# could someone explain this for me please? \[Neo-Nazi code words\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866 "2016-04-23T02:52:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/21 "2016-04-25T15:04:26Z")
Title edited to indicate subject. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/22 "2016-04-25T15:11:45Z")
> [@TheShaper](#): > > Well, if you think that’s bad, consider this: > > If you consider two first names ambiguous, then let’s take the name Lee. > > Lee is use as a first name, middle name, and last name. > > So technically you could have this for a name: > > Lee Lee Lee. **TheShaper** , did you mean to post [over here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=789236)? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/23 "2016-04-25T19:11:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Mall police, specifically. We had an ugly neo-Nazi riot at the mall the other day, when Auntie Anne’s Pretzels ran out of wiener schnitzel. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/24 "2016-04-25T21:30:56Z")
Illinois Nazis! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/25 "2016-04-25T22:45:04Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > And “88” is police code for a disturbance involving nazis. > [@Ignotus](#): > > Googling “police code 88” doesn’t confirm this. Do you have a cite? > > (I’m dubious, mostly because I can’t see the need for a special code for this kind of eventuality – would the police handle it differently than, say, a disturbance involving anarchists?) > [@kayaker](#): > > Mall police, specifically. > [@Herdthiscat](#): > > Positively correct. As a sidenote, 88, or “hatey hate” - a particularly impassioned form of hate - is a notable characteristic of the cultural group in question, which has come to embrace the term in the form of a two-digit number. I checked an online listing of Nashville’s Police Radio Codes, & Code 88 is skipped. Perhaps it is “officially unofficial”. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/26 "2016-04-25T23:32:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Yes. The Enigma machine at one point required a six-letter code as a starting point. Each machine had three letters. The code breakers found a lot of the codes began with “HIT” and were able to figure out the rest. (“BER” was also a common combination – with “LIN” as the rest). Which is why the US put “dummy phrases” into the beginning and ending of their military messages; the radio operators were supposed to remove those (randomly selected) phrases from the message before delivering the message to the addressee - though that sometimes didn’t happen, leading to one dramatic event [The world wonders - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_world_wonders) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/27 "2016-04-26T04:31:00Z")
Just to point out - as has been done numerous times before, In Asian cultures 8 or 88 is considered lucky - so just because there is a screen name 88 don’t jump to any conclusions ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/28 "2016-04-26T09:55:30Z")
There’s an ice cream here in Sweden called “88”. [![](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) ](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) I shall now consider anyone eating one a Nazi. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/29 "2016-04-26T12:39:58Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > That’s really depressing! 88 used to be old telegraphers’ code for “With love and kisses.” > > [cite.](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/01/88-or-how-telegraphers-coded-love-and-kisses/282850/) In amateur radio, it was the more intimate cousin of the common “73” signoff, and wasn’t used much by thirteen-year-old hams like me. 73 was the traditional signoff, meaning something like “So long, it’s been great talking to you.” It was just one of many code numbers used in the era of slow slow communication. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/30 "2016-04-26T13:51:51Z")
88 in German has many meanings, most have nothing to do with Nazis [Cite](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achtundachtzig) Mostly it means “Egal ist 88” (Doesn’t matter is 88), do to the fact that the number is always 88 regardless how you read it. Something like the number 42 - meaning “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” However, lately the association with of Neo Nazis is growing there as well, do to the representation of 88 with Nazism in US movie and TV. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/31 "2016-04-26T14:39:00Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > There’s an ice cream here in Sweden called “88”. > > [https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977\_f94dccf012\_b.jpg](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) > > I shall now consider anyone eating one a Nazi. Shouldn’t you consider anyone eating one to be eating a Nazi? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/32 "2016-04-26T16:40:25Z")
Myself I do some amateur cartooning and I’ll often portray a sports jersey with the number 8 or 88 for the sake of being able to reverse the image. > [@amanset](#): > > There’s an ice cream here in Sweden called “88”. > > [https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977\_f94dccf012\_b.jpg](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) > > I shall now consider anyone eating one a Nazi. 😃 …wait… …hmm, the symbol above the 88, two hearts as concentric lines, is commonly referred to among the online moral panic community as a pedophile sign :eek: So I don’t think it’s crossing over to the US market 😛 ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/33 "2016-04-26T16:54:39Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > There’s an ice cream here in Sweden called “88”. > > [https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977\_f94dccf012\_b.jpg](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) > > I shall now consider anyone eating one a Nazi. In the UK we have a “[99](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99_Flake)” ice cream. Which I guess is an II. For II’s cream. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/34 "2016-04-26T17:34:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > And “88” is police code for a disturbance involving nazis. I feel obligated to point out to anyone who took **kayaker’s** post seriously that his presence in a thread is often accompanied by a strong displacement of air that seems to be coming from just a few feet above the reader’s head. Which is OK because he can liven up an otherwise dry thread and I love him for it. In a strictly platonic way, of course. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/35 "2016-04-26T18:34:57Z")
{{{{ **cochrane** }}}} (see numerology tales of 420) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/36 "2016-04-26T20:47:22Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > {{{{ **cochrane** }}}} > > (see numerology tales of 420) Does that mean that Hitler, who was born on 4/20, liked to toke up? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/37 "2016-04-26T20:52:57Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > There’s an ice cream here in Sweden called “88”. > > [https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977\_f94dccf012\_b.jpg](https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2932/14570547977_f94dccf012_b.jpg) > > I shall now consider anyone eating one a Nazi. What if you see two fat ladies eating them? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/38 "2016-04-26T21:25:35Z")
Is this directed at me? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/39 "2016-04-26T21:34:06Z")
German car number plates have prefixes to designate the city. H is used for Hannover, and the large city of Hamburg, also starting with H, is designated as HH, for Hamburg’s official name, Verfassung der Freien und _ **Hansestadt Hamburg** _. If HH meant anything dubious in the German psyche, they would not put HH on the number plates of every car in one of Germay’s largest cities. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866/40 "2016-04-26T22:15:12Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > …hmm, the symbol above the 88, two hearts as concentric lines, is commonly referred to among the online moral panic community as a pedophile sign :eek: So I don’t think it’s crossing over to the US market 😛 [Well, 88 ice cream isn’t, but the company with the logo already is.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Unilever_brands#Ice_cream) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-explain-this-for-me-please-neo-nazi-code-words/752866.md?page=3)