Why is the Universal Sign for a Hitchhiker the Thumbs Up, Held Out? And is It Actually Dangerous?

[@TodayIFoundOut]

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[@bluesz1bluesz17]

is that you Simon asking people to telegram you?

[@mlee6050]

@@bluesz1bluesz17 if anyone says telegram it is often a fake/scam bot account thing

[@mlee6050]

"Brainfood70" if only brain blaze channel, nearly said business blaze

[@bluesz1bluesz17]

@@mlee6050 cheers i was suspicious but its the first time i seen it

[@mlee6050]

@@bluesz1bluesz17 your welcome, I been in over 5 channels now that had the same thing, might be over 10 I lost count

[@urieaaron]

Coming back from enlisting in the USAF I needed to travel from Ionia Michigan to Portland. Ionia has several penitentiaries. I stood directly under a sign that looked a lot like the one in this video, hitchhikers may be escaping inmates. The very first car picked me up. I asked the old couple why they felt safe to pick me up and they said that no inmate would stand under the sign. Edit: this was in 1973

[@danielreuben1058]

In 1998 I moved from Maryland to Boulder Colorado. A buddy of mine, with whom I had just graduated college, was going to hitchhike across the country. I left a few days after him, and was enjoying the drive and not rushing. He made it to Boulder about two days before I did. He had a great time. He said it was lower or middle class people who picked him up, but he also noted that the lower class people were the nicest and fed him the most.

[@inannanightingale9718]

This reminds me of this one time I had been to a gig with my 2 bros and partner at the time. All of us are musicians but friends with different circles in the music scene. After the show we were standing around chatting and this guy joined us with such familiarity that each of us just assumed that one of us knew him. He then asked for a lift home and we agreed, driving him home going out of our way to help him. After he left the car we all asked each other who he was and none of us knew haha We felt good about helping some random who had the guts to just come up to us strangers, join our conversation and then ask for a lift home. Our good deed for the day!

[@pvtpain66k]

When I started driving, my mom made comments about not picking up hitchhikers because they could be an axe murderer. My response has always been, "good thing my car's too small to swing an axe in".

[@KandaJE]

In the middle 80's I hitchhiked extensively all over north America. One day after standing there with my thump out for 6 hours, I gave up. I pulled out a book and just started reading. Over the next 3 summers, I never finished a chapter without someone stopping. I never stood there like a stereotypical hitchhiker ever again...

[@xaviercrean6543]

I've been hitchhiking around the U.S. since January.. have covered over 8000 miles and still going. Have met some of the nicest people on this journey.

[@glenngriffon8032]

I've hitched across Florida, some of texas and parts of Arizona. I've only had one instance in Florida where someone pulled over and then drove off laughing when I grabbed my bag and in Arizona I had an encounter with a rather iffy man who had to breathalyze his car to keep it going. He was pretty nice though since I accidentally left my phone behind in his car and he tracked me down to give it back. That said, i have always carried something to use for personal defense. Mace, brass knuckles and a flashlight that doubles as a taser. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

[@kaltaron1284]

I'd say it's fair to make the conjecture that people who pick up hitch-hikers are (mostly) people you want to meet because they either want to help someone out or are looking for some company on a long journey. Of course there's the other reasons but those should be a miniscule minority. Of course statistics have shown that it's more dangerous for solo women but I'd be surprised if they don't have an easier time getting picked up.

[@xaviercrean6543]

I have discovered in my travels that we attract like minded people.. but always be prepared. That is why I always have a dog with me.

[@JDWanko]

Agreed, the fear of hitchhiking is probably an effect of our increased all-around unease with the greater world, but anyone who's seen Simon's other channels ("The Casual Criminalist" and "Biographics" in particular, along with this particular one) would note that serial killers sure seem to use hitchhiking as a method of getting victims a whole, WHOLE lot more than just stopping by folks sitting on couches, or riding elevators, or riding buses.

[@tubensalat1453]

I think 9 out of 10 deadly accidents happen at home. Simon wants us all to get killed!

[@kg4tri]

In the early 80s after getting out of the Army I did some Hitch hiking on and off for a few years. I travelled mostly East coast and Midwest of the US. I had only one scary event. I will not go into detail. I did get picked up by an older woman who said she didn't normal;y give hitch hikers a ride, but her son had died some years earlier while hitching across the country. She wanted to be sure I had at least one safe ride. I wore a uniform hat that I had from the Army and at one point I was catching rides from truckers. They would use the CB radio to find my next ride . Because of my hat they said I was a solderer trying to get home for Christmas. That was partly true. I was trying to get home but I wasn't in the Army any more. A few times I got picked up by people going to a party or women who where just horny. Fun Times !!. I made a little money working for carnivals helping a farmer with small project or Lumping a truck(Unloading) . I eventually started driving truck. Did that for a living for over 30 years.

[@BradGryphonn]

Interesting. Back in the 70s and 80s when I did a LOT of hitchhiking here in Oz, most of us used a closed fist with the pointing finger out, pointing down at an angle to the ground. I only ever saw the 'thumb' method in movies, or used by OS tourists.

[@slayerfreak8279]

Yeah I'm Australian and Ive hitch allot late 90'$ early 2000's and always used my index finger

[@mattbarneveld815]

Just made the same comment before seeing yours 😊👍

[@juliuspetta2345]

Found this a lot more interesting than I thought I would. Well done.

[@TheRealE.B.]

I remember watching old Three Stooges episodes as a kid... they very clearly used the thumb to point the desired direction while hitchhiking. They also shook/moved their fist in the direction indicated. Definitely not a static thumbs-up.

[@amaccama3267]

My dad always told me that "A 2nd class ride is always better than a 1st class walk".

[@KentoLeoDragon]

When I was in college I started hitchhiking to get from college to the big city. It was fun for awhile, but one time this older farmer picked me up and put his hand on my knee and it was clear his idea of giving me a ride wasn't my idea. I didn't hitchhike after that. Decades later one time I decided to hitchhike a ride one time but the only car willing to stop was filled with weirdos and I wasn't getting in that car. I wouldn't say never hitchhike, but definitely keep your wits about you before accepting a ride. As a driver, I'd also be very wary of picking someone up and I probably wouldn't do it unless also armed. It could still be a way to meet a fun new person though. Most people aren't bad people.

[@madalice5134]

The best thing about not working Mondays is that I get to binge on the WhistlerVerse new uploads. This was an interesting one. I was going to say I've watched too much true crime to get into a stranger's car, but I take a rideshare to work a couple of times a week, lol. Yeah, not exactly the same, but a few years ago I would have said I wouldn't even do that, but needs must.

[@brettevill9055]

Back about 1981-1991 I used to hitch-hike quite a lot, in Australia. The custom there and then was to stand by the road facing oncoming traffic and to point at the road with one's index finger.

[@mattklein5498]

Thats weird but, you are from backward upside down beautiful. You can be weird

[@EarthyEd22]

I have heard about this back in 2015 when I was hitching around America. I met several folks from other countries and heard about that through some of there stories. If I am not mistaken it still may be the sign for it as far as I know.

[@chad9017]

Absolutely horrific. That any human being would help any other human being. With transportation no less. F this guy.

[@pandjammasbeeair2141]

Ive only had two bad experiences hitching and ive got many many many years on the road as a crazy drifter. Its really not any more dangerous than any other thing in life

[@binalith4898]

ditto that brother

[@aisadal2521]

What a great way to kick off 3 millions subs, since I've also been curious about this hitchhiking gesture; major congrats, and thanks for answering the real questions in life ✌️🥳

[@Bacopa68]

And written y Daven himself! Always a treat.

[@13Photodog]

In the late 60's I had a college roommate who regularly hitched about 200 miles home almost every weekend. He carried signs reading the name of a major city. When he got closer he switched to a sign reading "western suburbs" and finally the name of the town. If nothing else worked his sign of last resort was "home"

[@calvinwayneweir2007]

We always layed our thumb sideways not straight up as in the okay sign. This was true in the 1960's through the 90's and am sure is still the same.

[@georgejones3526]

One would think that the direction in which you wished to travel would be indicated more by on which side of the road you were standing than by a pointing thumb.

[@IggyFireMist]

I walked home from elementary school. And had to wait for my mom to come home from work I wore the key to the house around my neck. I remember my mom telling me if I was ever in danger to go to any house and knock on the door and open it if the door was open to get away from any danger. So in a way she was telling me to trust anyone while at the same time telling me how to avoid stranger danger.

[@PaulTomblin]

Of course in the US/Canada, if you stand facing traffic it’s easy to stick your thumb out on your right hand. But when I was in the UK in the 70s, I recall seeing some (maybe most) hitchhikers who stood almost facing the roadway instead of the traffic, and holding their arms out level with the shoulder, and pointing up the road with a flat thumb. When I came back to the UK in the 90s I didn’t see that form any more. Probably just as well, the level arm method would be really tiring.

[@Isioni]

Hello from Greece! Thumb up is not considered a rude gesture here, we use it extensively to signify "ok".

[@alg11297]

Simon, good discussion but too long. When I was in Israel many years ago the way to hitch a ride was to lean on one hip and point to the road in front of the driver. I imagine that was the way it was done in Europe back then. AND there was a one hit wonder song around 1970 called Hitchin' a Ride by (I think) Vanity Fare) which started, "A thumb goes up, a car goes by, oh won't some somebody stop and give a ride..."

[@QBCPerdition]

Using the thumb to hitch hike has always just seemed obvious. You point the way you want to go, but you also want to look at the person coming up behind you. So if you are looking at the car, but want to point the way you want to go, i.e. behind you, the easiest way to do that is with the thumb.

[@route2070]

I wonder if there's a difference in danger between hitchhiking and using rideshare or a taxi.

[@TheRicardoSanchez]

Let's not forget Charlie Sheen's reaction to Jennifer Gray's suggestion in the police station interaction in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

[@changer_of_ways_999]

She does specifically mention the thumb up the butt, though. Without that line, it wouldn't have that meaning. It's rare that thumbs mean anything of the sort in the US without the context being set prior. Of course there is the classic gag of stealthily putting your thumb up on a chair before your friend unknowingly sits on it, but that's an entirely different thing.

[@jnzooger]

Fun fact, Carrie Fisher once played a hitchhiking nun in a Jay and Silent Bob movie. She was anything but saintly.

[@RedactedATS]

I used to hitchhike and give lifts to hitchers, mainly in the 1990s. Didn't have any bad incidents, but as a woman, I hitched with a friend and carried a small penknife... just in case

[@mattklein5498]

I Hitched from Blaine MN to Canada twice when I was 15 during summer vacation. Didn't let me in either time it was 1977. Hitched from Blaine MN to Seattle then LA then Alexandria La when I was 17. 1979. All the stories I can tell

[@jasongorway4388]

Let’s hear a few, Matt!

[@Noah_E]

I've never hitchhiked, but have picked up a few when the weather was bad enough that I would appreciate a ride if the roles were reversed. I typically drop them off at a church or gas station beyond my destination and double back to make it less likely I will encounter them again. So far I've only gotten weird vibes from one and had another that smelled bad enough that I regretted stopping. We instill far too much fear into children. Stranger danger is just the start. Helmets, goggles, pads, etc for anything remotely dangerous has created generations of people so mentally and physically weak they can't even handle differing opinions, thus "safe spaces" for numerical adults.

[@Noah_E]

@@marcosolo6491 you are a prime example of what is wrong with the world now. It isn't healthy for children to grow up in fear and it isn't good for a society if its member distrust one another. It's not a coincidence that as soon as the unfounded stranger danger movement went mainstream mental health issues skyrocketed. Kids need to get bumps and scrapes and realize that life goes on and gets better. They need to realize that we live in the best point in human history and most people are good, or at the least, not to be feared. Teaching kids the world is a terrible place is absolutely damaging.

[@shaunleslie4143]

@@marcosolo6491 Yes, why should we consider being good to 999,999 people?

[@Crazy0Jay0Dude0]

I was with you until your started listening helmets and safety equipment as a bad thing, lol. Ever done blue collar work? Injuring yourself for no reason just isn't accepted anymore.

[@Noah_E]

@@Crazy0Jay0Dude0 I was referring to the over coddling of children. Not working adults. I own a tree farm and co-own a saw mill and grew up working summers with my grandfather's construction crew and the school year at my dad's auto restoration business. Kids are too soft now. Just last weekend I went on a hike with a group of dog fosters (I am fostering a black and tan coonhound) and everyone under 30 bitched and moaned like it was the end of the world to be slightly chilly for a few hours.

[@miked51]

When I was a teenager a group of us went up to Wisconsin for a Rush concert. We were from Chicago. We went to the show and then to my friends parents cabin nearby. There was drinking and smoking. We all got in the car and headed back to Chicago. Stopped at an oasis(rest stop, gas, food). My friends were so wasted I didn't feel safe and left them. 100 miles from home. Walked on a interstate, I threw up my thumb and within a minute a guy pulls over and asks where I was going. Turns out he was going almost exactly to my home. Yeah, it was weird but wow. He dropped me off two blocks from my house and he lived just a bit further. Weird and cool but I would not suggest this method of transportation. This was the eighties.

[@mattbarneveld815]

In the 80s, when I was regularly hitching in Australia, we did not use the known "thumb out" sign. Rather, we would extend our arm downwards, at about a 45 degree angle, with an extended index finger.

[@Vikanuck]

The speech at 15:48 totally reminds me of the diatribe at the beginning of Reefer Madness about the ‘SCOURGE of Marihuana’ haha 😂

[@akivagardner9749]

Famous joke: I picked up a hitchhiker the other day and he asked me 'are you not worried that I'm a psychopathic killer?' I answered 'What's the chance both the hitchhiker and the driver are psychopathic killers?'

[@ozwolf01]

I can't remember where I came across it, probably some novel, but the hitchhiker was often offered a choice of how to pay for their ride in the 60s/70s: Grass, Gas or Ass?

[@disorganizedorg]

17:00 -- "maybe she should wear a nun's outfit so everyone knows she's clearly not asking for it" Haven't known many nuns, have you?

[@tannerholechek5873]

Everyone knows this hand sign came from a guide to the galaxy made for hitchhikers.

[@seandelap8587]

Here in Ireland it's often referred to as thumbing so the sign would be 👍

[@Panthror]

On why the thumb is preferred over the index finger for hitchhiking: My theory is that it is much easier to indicate the direction you want to go using your thumb, while also facing the oncoming traffic. Pointing in one direction while looking in the other using your index finger feels awkward imo. But you can just try both ways for yourself to find out which you like better.

[@cripplious]

My dad spent his 20s hitchhiking. When I was in Jr High we didnt have a car so we hitchhiked into the local town and called my grandma to drive us to get groceries.

[@mikecorbeil]

When I hitch-hiked, using thumb up was to just mean that I would appreciate some help with some travel and in the direction that I had my back pointed towards ; not in the direction I was facing. That is all the symbol meant for me. I always did this while standing on the side of the road of traffic that would be coming towards me, so it was obvious which direction I was wanting to go in. Very simple. Other people possibly hitch differently, .

[@changer_of_ways_999]

I think that calling hitchhiking dangerous is a self fulfilling statement. People more cautious and probably more trustworthy are now less likely to participate. Only the desperate, risk takers, careless or predatory now participate.

[@pineappleroad]

I remember a few years ago i saw a hitchhiker outside a service area, they were holding a sign, which I cannot fully remember what it read, but it had “A1 South” on it That service area handled 2 different major routes (A1, Northbound and Southbound, and another one that I can’t remember)

[@bluesz1bluesz17]

it don't add up that the thumb would point in the direction you'd want to go, if for example your standing on a North/South road you wouldn't hitch from the South lane if you wanted to go North, you'd hitch from the North lane as you wouldn't expect a driver to change direction to drop you off. Therefore your desired direction would be obvious as that would be forwards from the drivers perspective.

[@georgejones3526]

We lost Halloween as a holiday because of the media sensationalizing the false claim that candy was being tampered with.

[@themonkeymoo]

The thumb doesn't point up. It points down the road in the direction you're trying to go.

[@thomasdoubting]

As a kid I was puzzled why cars stopped when *Tintin* suck his thumb out. So I tried it and was oferd a ride. "No." I said. "My *Kindergarten* is the other way." 😮‍💨 Piuuu...! 😮‍💨

[@BillyTzENDURO]

Interesting as always! But one correction, its not an insult in Greece. at least not in the 26years i've been living there lol

[@Foxiz]

I personally have hitch-hiked only two times; once with a truck and once from a guy at a gas station, but one time I was involved in both the hitch-hiking thumb and the flip-off: Me and my friend saw a couple in their late teens who wanted a ride, and we let them in the car. They were drunk off their @$$es, and we didn't want to be rude, so we offered them some of our liquor. They drank it because they wanted to, we didn't force them or anything. We all decided that it was late enough, and went to my friends house. The big flip off was when they awoke in the morning; they had NO idea were the f they were, who we were or how they should reach their destination. 😆 We helped them a little, but their plan to get to where they were going while insanely intoxicated was waaay off what we could help them with, and they honestly seemed to have had enough adventure for years to come. Aah, memories... ^^

[@deboralee1623]

the dramatically read warning, building up to "Duhn-duhn-DAAAH!" (15:46-16:07) 👍🏾

[@PuddingKing3555]

as someone who who has survived hitchhiking from Las Vegas, Nevada to Fort Worth, Texas, i have only met one person who was sketchy, and that was my second driver, who was Drunk at night. other than that, it was pretty smooth, it took me 3 weeks and 4 cars total.

[@floydblandston108]

In the poor rural area I grew up in, hitchhiking was just a way to get around. The 'Reagan Revolution', which closed down all the state and federal mental hospitals put them all out on the streets effectively ended hitchhiking as a way for the working poor to get to where they needed to.

[@mattklein5498]

What you said about Reagan was right on.

[@MichaelMikeTheRussianBot]

I've gotten more rides just walking, not asking. People that mentioned it, felt more comfortable picking me up, because I wasn't seeking it. I've picked up plenty of people myself. The odds that anybody will be trouble , are minute. (& I work for a landscaping/garden center business [lots of heavy-lifting], so not an enticing target anybody was inclined to try anything. ; ) ) & yeah, it's not very dangerous , though the many cops that have stopped me surely think so (& then given me rides), even though they can't cite any particular incident. :)

[@twocvbloke]

"There are literally people out there!!!" - Well, that's me never ever going out there again, I don't like people, they're crazy... :P

[@momcat2223]

Ah, hand gestures. When giving a two-fingered salute, be very careful which direction the palm is facing: toward the viewer means "peace" and toward the signer means "up yours." Likewise, the index and thumb configuration taken to mean "Okay" in the US, can get one in real trouble south of the border where, particularly in Brazil, it's akin to calling someone an arsehole. Edit: Almost forgot about pinkie finger signs! Held up with palm facing the signer is akin to "f--k you" but is reserved for someone who doesn't deserve your best. If you're ever in a roadway situation where a driver makes an unnecessary amount of noise [horn, squealing tires, etc.], someone holding up and wiggling their pinkie is saying, "Sorry about your penis!"

[@imorca1994]

But most adult Americans can name between 3 to 7 serial killers with at least some victims that they found when the victim was hitchhiking.

[@jopflah416]

Hitched with 3 other kids all of us with a bag of golf clubs. Got a ride in a tiny sports car😂.

[@ginnyjollykidd]

The middle finger gesture does need a bit of practice tho. I remember the first time I flipped the bird that I did it with my ring finger instead of the middle one. I had done this at about 12 years old to a schoolmate who had insulted me on the school bus. Then upon walking home I realized my mistake. I resolved to make sure I threw the right digit for the insult henceforth. Now, I hardly have any use for it. If I need to, I throw the pinky for the double insult of not only eff - you but also that what you would do it with isn't big enough to rate the middle finger. Meanwhile a friend of mine says it's not that much of an insult, that we should say "Un-eff-you" instead.

[@ragedeeann644]

I've hopped trains and hitchhiked for over a decade. Only had to pull my knife out on creepers whose cars I got in a few times, so I'd say that's a pretty good track record. You just gotta be smart about it and trust your gut. Only times I had to do that I ignored my gut.

[@ragedeeann644]

@@marcosolo6491 that's fair, to each their own. In my experience, I was talking about guys trying to abduct/sa me.

[@terrafirma5327]

In Utah (United States), about a decade ago... a group of three women picked up a male hitchhiker. He pulled a gun on them and instead tried to rob him. They were off-duty airmen from the local airbase, and used their training to disarm him. It made for an amusing story but it was no more likely than getting a gun pulled on you anywhere else.

[@ERKNEES2]

that drink looks so good!

[@ccatarinajm7114]

Do you get your Hello Fresh box with or without a living mouse 🙂 ? I'm sorry but this happened in Flanders in the Spring somewhere and every since I cannot think of Hello Fresh without the mouse story. The mouse was alive so it was fresh 😀

[@kaltaron1284]

But was it part of the recipe? Ah well, time to improvise.

[@stick-itproductions.3307]

That was their CEO, Rami

[@frankcastle13]

I been hitchhiking for 30 years, majority in Norway. But, for the past 10 years it has become increasingly more difficult to get a ride. The majority of people do not even understand the tumb up anymore (younger generation) And I find it funny that majority of those who does pick me up.are immegrants from other country's. (I big thank you to those who still do pick up hitchhikers)

[@IggyFireMist]

There's etiquette rules that most hitchhikers don't follow. So people have a right to be wary because of their own personal experience. For example you can't tell the person what they can listen to on the radio or to turn it down. If someone picked you up in the rain you should just keep your big mouth shut (rude comments, bitching, etc...) until you get to your destination (or as far as they're willing to take you). Otherwise they're going to be wishing they left you back there in the rain.

[@frankcastle13]

@@IggyFireMist You must be a really confused indeividual to reply something like this to what I wrote? Like seriously? Did I at any point say anything about that I ever complain to whoever pick me up? No! I did not!

[@IggyFireMist]

@@frankcastle13 I was only saying that people know what someone hitch hiking is. This next generation didn't just get ignorant about it. Some of it is about experience. And most hitchhikers know the code and what not to do. It's other hitchhikers that ruined it for them. I never claimed that you didn't live by the code just that people know what hitchhikers are. They just don't pick them up. Mostly because of hitchhikers that have given good people hitchhiking a bad name.

[@IggyFireMist]

Me thinks I must have hit some kind of truth for it to piss you off. I noticed you still didn't actually deny it. You didn't say it, no you did not. Nor did I say that about you. I was talking about good hitchhikers and bad why did you pick the bad one for yourself?

[@whydoIneedone846]

In Israel we stick our pointer finger out (towards the other side of the street) if we're going out of the city and down toward the ground if we want a ride within the city.

[@cheesecurd100s]

Hitchhiking is safer than it's ever been with everyone having smart phones etc. It's funny to me that everyone uses uber/lyft etc and yet flips out if you say you hitched a ride somewhere

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

thanks

[@DCII]

"There's a killer on the road His brain is squirmin' like a toad Take a long holiday Let your children play If you give this man a ride Sweet family will die Killer on the road, yeah"

[@aaronbecker5617]

Was going to give a guy a ride just north of Mena Arkansas, as the guy was fixing to get in his bag spilled and it just had a roll of duct tape and a comically large hunting knife in it, he gave me a sheepish look and said "I guess no ride?" I'm really assuming about most of what he said cause I just heard "I gue....." because I had floored the gas and sped away.

[@Peckols691]

Fun Fact: As a HGV Driver a "thumps down" from another driver means, theirs a speed trap ahead slow down.

[@Vikanuck]

In Canada we just flash our lights at each other. If we look down and notice that our own high beams aren’t on, than it means there’s a trap ahead.

[@scottschoen3362]

In Canada a pointing finger indicates one is not just standing on a curb, but wants to cross a street. Cars are obliged to stop.

[@popded]

i'm from Greece and I assure you, never-ever did a thumbs-up mean "up yours" or any other insult.Ours would be a thrust open palm with all fingers open...

[@kitefan1]

I've always figured that before motorized vehicles you could stand or sit next to the road and speak to the cart or wagon driver, Hey fellow can I hitch a ride? Talking to an enclosed box or something with a noisy engine is much harder even when it's only going 20 or 30 mph. Seems to me I have even seen this in movies portraying the 1930s.

[@beagleissleeping5359]

When my coworker was a child. Her dad: always give a hitchhiker a ride. They just need a lift. Also her dad when she became a teenager with a driver's license: NEVER NEVER NEVER pick up hitchhikers!!!

[@BBulletin]

FWIW I seem to recall reading that in the former USSR pointing at the road is more common than using a thumb to hitchhike. I've never actually been to that part of the world, so I won't vouch for the accuracy of that information. (In other words, raising your skirt and showing your leg may work better, Simon.)

[@joppadoni]

Stinks of GOP there for a moment haha.

[@UkDave3856]

There’s more danger to the hitcher rather than the ride giver in my experience. I narrowly escaped an attempted abduction by 2 men in the early 90s while hitch hiking in Switzerland. They refused to stop the car and one started feeling me up. I was able to bail out of the car as it stopped for busy traffic on a motorway

[@jopflah416]

Arm pointing down at a 45° angle with hand well below the waist while walking backwards shows you want to get somewhere. Walking not required on a freeway on ramp. Speaking of on ramps do not step over the white line in California…that’s a ticket if Highway Patrol is around.

[@xidarian]

The constant overestimation of dangers worries me. People are convinced that their children will get kidnapped and or molested if they're let out of their sight but the danger is much less than in the past. People are convinced they'll get mugged and killed in certain parts of the city and that things are getting worse even though crime has gone done extensively over their lives. Living in constant fear of your neighbors can't be good for society.

[@fathertimegaming17]

I blame it on the Fonz....aaaayyyy

[@bobsteadman9728]

As a retired cop, there is some validity to the dangers of women and girls hitchhiking. In 1972 seven women were picked up, sexually assaulted, and murdered in Santa Rosa, CA. Serial killer William George Bonin confessed to the killing, torturing, and raping of 21 boys and men hitchhiking in southern California between 1979-1980. The list goes on.

[@navret1707]

I thought the compressed thumb was a secret ballot? Sorry. The Appalachian Trail is marked out with White and Blue blazes on trees. AT hikers call the center line of the roads the “Yellow blaze”.

[@tremorsfan]

I've never heard of a Hitchhiker holding their thumb in the up direction.

[@CarolineIronwill]

Sorry Simon, I've watched too many episodes of The Casual Criminalist to tell my daughter that hitchhiking is safe.

[@geodkyt]

🤣

[@bweakland2003]

I thought a couple hundred years ago bitting your thumb at someone was also considered an insult.

[@brandentempelmeyer4785]

Idk about the whole nun outfit...those nuns might be out asking for it as well lol

[@python27au]

I remember a thumbs up with a flick of the wrist being an indicator to f__k off.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

I used to hitchhike quite a bit when I was young. While it's true that the past was the worst, in some ways it was oddly innocent.

[@brettus9115]

Ah yes, the classic dad line with the ol' "back in my day" speech...

[@drewjohnston4309]

Hitchhikers use their thumbs to point in the direction they're going instead if their index finger because they tend to walk backwards so they're looking in the direction of traffic.

[@johnsalchichon777]

>going to the beach with sister and dad >we get lost on the way >Somehow in a fucking road >its third world by the way >Remember the Movies,i do the sign >random guy on a car actually stops and helps us,we get to the beach Never knew if it meant something,just saw it on some movies

[@sifre134]

Question... Whats in that glas?? Pepsi, Coco Cola or coffee?

[@lazylazerrsp8781]

The problem with hitchhiking is one of probability...on either side it's just a gamble. There's a very large difference from any chance at all and no chance.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I'll give video two thumbs up

[@iCharFK]

Coup d'grace being auto captioned as "cuda grad" makes me sad.

[@ryanhaag2267]

I hitched across michigan in 2007

[@akumaking1]

Thumbs up 👍 to everyone here!

[@y-not]

Well at least you didn't go for 🖕

[@WahrheitMachtFrei.]

2:16 *unequivocally

[@JPriz416]

I was seventeen when I last hitchhiked. This guy put his hand on my knee and I stuck a pen in his ear and jumped from the car. I knew I hurt him but not enough.