# Bizarre Signals You Didn't Know You Were Giving **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 10, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482 "2004-05-10T17:27:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/21 "2004-05-10T20:44:57Z")
Um? šŸ˜• Bracelet? What kind of bracelet, and what meaning? _eyes her bracelets uncertainly_ I donā€™t want to be miscommunicating, please enlighten me! ā˜¹ A link will work nicely. On preview, oh, those. :rolleyes: I donā€™t wear that kind, but I donā€™t buy into the ā€œmythā€ either. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/22 "2004-05-10T21:18:02Z")
> [@jk1245](#): > > Allegedly, a tatoo on the small of a womanā€™s back means she likes anal sex. You know, itā€™s there for the guy to look at and all. Maybe it [depends on the tattoo](http://p086.ezboard.com/fnadsfrm7.showMessage?topicID=157.topic)ā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![pervert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@pervert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pervert)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/23 "2004-05-10T21:20:07Z")
Well, the bad news is that none of these things are really signals in the wame way that a sign would be for instance. The good news is that they are all signals (as is any item of clothing, jewelery, or even mannerisms) from the point of view of the observer. So remember, you are not miscommunicating. At the same time, you are communicating all sorts of ā€œinterestingā€\* things without even trying. šŸ˜‰ ā€œAll books can be indecent books, though recent books are bolder For filth, Iā€™m glad to say, is in the mind of the beholder When correctly viewed, everything is lewd. I could tel you things about peter pan and the wizard of oz (theres a dirty old man).ā€ - Tom Lehrer \*with the right mindset the word gross can replace the word interesting. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/24 "2004-05-10T21:43:50Z")
Since **jarbabyj** mentioned hankies in the op, thought Iā€™d throw this out. Iā€™m sure itā€™s been done before but, as a refresher, [the gay hanky codes](http://www.btbears.com/hcode.html). ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/25 "2004-05-10T21:47:46Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > I was told only a few weeks ago that if you hang mardi gras beads from your rearview mirror it is a ā€˜universal symbolā€™ :rolleyes: that you are into BDSM. I said it then, I"ll say it nowā€¦somebody better shoot of a memo to my sixty eight year old aunt who just thought the colors were pretty. > > So what have you heard? So what does it mean if you wear them in your hair? I realized after school today that my daughter had them wrapped around her ponytail. Should I worry? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/26 "2004-05-10T21:57:04Z")
In _Pulp Fiction_, a female character with a tongue stud says she has it because it makes giving oral sex more pleasurable to the man. Iā€™m pretty sure that almost any woman with a tongue stud has heard this, however. Furthermore, Iā€™m also convinced that this has some degree of truth to it, based on my anecdotal experience. ---
**Author:** ![hybrid\_dogfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@hybrid\_dogfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hybrid_dogfish)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/27 "2004-05-10T21:59:11Z")
well, i donā€™t think i give any of the signals mentioned, i had heard of **elfbabe** ā€™s ā€œare you positiveā€ (Iā€™m 21, it was going round when I was about 10, the joke that is) and the sex bracelets. I have to say, having looked at swampyā€™s link, I am impressed that anyone could differentiate that many colours, maybe there is something to the idea of gay blokes being more artistic šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/28 "2004-05-10T21:59:47Z")
Sorry, that last post wasnā€™t particularly clear. The implication is that any woman with a tongue stud munches flesh lollypops on a regular basis, lesbians excepted, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/29 "2004-05-10T22:21:38Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Sorry, that last post wasnā€™t particularly clear. The implication is that any woman with a tongue stud munches flesh lollypops on a regular basis, lesbians excepted, I suppose. Chris Rock (Iā€™m pretty sure it was him, anyway) has a bit ā€˜A woman with a tongue stud is likely to give you a blowjob. A guy with a tongue studā€¦ Is likely to give you a blowjob.ā€™ ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/30 "2004-05-10T22:36:14Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > In _Pulp Fiction_, a female character with a tongue stud says she has it because it makes giving oral sex more pleasurable to the man. I would be _sooooooo_ tempted to reply, ā€œOh yeah? Prove it.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/31 "2004-05-11T00:04:30Z")
A thread a few months ago claimed that a small-of-the-back tattoo identified a woman as a hooker. The very next day, a saleslady in a waterbed shop bent over to get a warranty for the mattress I just bought. Her shirt rode up, and there was a celtic/Von Dutch design on her lovely back. I decided that rumor was bogus. Maybe. Perhaps a tattoo artist would not tell a client what a certain location meant. One old friend told me he sought out women who wore ankle bracelets. He claimed they were always hot in bed. :rolleyes: A person with a starry-sky tattoo in brown ink may be a natural redhead. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/32 "2004-05-11T00:06:55Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Once when I was bitching about the low-pants-with-boxers-showing thing, I was told that it has a specific meaning. Of course, now Iā€™ve forgotten what it was. Does it really have a meaning and if so, what? Iā€™ve heard that gay inmates in prisons used to do this to allow others ā€œeasy access.ā€ In my experience, however, it means ā€œI am a stupid lazy teenagerā€ or ā€œHey look at my boxersā€ which are kind of the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/33 "2004-05-11T00:30:49Z")
Some say the very low pants thing means, ā€œIā€™m carrying so much cash and drugs that my pants wonā€™t stay up.ā€ The dope sluts come a-runninā€™. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/34 "2004-05-11T00:38:01Z")
Iā€™m not sure what it is, but apparently something about me is giving the signal, ā€œGreat platonic friend!ā€ I only wish I knew _what_ it was that gave that signal, so I could take it out back and fucking burn it. ---
**Author:** ![laserkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@laserkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laserkitty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/35 "2004-05-11T00:42:08Z")
> [@jk1245](#): > > I think weā€™ve all heard about the ā€œtattoo on the small of a womanā€™s backā€ and what _that_ means. My wife recently mentioned that sheā€™d like to get a tattoo on her back. Needless to say, I was quite supportive. Sadly, she was not aware of the meaning. Hmm, Iā€™ve not heard this one. Enlighten meā€¦that way Iā€™ll know what signal Iā€™m giving off when I show off my tattooā€¦on the small of my back. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/36 "2004-05-11T00:45:22Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Once when I was bitching about the low-pants-with-boxers-showing thing, I was told that it has a specific meaning. Of course, now Iā€™ve forgotten what it was. Does it really have a meaning and if so, what? The explanation I heard was that the low-pants were an imitation of prisoners, who are not allowed to wear belts. The one-pant-leg rolled up was a sign that youā€™d had a relative that had suffered the death penalty. Apparently, it is believed that the attendants roll up one pant leg to attach the electrodes. Iā€™m not sure I believe either story. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/37 "2004-05-11T00:49:49Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Well, Iā€™m 25 and I remember this one. I think it usually went like this: > > Them: Do you know what AIDS is? > Me: Yes. > Them: Are you sure? > Me: Yes. > Them: Are you positive? > Me: Yes. > Them: Youā€™re HIV positive! Ha ha ha! > > The humor of children tends to have a timelessness to it, doesnā€™t it? :rolleyes: This reminds me of, from my childhood, ā€œIf you were on a bus, and you realized that everyone else on the bus was gay, would you get off?ā€ ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/38 "2004-05-11T00:54:57Z")
Seems to me that certain signals are just fashion, and others are mysterious, secret communication that can only be understood by a select few others. And even if certain signs have double meanings that only certain people can read, they still donā€™t mean anything more to the person sending the signal if they have no more intent than fashion. I feel bad for the person who is suddenly afraid to put a rainbow sticker on their car if they love rainbows just because to some it represents diversity and unity. To most others, itā€™s just a rainbow. Fear the rainbow straight people! Please. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/39 "2004-05-11T01:03:23Z")
> [@hybrid\_dogfish](#): > > well, i donā€™t think i give any of the signals mentioned, i had heard of **elfbabe** ā€™s ā€œare you positiveā€ (Iā€™m 21, it was going round when I was about 10, the joke that is) and the sex bracelets. I have to say, having looked at swampyā€™s link, I am impressed that anyone could differentiate that many colours, maybe there is something to the idea of gay blokes being more artistic šŸ˜• Actually we have to go to school for three months to learn all the hanky codes. The up side is the graduation party is _FAAAAAAAAAA-BUUUUUUUU-LOUS!!!_ šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482/40 "2004-05-11T01:04:46Z")
> [@](#): > > One old friend told me he sought out women who wore ankle bracelets. He claimed they were always hot in bed. Save the rolleye thingie----my darling Marcie wears an ankle bracelet and she is as hot as it gets, in bed or out. I should say that she is super hot with or without the ankle bracelet, so maybe the jury should stay out on that one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-signals-you-didnt-know-you-were-giving/244482.md?page=3)