Not only are the gestures for Germany not offensive in Germany (“the fig” is known as an offencife gestere here though. Probably because of the Turkish influence), but the flag with emblem was used. The emblem is only to be used by federal agencies.
Or prior to 1990 to differentiate west and east Germany.
Also, I‘d say, depending on the context, hands in pockets might be perceived as rude, especially by older people. I‘d guess that the a-ok thing is also primarily considered rude by older people, I only really know it as a-ok.
A OK isn’t an offensive gesture in turkey this is full of shit
An inverted positioning by having the back of your hand seen, making the gesture downwards instead of upwards, and a general irrelevance of the other fingers than thumb and index finger is widely used as a slur to indicate a person is gay.
Other than both symbols making a chamber using thumb and index fingers, yeah A OK and that has no relation at all.
And on the topic of “The Fig”, I have never seen it used to indicate vagina. It has always been a very rude rejection of a request or a simple taunt similar to showing one’s ass in a “kiss my ass” kind of meaning. At least from what I have seen in my childhood and teenager years, this had no open meaning about vagina, although it is not far fetched to have it mean “pussy/chicken” as a similar taunt.
first one I haven’t come across yet and I am a turkish person maybe it’s older and not as widely used anymore? but yeah ur right about “the fig” (or “nah” hehe)
It can vary from place to place and group to group I guess. These things hardly have the same meaning in a general population. They sometimes even derive more meanings. The top comment (by u/soulreaverdan) in this reddit post suggest that it is a 90s joke with somewhat meaning a “got you” or derivatively derogatory “you got cucked/you are a bottom” among teens horsing around.
Never heard of the political or in-group meanings, tho.
But definitely not something a lot of mildly unruly teens would use. It was more of a bully or toxic alpha male thing back when I was a teen. I don’t see it anymore, either, thankfully.
That Corna one over there, at least in Portugal, comes from we saying to put (on) the horns (por os cornos) means you’re cheating on your partner, making them the horned one (cornuda/chifrudo).
So I think doing that gesture to someone not your partner is an insult as much as any other hand gesture you can make as long as you are talking angrily.
Required reading for tourists
Also for some reason they took a very specific reason for the german flag calles Dienstflagge
When I was a Brit in school my teachers would often say to me ‘take your hands out of your pockets while speaking to me!’, so its more an etiquette thing rather than being rude, I’d say.
