# Universal symbols **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946 "2020-02-14T19:21:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/81 "2020-02-16T07:26:29Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Sorry, I didn’t mean to move them. This is what I had in mind when I started the thread. I guess I didn’t explain it very well. However, maybe I can fix it up a bit. > > Context is often critical to a symbol’s meaning, just as it is for those of words and other things. So a symbol with multiple meanings, that everyone recognizes with the same meaning in a typical context, it’s universal. So if everyone recognizes a + as a plus sign when it’s written in between two number, then it’s universal. > > So if the tilted swastika scrawled on a wall is seen by everyone as Naziism, then it qualifies. Or if they recognize it in some other typical context (e.g. neo-Nazi literature). The Hindu/Buddhist meaning is obviously not so recognized, so it’s not universal. So for at least China and Japan, and probably most other countries, arabic numerals must be used, making them almost certainly universal in math equations. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/82 "2020-02-16T08:18:31Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > So for at least China and Japan, and probably most other countries, arabic numerals must be used, making them almost certainly universal in math equations. As far as I know, the arabic numerals are used in every country on Earth. No exceptions. They may also use other numerals in certain circumstances but they all use arabic numerals. And everyone learns them in school. The only people who don’t use them are isolated, such as the Sentinelese and the Pirahã. BTW, as far as the “moving the goalposts” thing, I’m fairly sure I didn’t actually do that. If you read only my posts, you won’t find it. Some other people, likely including yourself, made some assumptions about the topic that went beyond what I said. However, it’s still at least partially my fault for not explaining what I meant better. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/83 "2020-02-16T12:49:13Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Being anal. Number of Hindus worldwide [1.1 billion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_by_country), 15% of the world population. Number of Buddhists [535 million](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_by_country), 7% of the world population. Total 22% of the world population. So probably more people know about the swastika/wan zi/manji as a religious symbol than those think if it a Nazi symbol. Again, not trying to be superior, just pointing out easily researched facts! 😉 Speaking as a Hindu, I should hope that educated Hindus would recognize that a Swastika is a Nazi symbol except in circumstances in which it’s clear it’s being used as a Hindu symbol. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/84 "2020-02-16T12:57:40Z")
A pointing finger. See one of those on a sign and you know that there’s something in that direction. Oftentimes you can figure out based on context what that something is without being able to understand any writing or signage associated with it. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/85 "2020-02-16T17:29:27Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Speaking as a Hindu, I should hope that educated Hindus would recognize that a Swastika is a Nazi symbol except in circumstances in which it’s clear it’s being used as a Hindu symbol. Knowing and misinterpreting/ignorance are two different things. It may be because of my search history, but this is the top link when I Google [swastika](https://www.google.com/search?q=swastika&rlz=1C1MSIM_enUS785US785&oq=swastika&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l2j69i60l2j69i61.7480j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8): "swas·ti·ka /ˈswästəkə/ noun an ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, used (in clockwise form) as the emblem of the German Nazi party." Edit: The second link is to the [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) article that shows both clockwise and anti-clockwise examples of the religious swastika and the canted Nazi swastika. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/86 "2020-02-16T17:43:34Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > A pointing finger. > > See one of those on a sign and you know that there’s something in that direction. Oftentimes you can figure out based on context what that something is without being able to understand any writing or signage associated with it. OP clarified that the intent of this thread is symbols, not gestures like V for Victory/Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/87 "2020-02-16T17:58:55Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Knowing and misinterpreting/ignorance are two different things. It may be because of my search history, but this is the top link when I Google [swastika](https://www.google.com/search?q=swastika&rlz=1C1MSIM_enUS785US785&oq=swastika&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l2j69i60l2j69i61.7480j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8): > > "swas·ti·ka > /ˈswästəkə/ > > noun > an ancient symbol in the form of an equal-armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, used (in clockwise form) as the emblem of the German Nazi party." > > Edit: The second link is to the [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) article that shows both clockwise and anti-clockwise examples of the religious swastika and the canted Nazi swastika. I’m not sure what your point is. In terms of the meaning of the swastika, it’s a matter of context, not its direction or orientation. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/88 "2020-02-16T18:28:45Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I’m not sure what your point is. > > In terms of the meaning of the swastika, it’s a matter of context, not its direction or orientation. The direction and orientation of the Nazi swastika IS critical. With the exception of ancient representations, AFAIK, the Hindu swastika and Buddhist wan zi/manji is NEVER at an angle. Hitler must have known this and purposely canted the Nazi version. “_**The Nazis’ principal symbol was the hakenkreuz, “hooked-cross” (which resembles the Swastika)**_ which the newly established Nazi Party formally adopted in 1920.[3] The emblem was a black swastika (卐) rotated 45 degrees on a white circle on a red background. This insignia was used on the party’s flag, badge, and armband. Similar shaped swastikas were seen in United States postcards wishing people good luck in the early 1900s.[4][5]” My emphasis. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) Less villianized is the inverted cross which as I stated above is now often associated with Satanism, though historically it’s the Cross of Peter. If I were a follower of a church that used that cross as a religious symbol, I’d be highly insulted if someone thought I was a follower or Satanism. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/89 "2020-02-16T18:36:26Z")
I’ll leave the last word to you or anyone else that may choose to comment on my posts as I see I’m banging my head against a brick wall. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/90 "2020-02-16T19:07:23Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > The direction and orientation of the Nazi swastika IS critical. With the exception of ancient representations, AFAIK, the Hindu swastika and Buddhist wan zi/manji is NEVER at an angle. Hitler must have known this and purposely canted the I’m sorry but this is untrue. Nazis used and neo-Nazis use the symbol in all kinds of ways. Official uses tended toward a pattern but not because that was the only pattern that symbolized Nazi-ism big because like any organized institution, it made sense to follow a style guide. That didn’t mean that swastikas in different formats didn’t indicate Nazism. And that last statement about Hitler must have known and so rotated the symbol is nonsense. Hitler didn’t need to distinguish the Nazi party symbol from Hindu and Buddhist uses. But the party was good at propaganda so made sure everything looked cool. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/91 "2020-02-16T19:08:43Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I’ll leave the last word to you or anyone else that may choose to comment on my posts as I see I’m banging my head against a brick wall. What you’re doing is drawing false conclusions from faulty premises. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/92 "2020-02-17T08:14:59Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > A pointing finger. > > See one of those on a sign and you know that there’s something in that direction. Oftentimes you can figure out based on context what that something is without being able to understand any writing or signage associated with it. Index finger pointing is[not universal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing#Cultural_variations), there are cultures that consider it rude and use thumb pointing, whole-hand pointing or other variations. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/93 "2020-02-17T09:05:54Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Index finger pointing is[not universal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing#Cultural_variations), there are cultures that consider it rude and use thumb pointing, whole-hand pointing or other variations. Since this thread is supposed to be about graphic images and not gestures, I thought this reference was to pointing fingers that used to be somewhat common on late 19th/early 20th century posters and advertisements. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/94 "2020-02-17T13:01:29Z")
FWIW, I was clearly referencing pointing fingers as used on signs. As in: This way to the egress. 👉 I was thinking an face with x’s for eyes would be universal for death/poison/warning, but apparently the emoji’s for this generally mean dizzy (huh?) or shock. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/95 "2020-02-17T13:07:28Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Since this thread is supposed to be about graphic images and not gestures, I thought this reference was to pointing fingers that used to be somewhat common on late 19th/early 20th century posters and advertisements. That was what I understood, too. I’m just pointing out that they wouldn’t be universally understood. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/96 "2020-02-17T17:42:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > […] > And male/female stick figures for segregated washrooms? > […] In Poland the Symbol for the male washromm is a equilateral triangle pointing down and for the females it is a circle (or ws it the other way around?), so not universal. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/97 "2020-02-17T19:01:48Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > In Poland the Symbol for the male washromm is a equilateral triangle pointing down and for the females it is a circle (or ws it the other way around?), so not universal. OK, those would totally confuse _me_, since I’ve never been to Poland. But wouldn’t almost all Poles still recognize the symbols we use in the rest of Europe (and most of the world)? (Insert Pole joke here.) ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/98 "2020-02-17T21:27:16Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > OK, those would totally confuse _me_, since I’ve never been to Poland. But wouldn’t almost all Poles still recognize the symbols we use in the rest of Europe (and most of the world)? > > (Insert Pole joke here.) I don’t know, but they sure have a lot of fun with drunk tourists in bars around there. (The only Pole joke I remember only works in German, sorry. Believe me, it is better that way 😃 Except in case you admit jokes about the former Pope as Pole jokes, there I remember a couple.) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/99 "2020-02-17T22:14:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Index finger pointing is[not universal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing#Cultural_variations), there are cultures that consider it rude. _That_ culture is the USA. It’s amusing how that American characteristic always seems to be blamed on ‘other’ cultures. > [@lingyi](#): > > Don’t know about playing cards, since they’re usually associated with some type of gambling, > . That’s _why_ they are almost universally recognized 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/100 "2020-02-17T23:22:16Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Index finger pointing is[not universal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointing#Cultural_variations), there are cultures that consider it rude and use thumb pointing, whole-hand pointing or other variations. Even when pointing out directions, inanimate objects and such? I always thought the rude thing was to point straight at _you_! Only Uncle Sam does that! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946.md?page=6)