The "V" Sign

[Davey]

When I was younger, we always waved on pictures, or put a V sign behind people their head to make them look stupid But in Asia... it looks like they do this all the time! the "V sign" aka "Peace sign" . It even went that bad, that I also started using the V sign when I was in Japan.

So my question is.. what do you think of the "V" sign? do you use it when someone makes a picture of you? Or maybe you have another variant ?

 

[Nana007]

In the U.S people who use the V sign is associated with Otakus and Hippies. We also as children used to do the bunnie ears behind someones head.

So you see it used at cons alot.

 

[Kinsao]

I did the bunny ears too when I was a kid.
Now... strangely, since being inundated with pictures of people doing v-signs, I keep feeling a bizarre urge to do it myself, even though I never used to... It is, however, a good way for unphotogenic people like myself to get an excuse to put something in front of their face, even if it only provides psychological protection from the camera. Although I have never yet used it on camera - so far I've resisted the temptation!
I have caught myself throwing a v-sign to greet a friend if I've just caught their eye from some way away, e.g. across the street or across a crowded room. (I don't think there's much danger of me being mistaken for an otaku here - we don't have all that many!) It's actually quite a handy 'recognition sign' - it feels kinda cooler than a wave.
In the UK you have to do it the right way round, though (palm facing outwards) - I have only a very few friends who'd appreciate me greeting them with the other v-sign!

 

[Glenn]

I've done it in pictures with Japanese people because it fit the mood. I don't normally do it though.

By the way, that one guy was shooting a completely different sign!

 

[Davey]

By the way, that one guy was shooting a completely different sign!

2 guys haha, I like the one in de middle, even thought I don't know the meaning!!

 

[Kyoko_desu]

the coolest "V" sign

As Dutch Baka san mentioned, this "V" sign is also called 「ピース」here.

Now I tell you the most trendy way of doing this kind of sign.
It's called 「裏ピース」(ura piisu) (literally means "reversed peace sign")

Japanese teenage girls make this sign all the time when they take pics, especially in the プリクラ (purikura photo machine).

If you don't know what プリクラ is, check this

Photo booth - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Glenn]

Did you just pull that picture at random off of the net?

 

[Kyoko_desu]

Did you just pull that picture at random off of the net?

Yeah, I typed 裏ピース in the Google search box and got that pic.
Well, they kinda look older than the people who generally do ura piisu, maybe they are "wannabes"? hehehehe j/k

 

[yukio_michael]

Strictly for girls & Squares!

 

[Da Monstar]

As Michael said... It's a girl thing, age doesn't matter though.

 

[epigene]

As Michael said... It's a girl thing, age doesn't matter though.

Age DOES matter.

I think obasans and ojisans who do it are STUPID!!

In fact, I hate it and taught my kids never to do it. They've never done it in photos unless to deliberately harrass me.

 

[Tsuyoiko]

I hate it! I have never done it, and it irritates me to see it. But my sister's husband's brother is worse. He does the middle finger on every photo. He was best man at my sister's wedding and he did it in all the photos, down by his side so it wasn't obvious, but he still did it. How sad is that?

 

[Kinsao]

wow - that should probably qualify for the 'addictions' thread! ☝

 

[yukio_michael]

I think obasans and ojisans who do it are STUPID!!

I would have thought there would be a natural cut-off age for that sort of thing... about the same time people stop obsessing over pop idols.

He does the middle finger on every photo. He was best man at my sister's wedding and he did it in all the photos, down by his side so it wasn't obvious, but he still did it. How sad is that?

Profoundly so...

It's quite popular with kids in order to show people in photographs how particularly punk-rock they are, when they have no other means of communicating the story of their otherwise boring lives.

 

[Carlson]

i normaly use the sign thats in the upper left hand corner with the girl in the second picture

 

[Damicci]

I do ura pi-su. Only b/c it's hip-hop thang. hahaha I have done the v but i felt stupid looking at thos epictures. I think only asians can get away with looking cool or cute doing V. But thats just my brainwashed theory.

 

[Glenn]

I found the picture I did it in. It was a my Japanese friend's birthday party, and we were all doing it (5 of us). I've always seen it in Japanese pictures of 30 and under people, and just figured it was the pose to strike. I've also seen it a fair amount in anime. I never really had a problem with it, as it just seemed like a part of the culture. I guess I just didn't know what culture it was a part of.

 

[Hideki_Matsui_Beast]

As a modern-day hippie, I find it perfectly acceptable.

 

[Alma]

when i came in japan, i noticed it, and thought it is funny.. and its quite ok for japanese to do it... it looks ok.. but not for gaijins, too.. lol i have bunch of pictures, where i and other gaijins to it.. it's too weird..

we, usually dont do anything like that. when i do take a picture, me and my friends usually try to look ''normal'' and ''natural''... but we do not succeed

 

[ginyu]

oh my gosh

i did it to get attention of that cute japanese waitress in my favorite jpn restaurant.

but i think sake made me do it

 

[yukio_michael]

When it all goes wrong:

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Humm.....

for my generation and the Viet Nam era, it was a sign for "Peace". We used it to say we were against the war.

Frank

 

[Nicky]

Never. I've never done it.

 

[crawling]

it's cool, but i only do it sometimes.

 

[Philip]

I have never used it. I don't mind if people use it.... It ain't my buisness.....