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View Full Version : What means this expression?

Atoon
07-30-2003, 04:41 PM
http://members.coolchannel.com/chatoon//asas.gif
JDuncan
07-30-2003, 04:44 PM
That's the sign of the devil, most often seen in crowds at '80s metal concerts. I believe Ronnie James Dio was the first to popularize it.

EDIT: After some research, I've discovered that it also means "I Love You" in ASL (http://maddog.weblogs.com/stories/storyReader$185).
"Yes, this is also the sign in the hearing world for 'Rock on'.
Iteresting side note: the origin of the 'Rock on' interpretation of this sign in the hearing world comes from heavy metal bands, who called it the 'devil horns'. ASL 'I love you' and the devil horns are not related, an evolved independently. On top of that, a proper heavy-metal devil horns sign should tuck the thumb in, but lots of people aren't really precise about it."
kiddiesunshine
07-30-2003, 04:52 PM
I think it goes back farther than that. Bugs Bunny does it every once and a while.
Good Ol' Batmanuel!
07-30-2003, 05:28 PM
First and foremost, that means love, or I love you. It existed in American Sign Language well before the invention of the electric guitar! ;) The proper metal/devil sign wouldn't have the thumb sticking out. Most people don't even seem to realize the difference. In my case, my mother, and especially my brother, both know some A.S.L., so I already knew what it was.

It was a trademark of sorts for Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, too, meaning he loved the fans:
http://www.marylandwrestling.com/guests/jimmysnuka.jpg
Adam Tyner
07-30-2003, 05:31 PM
The proper metal/devil sign wouldn't have the thumb sticking out. People seem to use both, though.

Yeah -- I watched Heavy Metal Parking Lot the other day, and it seemed to be a pretty even split between thumbs extended and not.
Seven Marks
07-30-2003, 05:49 PM
That's the sign of the devil, most often seen in crowds at '80s metal concerts. I believe Ronnie James Dio was the first to popularize it.

Man, don't be confusing the poor kid. That particular sign there means "I love you" and is in NO way the sign of the devil. The "sign of the Devil" or as jdoggg put it the "rock on" sign, is when your thumb holds down your ring and middle finger, and the other two stick out. Similar, but VERY different in meaning.
JDuncan
07-30-2003, 05:51 PM
Man, don't be confusing the poor kid. That particular sign there means "I love you" and is in NO way the sign of the devil. The "sign of the Devil" or as jdoggg put it the "rock on" sign, is when your thumb holds down your ring and middle finger, and the other two stick out. Similar, but VERY different in meaning.
Actually, I called it the sign of the devil, the ASL site called it the "rock on" sign, that's why that paragraph was quoted. The sign of the devil came to mind most likely because I just watched Bill & Teds Bogus Journey...
Jedigreedo
07-30-2003, 09:03 PM
Man, don't be confusing the poor kid. That particular sign there means "I love you" and is in NO way the sign of the devil.

I dunno if you say love backwards it sounds a bit like evil. ;)
jeffrey 228
07-30-2003, 11:22 PM
I have the same feeling that is also a sign of the meaning "I Love You" , because i have seen that at a few places that they did that, but that is kina unknown at this time.
supermonkey
07-30-2003, 11:59 PM
Man, don't be confusing the poor kid. That particular sign there means "I love you" and is in NO way the sign of the devil. The "sign of the Devil" or as jdoggg put it the "rock on" sign, is when your thumb holds down your ring and middle finger, and the other two stick out. Similar, but VERY different in meaning.

Devil, Love, two sides of the same coin, at least with my last g/f :(