# What Do People Think When They See My Peace Sign? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2016, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667 "2016-12-14T07:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/1 "2016-12-14T07:41:40Z")
I am not ashamed to admit, I am just a couple of years shy of 50. I also am proud of the fact I was born in the late 60’s. Just barely, but still. But certainly not old enough to remember them, of course. Anyways, I do still feel a certain kinship with the 60’s. It was a time of great social change, in our country, and even in the world. Its changes, and its spirit, still resonate to this day. So for this reason, I wear a peace sign, around my neck. (More on how I got the peace sign, an interesting story too, later.) Yeah, I am not going to share with you my picture. But if you can imagine, I am a slightly overweight, almost middle-aged man, typically wearing a dress shirt, with comfortable jeans, and a porno-actor mustache (also anachronistic–like me). And, as I said, I wear a peace sign around my neck, as I have for nearly 20 years now. But back to the peace sign. About 20 years ago, they had a floor sale, at the college I used to go to. And this Rastafarian man, was selling (what else) Rastafarian jewelry and attire. Anyways, I’m certainly not a Rastafarian (I am Caucasian too, if that matters). But I noticed, if I took the Rasta beads off the peace sign he had, it made a perfect non-Rastafarian item. I didn’t have enough money at the time to pay for it. But he said “No, problem, Mon” and accepted in payment, what I had (which was just a little short of the actual price). But to this day I wonder. Why did he think a white man in his 20’s would be buying Rastafarian jewelry? (It kind of reminds me of a Simpson’s episode, where Homer buys a hat, at a Lollapalooza festival. I digress.) But back to my original question. What do people think when they see it? As I said, I am going to an anachronistic look. Oh, and BTW, I am trying to say “hippie”, not necessarily peace. I am a pacifist too. But I tend to be rather pragmatic on that issue too. I think war is sometimes justified–as a last resort, of course. Anyways: What do people think? What would _you_ think? I await your replies:). ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/2 "2016-12-14T08:17:05Z")
The peace sign has been coopted by young Japanese women, I think. Are you kawaii? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/3 "2016-12-14T08:21:45Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > But back to my original question. What do people think when they see it? As I said, I am going to an anachronistic look. Oh, and BTW, I am trying to say “hippie”, not necessarily peace. I am a pacifist too. But I tend to be rather pragmatic on that issue too. I think war is sometimes justified–as a last resort, of course. Anyways: What do people think? What would _you_ think? > > I await your replies:). I dunno. What do you think people think when they see the peace sign tattooed on my right shoulder? FWIW, I’ll be 50 in less than 2 weeks now. Oh, and did I mention the anarchy symbol tattooed on my left shoulder? I don’t give a fuck what people think. They’re there for me, not for anyone else. Punk as fuck. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2016, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/4 "2016-12-14T11:12:03Z")
They think you like Chickenfoot? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/5 "2016-12-14T11:50:13Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I am not ashamed to admit, I am just a couple of years shy of 50. Oh boo fucking hoo. This is like when I hear people in their 20s say “I know I’m showing my age…” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/6 "2016-12-14T12:10:30Z")
Ya forgot ta tell us 'bout the most important thing, man: how long is your hair? 'Cause you ain’t gonna look cool and groovy if ya ain’t got long hair. And a headband. And a fringe vest. I’m guessing that if I passed you on the street, I’d think–“hey, look at the guy with the peace sign… a wannabe hippie. I wonder if back in the day, he was the real thing?” Interesting observation that may be relevant: A year or two ago, I visited New York City, and for the first time drove north to the Catskills resort area. Lots of small towns with artsy shops for tourists…And of course, the main one is the town of Woodstock. I wasn’t going to miss that! The heartbeat of the 60’s!.. Nostalgia, right? \* Well, it was kinda disappointing… There was only one shop selling T-shirts --some with classic images of the 60’s, but many more with more recent themes. And there was one other relic: an almost-head-shop— with some viny records , a small shelf with some smoking paraphanelia, and a few 60’s souveniers, --but all mixed in with more modern stuff, which was clearly the main source of income. And thus I learned that the 60’s just ain’t what they used to be. Peace, man. \*(I was only 13 at the time of the festival,… but I bought the record! And a few years later, I kept a bong hidden from my parents. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/7 "2016-12-14T12:19:02Z")
I would think you were, in your youth, and are still, a big fan of peace. (I confess to being a tad confused by what exactly Rastafarian jewellery is. Or how some beads make it so. Such that their removal, makes it NOT Rasta. What?) Were you this concerned about what people think of your symbol, for the previous 20 yrs you’ve worn it? Or is this a recent concern since turning 50 perhaps? It does seem a little odd to care so much now. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/8 "2016-12-14T13:00:06Z")
I’d think “aging hipster”. Nothing wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/9 "2016-12-14T13:42:00Z")
I’m ten or fifteen years older than you, and I think “nostalgia isn’t what it used to be”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/10 "2016-12-14T13:52:16Z")
I have no thoughts on this whatsoever. It doesn’t matter to me, other than I find it odd that you think it is unusual enough to elicit some thought from people. People who have an opinion will naturally self select to respond to you, but I’m going to guess the the majority of the people (the ones who don’t respond), are like me and don’t care at all about this. Its like saying you bought a red sweater the other day and wondered what people think about it…they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/11 "2016-12-14T15:18:25Z")
They think you stole the hood ornament off a Mercedes? > [@Alessan](#): > > I’d think “aging hipster”. Nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing as pathetic as an aging hipster. -Dr. Evil > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Oh, and did I mention the anarchy symbol tattooed on my left shoulder? > I don’t give a fuck what people think. They’re there for me, not for anyone else. Punk as fuck. Oh, your posts here say you do care what people think. The fact you wear the symbol for a philosophy that, at it’s core, would not even _have_ a symbol, says it all. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/12 "2016-12-14T15:40:00Z")
I wouldn’t take any particular notice of your attire. Because I’d be distracted by the pornstache. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/13 "2016-12-14T15:42:22Z")
Yeah, the stache’s got to go. Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met Tapatalk Pro ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/14 "2016-12-14T15:53:07Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I am not ashamed to admit, I am just a couple of years shy of 50. I also am proud of the fact I was born in the late 60’s. Just barely, but still. But certainly not old enough to remember them, of course. > > Anyways, I do still feel a certain kinship with the 60’s. I’m a couple of months shy of 50 and therefore born a little deeper into the 60s. This attitude is completely foreign to me. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/15 "2016-12-14T16:23:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’m ten or fifteen years older than you, and I think “nostalgia isn’t what it used to be”. I’m even older than you, and it never was. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/16 "2016-12-14T16:30:43Z")
I’m not as old as any of you but it still never was. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/17 "2016-12-14T16:31:28Z")
At your age it’s not a porno-actor mustache, it’s a John Bolton mustache. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/18 "2016-12-14T16:48:13Z")
A middle-aged guy wearing a peace sign on a necklace? It would give me a chuckle, having grown up in Berkeley. A little bit of eye-rolling nostalgia. And a little bit of “Uh, whut?” in the same way as if I saw an older guy wearing a zoot suit. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/19 "2016-12-14T16:49:09Z")
Are you purposely wearing it like this? [http://tinyurl.com/jbaq44t](http://tinyurl.com/jbaq44t) If so, then while my may be a swell guy, my thoughts border on a chuckle and eye roll. It has nothing to do with the peace sign, it’s just that wearing jewelry like that IMO it looks silly on men. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667/20 "2016-12-14T16:57:10Z")
Does it clash with your earrings, nose-rings, eyebrow rings, or finger rings? Bad scene, Man! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-people-think-when-they-see-my-peace-sign/774667.md?page=2)