Common Obscene Gestures

[MeTekillot]

What is a commonly obscene gesture in the more common areas (Allanak, Tuluk, Luir's, Red Storm) to you?

I'm not talking about like, "some tribes would probably interpret a certain waggle of your wrist to be a death threat" because, you know, that's not a common gesture, it's an obscure one.

Spitting? Spit can carry disease, and you hold such contempt for someone that you'll waste water just to show you think they're a total asshat.

Any others?

[Riya OniSenshi]

Seen the crotch-grab several times.

"I got your <insert witty noun/(ad)verb> right here" sort of thing.

[Dar]

It's my opinion, but ... if I am playing a tribal who lives in the desert and I see someone spitting at something, I'd think that person a fool. Can vary from other cultures though.

[Evoru]

I've seen spitting, and I've also seen turning your back on someone. That last one seems particularly ballsy in a game where most everyone is prowling around with sharp, pointed things.

[Maso]

Would the middle finger be appropriate for Arm? I mean...Arm has a lot of archery...so...personally I wouldn't find it jarring.

[Dar]

That whole archery and middle finger gesture is a total myth.


To be honest, I would be entirely awed if people or cultures within Arm would develop some kind of gestures that would be expressively insulting in nature. That ... would be ... so ... awessome.

[Feco]

That whole archery and middle finger gesture is a total myth.


To be honest, I would be entirely awed if people or cultures within Arm would develop some kind of gestures that would be expressively insulting in nature. That ... would be ... so ... awessome.

Doesn't have to be a myth in arm!

Quick, someone with a Templar start chopping off middle fingers.

[Maso]

That whole archery and middle finger gesture is a total myth.


To be honest, I would be entirely awed if people or cultures within Arm would develop some kind of gestures that would be expressively insulting in nature. That ... would be ... so ... awessome.

Doesn't have to be a myth in arm!

Quick, someone with a Templar start chopping off middle fingers.

[Patuk]

I could see this working, actually. The Lord Templar Badass McBadassen need only stir up a feud with any merchant house, put the city on lockdown, and cut off every signet ring he can find, finger and all. Problem solved.

[Delirium]

Erm.

Lord Templar Badass McBadassen would soon meet Señor Say-Hello-To-My-Little-Friend Salarr.

[RogueGunslinger]

And then the dragon would descend on clouds of fire and wipe out Salarr. Deus ex machina ftmfw.

[Delirium]

Depends on if we're talking about a blue, red, or black robe, here.

[chrisdcoulombe]

I used to emote things like..... Em makes a gesture that means fuck you.  I though it could be construed as abusing the language barriers and stopped.  Because you can give someone the middle finger, but if it is not known what the middle finger means...you can't really decide if that culture or individual knows your insults.  If a gesture was used in game (including the middle finger) and the rumors of the gesture spread across the different cultures then we would have an IG gesture that means fuck you or what ever.  Making your own gesture  that is Zalanthan would be better for the game respectively.  Why wouldn't a culture have insulting gestures?  Its time to either create them, recognize those that are prevalent or use the gestures that are common to us IRL and use them in game. 

[Spoon]

It's my opinion, but ... if I am playing a tribal who lives in the desert and I see someone spitting at something, I'd think that person a fool. Can vary from other cultures though.

If I'm playing a Bynner and a person doesn't spit, I think they're a sissy.

[valeria]

Why would spitting be an insult?  You're wasting your water on an idiot.

[Qzzrbl]

Why would spitting be an insult?  You're wasting your water on an idiot.

Shows you're rich enough to insult someone by wasting water on them.

Kinda like offering someone a full waterskin, then dumping it into the sand right infront of them.

Except with your mouth.

[Tenua]

I thought I read somewhere at some point that spitting on the ground in front of the person in greeting shows honor? Or maybe that was just a specific tribe......

[Delirium]

It was a specific tribe, and I always enjoyed that twist.

I have never seen spitting as a very 'world-sensible' action, other than to honor someone by wasting water on their behalf.

[marko]

I thought I read somewhere at some point that spitting on the ground in front of the person in greeting shows honor? Or maybe that was just a specific tribe......

Yeah, tribal.  

That's the fun thing about a game environment like Arm's each location can have different meanings for the same gesture.

There doesn't have to be (and, in my opinion nor should there be) a universal gesture to signify anything.

[Dakota]

I use a gesture w. a few of my PCs... but I don't want to say it here bc it will give my PC's away.

But get creative

[Morrolan]

That whole archery and middle finger gesture is a total myth.

I've never really researched this one, but I believe it is common in many cultures to use phallic symbols as warding gestures against evil.

What warding gestures would Zalanthans use against evil and danger?

Maybe the reason these have never developed IG is that almost all of our characters are heavily-armed people with nothing to lose. Our warding gesture against evil is:

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>draw sword

[Dakota]

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>draw sword

+1

[Marauder Moe]

I once read part of a book about gestural language (offensive and otherwise) world-wide.  There's actually an astonishing variety of it on Earth.


Allanakis have a "warding gesture" of kissing the back of their hands.  (I suppose this might be more common world-wide, but IIRC the document had it in an Allanak-specific context)

A gemmer wiggling his fingers can be considered "offensive", sort of.  That gesture certainly won't have broader applications.


It'd be great if, indeed, we had some more common gestures for Armageddon.

[Barsook]

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>draw sword

+1

It'd be great if, indeed, we had some more common gestures for Armageddon.

+1 to that too and yes, we need a doc on that.

[Hot_Dancer]

em works an imaginary crank in slow rotations at the side of his fist - middle finger grinding into view at full attention.
em Flustered, @ digs into the pouches at ~belt and finally ~aba. emote sports a wicked grin, ripping the treasure of her extended middle-finger from the depths of her aba to display in triumph.
em blowing noisy, sputtering raspberries into a closed fist, @ suddenly grows a middle finger for ~Dakota

[Shepard]

I often do - emote makes a crude gesture...

Though it would likely be best if we did a Northern Common Gestures, and Southern Common Gestures...

You can go over common earth ones -

1) Smacking the inside of your fists together in an upwards thrusting manner, knuckles pointing outwards - Friends Style
2) Bite your thumb
3) Forming a circle with your index and thumb
4) Giving the thumbs down

[Spoon]

I get the whole spitting is wasting water thing, but there's a fuckload more water on Zalanthas than there is on Arrakis. And dirtbags need to spit. Spit at people they don't like.

[ShaLeah]

I get the whole spitting is wasting water thing, but there's a fuckload more water on Zalanthas than there is on Arrakis. And dirtbags need to spit. Spit at people they don't like.

I can only think of three Arm group types that would be okay using spitting as an insult. A regular scum bag is not one of them.

[Spoon]

I dunno, water is more scarce than on Earth of course, but it's not ludicrously expensive. I really don't think only Nobles/Magickers can afford to spit... and spitting isn't really 'wasting water' that much in the first place.

[Maso]

Vivudians can spit.

[Barsook]

I get the whole spitting is wasting water thing, but there's a fuckload more water on Zalanthas than there is on Arrakis. And dirtbags need to spit. Spit at people they don't like.

I can only think of three Arm group types that would be okay using spitting as an insult. A regular scum bag is not one of them.

I can only think of two, but they could be different than yours.

[Rhyden]

I often moon people.

[Sav]

I often moon people.

This sounds like a fantastic way to get stabbed in the ass with all of the previously mentioned weaponry.

[Maso]

I often moon people.

This sounds like a fantastic way to get stabbed in the ass with all of the previously mentioned weaponry.

Obsidian mining.... 

[lordcooper]

Keep it simple and go all San Diego on them.

[Karieith]

I prefer the old:
talk (cupping ^me fist to ^me mouth, ^me eyebrows raised) Oh, [fancy pants], that's delightful.
hemote shielding a yawn with ^me fist.

[Recharge]

People generally don't like it when you urinate/defecate in their direction...or on them.

[Delirium]

Reverently, the sleek, obsidian-haired woman spits in your face.

[Booya]

Sometimes spitting just works. I justify it as a character showing they can waste their water and still pwn the other's measly existence.

[Spoon]

It's worth saying I think it's cool for people to think spitting is stupid in game, but that might result in getting spat at. We can has both ways.

[SMuz]

Water is easily available to the middle class in Zalanthas. It's like.. petrol, you get it just fine, it just puts a hole in your wallet.

I remember an old character's friend who used 'barrier' as a ward off evil gesture. Would always say "shield your mind" whenever on a big contract or going to do scary things. Makes sense with all the 'gickers around.

[Recharge]

Have always been curious about giving someone the finger. Would it mean the same in Zalanthas as it does in rl?

[marko]

Have always been curious about giving someone the finger. Would it mean the same in Zalanthas as it does in rl?

Well, in real life, usually the finger remains attached to the hand.

In Zalanthas, it's given without the accompanying hand.

[bennybubonic]

Mock-spitting. Seems like an elegantly nasty way of saying, "I wouldn't waste water on you."

[hyzhenhok]

I get the whole spitting is wasting water thing, but there's a fuckload more water on Zalanthas than there is on Arrakis. And dirtbags need to spit. Spit at people they don't like.

Spitting could also be considered a prestige badge. I got plenty of water to survive, so I can easily afford to regurgitate some of it and throw it around.