# Handkerchief in back pocket: fashion statment or signal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383 "2001-08-21T17:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/1 "2001-08-21T17:56:59Z")
There’s a guy who works in the building, and he’s always got a red handkerchief in his left back pocket. There would be nothing at all unusual about that in this environment, except that a) he never blows his nose on it or does any other sort of handkerchiefy things with it, and b) it always protrudes a bit from his pocket. I’m a bit too shy to ask him about it, but I recall vaguely something about handkerchiefs being some sort of signaling device within the gay community. At the time that I heard it (some years ago) I dismissed it as a stupid urban legend, like the earring in the wrong ear thing. I’ve found a few “decoders” online that say that suggest that based on his hanky display, this mild-mannered fellow is into fisting–giving, not recieving. Uhhhhh, okay. Interesting thing to advertise in the workplace. So, I prevail upon Dopers In The Know! Does anybody follow this convention any more? Or has something else taken its place? Or is it more likely that this guy just think it looks good to have a hankerchief poking out of his jeans pocket? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/2 "2001-08-21T18:05:12Z")
All I can tell you, Podkayne, is that Sylvester P. Smythe, the Alfred E. Neuman of _Cracked_ Magazine, always dresses in white painter’s overalls (although the magazine calls him the “janitor”), and always carries a polka-dotted (various colors, in covers painted by John Severin) in a hip pocket. He is never shown doing anything with _his_ hanky, either. ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/3 "2001-08-21T18:21:45Z")
Well, when I had gay roomates, they explained to me how a handkerchief in the left pocket signalled the person was a top and in the right pocket signalled a bottom. (I might have gotten those backwards but you get the idea.)I think different colors can be used to signal interest in bdsm and stuff too. I saw a guide to interpreting hanky wearing in one of the local gay rags arond here but I didn’t memorize it. The thing is, unless your environment has a significant gay population, I don’t see why this guy would wear a handkerchief as a signal. There’s no one to communicate with. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/4 "2001-08-21T18:25:29Z")
For those that don’t know (or don’t remember) the [Hankie Code](http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/6466/hankie.htm), well, there goes the link. ---
**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/5 "2001-08-21T18:26:12Z")
I’ve noticed alot in the music industry (especially in thier videos) the majority of rappers will wear a small towel (like the ones from hotels) in their back pockets. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/6 "2001-08-21T18:28:31Z")
I think you’ve found the allusive ‘Boss’. That is, Bruce Springstien. I was wondering what happpened to him. ---
**Author:** ![Falafel\_Waffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@Falafel\_Waffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falafel_Waffle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/7 "2001-08-21T18:35:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bughunter \* > \*\*For those that don’t know (or don’t remember) the [Hankie Code](http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/6466/hankie.htm), well, there goes the link. \*\* Well, according to that website, he’s a pooper poker. So you might want to watch out. If ya drop yer wallet at work, kick it over to the wall before you bend to pick it up! 😃 As for what **breaknrun** said, there’s no one to show the hankie too… Guys are ALWAYS looking for a grip. They don’t care where they get it, so maybe he’s just showing his colors in the hope someone at work suddenly decides to play Doctor! And hey! it got **Podkane’s** attention didn’t it? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/8 "2001-08-21T19:57:28Z")
Jeezus, **Falafel Waffle** , think you could post with less class? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dave316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dave316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dave316)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/9 "2001-08-21T22:39:49Z")
maybe he is in a gang. Where I work the accounting , marketing and IT departments each have their own gang and they are always throwing gang signs at each other. Good thing its against company policy to do a drive-by or who knows what would happen ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/10 "2001-08-21T22:47:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Falafel Waffle \* > \*\*Well, according to that website, he’s a pooper poker. So you might want to watch out. If ya drop yer wallet at work, kick it over to the wall before you bend to pick it up! 😃 > > As for what **breaknrun** said, there’s no one to show the hankie too… Guys are ALWAYS looking for a grip. They don’t care where they get it, so maybe he’s just showing his colors in the hope someone at work suddenly decides to play Doctor! And hey! it got **Podkane’s** attention didn’t it? :eek: \*\* That sort of post is inappropriate here. Please don’t do it again. bibliophage moderator, GQ ---
**Author:** ![Oystaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@Oystaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oystaman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/11 "2001-08-22T00:28:13Z")
Where do you work? Hmmmm??? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/12 "2001-08-22T01:30:08Z")
From the hanky code: > [@](#): > > MOSQUITO NETTING = BOTTOM FOR SEX OUTDOORS ROFL! Some of those colors are awfully close together… I mean: Light Blue Robin’s Egg Blue (whatever that is) Medium Blue They are all very different, um, signals. But at least I know which one to sport next time I’m caught speeding! And who can tell the difference between: Pale Yellow Mustard Gold Orange Apricot Especially after they’ve been through the wash a few times! ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/13 "2001-08-22T02:28:34Z")
I’ll just bet [Christopher Lowell](http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/christopherlowell/christopherlowell.html) can. My question still remains: is this code really used anymore, or was it something that has lived longer in parody than in practice? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/14 "2001-08-22T02:50:35Z")
A lot of people still take it very seriously. I know that the code has been around since at least the 60s with minor changes throught the years. I don’t remember seeing Mosquito netting on any official list. I guess I have to update my list. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/15 "2001-08-22T03:01:13Z")
As far as I know, there is no lesbian parallel to the hanky code. [sub]it would make my life easier…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handkerchief-in-back-pocket-fashion-statment-or-signal/77383/16 "2001-08-22T15:21:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dave316 \* > \*\*maybe he is in a gang. Where I work the accounting , marketing and IT departments each have their own gang and they are always throwing gang signs at each other. Good thing its against company policy to do a drive-by or who knows what would happen \*\* You mean like Herb Kornfeld and his Accountz Receevable Krew? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\*As far as I know, there is no lesbian parallel to the hanky code. > > [sub]it would make my life easier…[/sub] \*\* Well hell, don’t be shy, excercise some creativity and make one up ;). Who know’s, maybe it’ll catch on…