NGC-peace signs and aggressive behavior

[drburt]

Peace signs, manual ones, the kind you "flip" with your fingers.
They change their meaning depending on the point of view of the receiver.
At the wrong angle, it looks like you're flipping someone the bird.
This can result in aggression of the receiver even though you were acknowledging them or thanking them for something.

One Christmas morning I pulled my car into a convenience store (Toot-N-Totum in my area).
Two guys in a pickup, were backing out of a parking space, but stopped to let me park easily beside them.
Nice gesture on their part.
I gave them the peace sign and mouthed "thank you".
The driver rolls down his window and yells, "what's your problem?".
I had no clue what HIS problem was and asked him what he was talking about.
He scowled, "you flipped me off!!". I explained that I was thanking him and that it was a peace sign.
My explanation seemed to be accepted.

Couple of weeks ago I was riding my Virago around town and passed a guy on his Harley that had been stopped at a red light and hadn't got going yet when the light turned green.
I flipped him the peace sign with my right hand as I rode by on his left.
He CHASED me to the next red light and pulled up BESIDE me IN MY LANE at the light.
He never looked at me as he sat beside me IN MY LANE.
Light turned green, we rode off, he turned right at the next light, never acknowledging me.

I don't know why all this took place.
I know some people don't like being passed (especially on a rice burner, but he had been stopped at a light).
I don't know if it was a case of mistaken identity of a peace sign being "the bird".

So I have a question -
What do you think of people you don't know that pull up beside you IN YOUR LANE at a stop when you're both on bikes?
Is this a sign of aggression?

Thanks,
Brent
P.S. No matter what, I guess I need to change the angle of my peace signs.

[Aaron D.]

I suggest a wave or thumbs-up. I haven't seen a "peace" sign since the 70s.

And if the peace sign has the back of the hand toward the recipient...

[pehayes]

Very serious issue if you happened to be in the UK.  Two fingers in V with your palm facing the other person would mean Victory.  Turn your hand around so the back side is facing the other person and it is equivalent to a middle finger flip off.  Came from the medieval period.  Archers captured in war would have their fingers lopped off to prevent them from returning to battle.  Flashing those two still-active fingers to your enemy is a serious affront.  Maybe your Tex buddy was from London????

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[DougG]

Wow, Patrick...that explains a lot, thank you.

Be well,
DougG

[John A]

I've had good results with an open handed wave if I do anything. Hopefully there are not so many negative things with that.

[Lannis]

I just wave.

Peace signs, thumbs up, index finger up ... too many chances for misinterpretation or not seeing what you thought you saw.

Lannis

[bad Chad]

I’ve had guys pull up next to me a couple times, I don’t like it, feels like an invasion of personal space, not to mention it’s illegal.

[AJ Huff]

Yeah, full handed friendly wave. Hard to believe the two finger peace can be misunderstood but I guess like you said, viewing angle might make a difference. The OK sign can be misunderstood as a__hole is some cultures so I never use it.

-AJ

[Ryan]

Sorry, been flashing peace signs for 40+ years, and still do on my bike. In the car, I normally wave because I can't be sure BOTH fingers can be seen clearly in the car. So far, no misunderstandings that I have been made aware of.

[rss29]

That happens to me pretty frequently on my busy commute. If there's another bike nearby they often pull up right next to me at stoplights. I always thought of it as a friendly, kindred spirit type of thing. Usually accompanied by some sort of acknowledgement or gesture. There's plenty of room in the lane for more than just my bike.

I would probably retire the peace sign and just go with a normal wave or that point at the ground thing. To me a peace sign comes across as obnoxious- like you're telling me I need to relax or something. I can see how it was misconstrued.
 

[Kev m]

I never hesitate to pull up next to someone at a light and say hi. That is, as long as there's room.

Did someone really say illegal? Cue facepalm.

[molly]

Proper use of the V sign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8JyDl9FtWI

[larrys]

I never hesitate to pull up next to someone at a light and say hi. That is, as long as there's room.

I think it's being pushy. Brings out the curmudgeon in me. I always occupy the middle of the lane at a stop sign or stoplight to discourage that. YMMV.
Larry

[oldbike54]

I think it's being pushy. Brings out the curmudgeon in me. I always occupy the middle of the lane at a stop sign or stoplight to discourage that. YMMV.
Larry

 Sitting right in the spot where 4 wheeled vehicles have deposited oil doesn't seem to be a good plan . In fact , if you need to move unexpectedly , you will just get wheel spin .

 Dusty

[T4halo]

I give 3 fingers in a “W”. Has many meanings.

T4

[bad Chad]

It’s illegal in IL for two vehicles to occupy the same space within a lane.  Your not supposed to ride two abreast for obvious safety reasons as well.  Now it’s not enforced sitting in traffic an such, I’m just letting the world know, cause that’s how I roll. 

[John A]

It’s illegal in IL for two vehicles to occupy the same space within a lane.  Your not supposed to ride two abreast for obvious safety reasons as well.  Now it’s not enforced sitting in traffic an such, I’m just letting the world know, cause that’s how I roll. 

Yep, it's nice to know when your breaking the law.!

[Shorty]

I think it's being pushy. Brings out the curmudgeon in me. I always occupy the middle of the lane at a stop sign or stoplight to discourage that. YMMV.
Larry

We had a guy in the local Okie Guzzi crew who insisted in giving the "Power Fist" to every approaching rider.    I imagine that is viewed as some kinda cultural appropriation in todays weak kneed world.    I don't mind if a good natured rider slips up at a light. I hate it when some snobby bad arse with no mufflers does it. I don't want to be viewed as part of their schtick. I let them    get a good long lead, then hold back at the next stop.

[Kev m]

It's also illegal to go 3 mph over the speed limit or cross not at a crosswalk, or grab your neighbor's mail from their box and walk it up to their door... But those would be stupid reasons not to do those things under the right circumstances.

I think it's being pushy. Brings out the curmudgeon in me. I always occupy the middle of the lane at a stop sign or stoplight to discourage that. YMMV.
Larry

And I would read that as not interested in saying hi and stop behind you.

But if you were in the right or left thirds I'd say hi, and when the light changed I'd wait for you then start out behind you.

[Ncdan]

It's also illegal to go 3 mph over the speed limit or cross not at a crosswalk, or grab your neighbor's mail from their box and walk it up to their door... But those would be stupid reasons not to do those things under the right circumstances.


And I would read that as not interested in staying hi and stop behind you.

But if you were in the right or left thirds I'd say hi, and when the light changed I'd wait for you then start out behind you.

I think I hear what you are saying Kev is,  the law is a collections of instructions that must be applied with a good dose of common sense to be effective 👍

[LowRyter]

when riding I prefer the "hang loose dropped down".   Seen it in Hawaii.  It's reverence to a respected fellow that lost his fingers on a pineapple plantation.  It's unique, respected and generally acknowledged. 

[Shorty]

when riding I prefer the "hang loose dropped down".   Seen it in Hawaii.  It's reverence to a respected fellow that lost his fingers on a pineapple plantation.  It's unique, respected and generally acknowledged.

[Lannis]

The driver rolls down his window ....

Another real anachronism in the making, like "dialing" a phone or hitting "return" on a keyboard .... !

[LowRyter]

not pointed down.

[Bulldog9]

Hand signals...  So much variation. When passing another rider, I generally give a sideways V or shaka (Hawaiian hang loose) palm facing. Back of the hand looks too much like your flipping off. 

I don't pull up next to or like it when someone pulls up next to me unless I know them and I'm riding with them. Maybe it's because I grew up in New York City but  anytime someone I don't know pulls up alongside me I'm expecting to get shot :-)

[Kev m]

I don't pull up next to or like it when someone pulls up next to me unless I know them and I'm riding with them. Maybe it's because I grew up in New York City but  anytime someone I don't know pulls up alongside me I'm expecting to get shot :-)

Funny how two people from NYC (born in Manhattan and raised between there, Queens, and the island) see things differently.

[Rough Edge racing]

Funny how two people from NYC (born in Manhattan and raised between there, Queens, and the island) see things differently.

 I grew up in NJ within sight of the NYC skyline....We all thought no one in NYC had any sort of  "normal thinking" 

[Kev m]

I grew up in NJ within sight of the NYC skyline....We all thought no one in NYC had any sort of  "normal thinking" 

I always just thought Jersey was where we sent our garbage. 

[Darren Williams]

Amazing how it works if you pull up next to someone at a traffic light, give them a nod and a thumbs up after pointing to a mod they have made on their bike, or just their bike in general.  Almost all riders like to think others are accepting of their bikes and mods. Being friendly is a universal thing, I think.

Now if you pull up next to someone and won't even acknowledge their existence, that's something different.

[Rough Edge racing]

I always just thought Jersey was where we sent our garbage. 

  Oh, I thought NYC loaded it on barges and dumped it off shore  .....
 Went to the City often for entertainment or food.Things you can oly get in NYC...Usually took the Tubes from Newark so we didn't have to deal with parking..Never had any problems