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The other day, someone at work told me the course of action they were going to take in fixing a problem, (or, in the PC corporate world, �facing a challenge�) and like I�d done hundreds of times before, I gave them a thumbs up on their approach. Literally � I curled my hand into a fist, extended the thumb, and silently expressed my approval.

However, for some reason, this time I actually thought about the gesture. Since I picked it up in the 1970�s as a child from watching Fonzie on �Happy Days�, I wondered if using the symbol dated me and showed just how antiquated I�d become.

To settle my mind, I did what any middle-aged person with feelings of insecurity would do � I turned to the internet for reassurance. Granted, Wikipedia isn�t the most accurate source of information out there, but for something as obscure and ultimately meaningless as a simple hand gesture, I figured it was good enough for my purposes.

The origins of the gesture may have begun in ancient
Rome, as a method of identifying whether an unsuccessful gladiator should live or die at the hands of his conqueror. Two big caveats to this line of thought, however. One is that this line of thinking is derived from 19^th century artwork (Gerome�s Pollice Verso for example), so historical accuracy is in question. Also, it�s unknown whether or not the thumbs up meant �He lives� or �He dies!�

Far more reliable is evidence that a thumbs up was the sealing of a business deal in medieval times. Not nearly as exciting as coliseum combat (unless you were one of the salesmen).

Watch yourself overseas though! While the thumbs up symbol is very positive in countries like Egypt and
Brazil, in Middle Eastern countries you�re likely to get attacked. Without getting too descriptive, it�s the equivalent of hand gestures you�d commonly see if your driving is horrible in the U.S.

I�m fairly certain when I give a thumbs up at work, the person I�m communicating with doesn�t interpret it as �I need a ride� (hitchhiking) or �I think you made a good movie� (Siskel and Ebert). Much of the meaning has to do with the situation. For example, many new scuba divers give a thumbs up to indicate they are doing well, but in the language of the activity, it means they are getting out of the water. I don�t envy diving instructors for the headaches this causes!

Now, feeling a bit wiser, I shall no longer question my use of the thumbs up. It�s been a recognizable gesture, albeit in many forms, long before I came along. As long as my staff grasps my meaning, it�s all good.

I just have to stop saying �Aaayyyyyyy!� along with it.

Ray Robinson

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