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UER Forum > Rookie Forum > Hand Signals (Viewed 5101 times)
L0st1nt1m3 


Location: Vancouver Island.
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Hand Signals
< on 12/7/2018 10:09 PM >
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(I did a search on this site but I couldn't find anything pertaining to this. If this, or a similar thread already exists, please let me know. Thanks.)

Does anyone use hand signals/gestures while exploring new places to substitute their voice? I am thinking about it in a creative way to avoid security, squatters, druggies, ect. I know the general ones such as 'stop' and 'go' but does anyone use any specific ones?

If so, what are they, and can you please describe them?

Thanks everyone!




Aran 


Location: Kansas City
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Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 1 on 12/7/2018 11:22 PM >
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Nope. Occasions where absolute silence is necessary are rare, and in my experience only really occur when trying to sneak past security guards- and if you're close enough for them to hear a quiet whisper, you're way too close anyway. Always maintain a distance from security if possible. If you suspect homeless or druggies are living in an abandonement, leave it alone. If you encounter them by surprise, act respectful and apologize (for homeless) or run like hell (for druggies).

Plus, since there are no standardized hand signals in the community, it's likely you'll just confuse whoever you're trying to communicate with unless you come up with something beforehand, which is a hassle to repeat each time you meet a new explorer.

They're unnecessary and convoluted, so why bother using them?




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

dtewsacrificial 


Location: Bay Area, CA
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On my way out the door.

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 2 on 12/7/2018 11:26 PM >
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The only hand signal I know probably isn't going to help. ;)

But in all seriousness... hand signals only work when your group is staring at a leader or point man and trying to establish/coordinate tactics where 1) there isn't much room to move from cover, and 2) time is of the essence. While that might be the case for a SWAT team or a squad looking to get a vantage on who they're about to get a jump on... that's almost never the case in UE, despite all the tacti-cool pretensions.

Usually just a hand up and being frozen in place is enough to get everyone who is right there with you (and isn't being an inattentive, gregarious, noisy dumbass) to freeze as well and pay attention to wait for a status communication, which usually only goes two ways: "oh, no issue; I erroneously thought I saw/heard something", and "getbackgetbackgetback". Get-back-and-regroup is how you facilitate the discussion of how to assess/deal-with the given situation... and hand-signals ain't going to be of much use unless you're using the full richness of ASL. And more-often-than-not people don't go into a site in a compact column and no amount of hand-signaling will work if they can't see you.

For the typical situation in which your group is spread out in little clusters, the most common communications solution we've employed is simply having everyone in a group text chat. If signal isn't available, MESH dongles or GMRS radios w/headsets (we avoid the latter as much as we can; we've used it maybe once? Being caught with gear that establishes your intent will ensure consequences more severe than otherwise) if time is of the essence.

Of course, your first line of defense is to not be overly-reliant upon communications, but just go with careful, situationally-aware people who are capable of roughly rational decision-making (or just err on the side of caution) independently, but is still a team player. Then you can have fun flipping each other off down hallways for "stealth communications".




YotaMan20 


Location: Washington
Gender: Male
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 3 on 12/8/2018 1:07 AM >
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We're explorers, not a swat team. 😂




Let's Go Places
L0st1nt1m3 


Location: Vancouver Island.
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 25 likes




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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 4 on 12/8/2018 1:33 AM >
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Thanks everyone! I know it may sound a bit rediculous but I was curious if anyone does it, and what the community's thoughts were on it.

Posted by YotaMan20
We're explorers, not a swat team. 😂


😂😂😂




mookster 


Location: Oxford, UK
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 5 on 12/8/2018 12:52 PM >
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Nope.

One of my friends who is lovely but a bit of an oddball started doing SWAT team style hand signals to some of us whilst on an explore and we all pissed ourselves laughing.




Cfourexplore 


Location: North Carolina
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Never a dull moment in Midworld.

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 6 on 12/8/2018 3:29 PM >
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Posted by YotaMan20
We're explorers, not a swat team. 😂


Yeah...I know I'd just end up confused and resort back to talking. "You telling me it's all clear, or that I need to bunt?!"




"When you've truly done something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."
L0st1nt1m3 


Location: Vancouver Island.
Gender: Male
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 7 on 12/8/2018 4:37 PM >
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Posted by Cfourexplore


Yeah...I know I'd just end up confused and resort back to talking. "You telling me it's all clear, or that I need to bunt?!"


Come to think of it, I can see it turning out something like this.




adorb 


Location: Finland
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 8 on 12/9/2018 9:29 AM >
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Posted by Aran
They're unnecessary and convoluted, so why bother using them?


This is the truth right here. Personally I've only been in a situation like this once, and pretty much any hand "signal" (it's enough to just hold your hand up, for example) will do the trick. Turned out to be just another explorer.

Also it's very likely you'll confuse yourselves with convoluted signals. I'd say "stay quiet" and "over there" are more than enough.



[last edit 12/9/2018 9:31 AM by adorb - edited 1 times]

Doug 


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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 9 on 12/9/2018 11:23 AM >
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People I explore with just scream, "Cops, cops, cops!" and run!




The Urbex Zine Guy
https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259
Doug 


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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 10 on 12/9/2018 12:54 PM >
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Once when we were having a BBQ in a drain (as you do) under a huge grille and I looked up and saw a State Emergency Rescue dude looking down. He then looked at someone out of site (a cop) and pointed to himself, then his eyes and then held his fingers up as he counted us. Translated it would have been "I see 14 awesome dudes".

The hand signals aren't in the video.





The Urbex Zine Guy
https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259
Radio2600 


Location: On the Road to Wellville
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HY KAK TO TAK

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 11 on 12/17/2018 2:12 AM >
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I use Army hand signals.





In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind.
YotaMan20 


Location: Washington
Gender: Male
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 12 on 12/17/2018 3:57 AM >
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Posted by Radio2600
I use Army hand signals.




lmao




Let's Go Places
L0st1nt1m3 


Location: Vancouver Island.
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 25 likes




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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 13 on 12/17/2018 5:26 AM >
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Posted by Radio2600
I use Army hand signals.

http://i.imgur.com/9MsyizA.jpg


This guy wins the internet today!




Kurt 


Location: Taxachusetts
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NEVER SAY DEVER!

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 14 on 12/20/2018 1:11 AM >
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Only time I have ever had to use hand signals was when the police were on the same floor as us and the signal looked a lot like this





"What is your favorite thing about Belchertown?"

"...the history, man"
Wolfmaan 


Location: Canada
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UrBex

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 15 on 12/20/2018 5:22 AM >
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A friend of mine and I are both Scuba Divemasters. Underwater you have to communicate non-verbally and there are lots of ways to do it. It does come in handy when you want or need to keep the noise down. Look up Scuba handsigns or just make your on up as long as everyone knows them and there is no confusion.



[last edit 12/20/2018 5:22 AM by Wolfmaan - edited 1 times]

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Dee Ashley 


Location: DFW, Texas
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Write something and wait expectantly.

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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 16 on 3/4/2019 4:18 AM >
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Posted by Radio2600
I use Army hand signals.

http://i.imgur.com/9MsyizA.jpg


Holy shit, tears are streaming down my face from laughing so hard. Thank you for this.




I wandered till the stars went dim.
Riversend 


Location: Central Florida
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Re: Hand Signals
< Reply # 17 on 8/20/2019 12:22 PM >
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In my opinion, nothing wrong with silence and hand signals. We use it in Funeral Service and Security work. Less noise means less attention.




Exploring times past to keep a history alive, before it disappears.
UER Forum > Rookie Forum > Hand Signals (Viewed 5101 times)


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