to the middle finger representing testicles

    It’s a classic human cock-and-balls, simple as

    • kureta@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Humans vibrate the air in different and complicated ways. One vibration pattern humans like, another vibration pattern they don’t like. sure this “speech” thing is really complicated. also symbols squibbled on surfaces. language, am I right?

  • Revonult@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    This made me realize that if we encounter aliens there is a non-zero chance there will be alien weebs that become obsessed with our culture and think it is superior.

  • lolcatnip
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    2 months ago

    Seems like any aliens advanced enough to study us would very easily figure out that hand gestures are a form of communication.

  • Peppycito@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    The exam is explaining the difference between split index and middle finger palm forward and split index and middle finger back hand forward.

    • NucleusAdumbens@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      So I was going to make a joke about the peace and v signs by using the “peace be with you; and also with you” thing but have it say “Peace be with you. And also ‘fuck you’”. But then I was thinking, what if I said “up yours” instead because it’s a more direct reference and less offensive. But then I realized it doesn’t match anywhere near as well in syllables/sound.

      So, long story short, my question is which one would be funnier/more appealing? Seriously, I genuinely want to hear opinions

      Peace be with you. And also “thank you”

  • casual_turtle_stew_enjoyer@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Fun fact: cats sometimes respond similarly to humans when presented with the middle finger. Without training. And often it with cats that do hate it, it’s that finger specifically and only that specific gesture.

    I still have absolutely no idea why, but some cats just naturally react as if it’s an offense towards them. Maybe they equate it to a tail raised straight?

  • unreasonabro@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Shit’s regional, too, yo. For “fuck you”, the brits use a gesture that’s more akin to “eat my cunt”.

    • digehode@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      We do? Can you describe the gesture? Maybe it’s so ingrained I don’t even recognise it. Or I need to learn it. Then I can use it at everyone today.

      • el_abuelo@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        I believe theyre referring to the usual two-finger-fuck-you. As in v for victory.

        If you take that same sign and press it to your lips you get a gesture recognised as “eating pussy” when accompanied by some tongue action through the V of your fingers.

        • digehode@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Ah, I see. We don’t tend to put it to the mouth. It’s more “fuck you”. Apparently comes from demonstrating to the French that you still have your bow-drawing fingers and intend to use them. British archers captured by the french would have their first two fingers removed to prevent them launching arrows.

    • DrownedRats@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      The human race is often thought of as communicating primarily on a vocal basis. however, they also possess an extremely complex and sophisticated language based on gestures. For example, the simple gesture of raising the index and middle finger with the palm inwards can convey the complete sentence: “up yours Frenchie, I still have all my fingers”

  • Glytch@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Let’s see how harmless it is when I jam it in your compound eye Mr. Kleezorp

  • pH3ra@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    “The gesture is an invitation for the adversary to put their middle finger in their own excreting orifice”
    “Wow it must be painful for them!”
    “They seem to have rather pleasant experience instead”
    “Interesting…”

  • MataVatnik@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Well, the middle finger use to represent the ability to draw a bow. Unless I’m making shit up.

    • Mr Fish@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      That’s middle and index fingers, with the palm facing backwards. Just a backwards peace sign.

    • digehode@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      In the UK two fingers up is a rude gesture and it comes from battles with the french. If they caught a British archer they removed those fingers so they couldn’t fire a bow. So sticking them up at the enemy and gesturing was showing they had them and would use them to fire arrows at them. I am not an historian, though, and this could just be one of those tales that sounds so true everyone believes it and passes it on.

    • Etterra@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      But some humans think the ok gesture is as bad as or worse than the middle finger.

      • samus12345@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Others are offended by the index and middle finger being extended in a V shape with the palm facing inward…but never when it’s facing outward!