The Quiet Sign

[seanchai]

Someone asked me tonight, What is the origin of the Quiet Sign?

I drew a blank ... was it something B-P gave us? Does it have anything
to do with elementary school, when we had to put a hand up to ask for
bathroom access?

Anyone have any clue about this?


Jean in Winnipeg

[Sarah]

no idea
but can't wait to see if someone knows

[Gadget]

I can't promise this is true, but i remember being told that it was a signal used right from the beginning which had been adapted from a similar set of hand signals used by the army for reconnaisance missions where silence was vital. there a hand raised to head height, forward from the face and palm flat was used to signal that a message was about to be relayed.


not sure how true it is and i can't find anything to back it up online and i can't even remember who told me that but it seems to fit.

[maisy daisy]

Oh wow Gadget, brilliant explanation, well done for remembering (was wondering about that myself) it sounds really fitting!

This site really is a gold mine for information!!!
(Will have to tell girls, then they might just get the point!??)

[Rosie_1886]

I can't promise this is true, but i remember being told that it was a signal used right from the beginning which had been adapted from a similar set of hand signals used by the army for reconnaisance missions where silence was vital. there a hand raised to head height, forward from the face and palm flat was used to signal that a message was about to be relayed.


not sure how true it is and i can't find anything to back it up online and i can't even remember who told me that but it seems to fit.

That's a fab explanation. It sounds the sort of thing that ought to be in Scouting for Boys, but my copy is in England and I am not...

[little_owl]

I have no idea, but I wish it worked with my Brownies....!!!! :-D

[newbe]

Are we talking about when we lift up our right hand to get attention?
most packs i know use it. if so it works when there is a lot of noise usually when a leader lifts up her arm. someone can see her they then lift up there arm to indicate thay have notices attendtion is needed. others should follow suit as the romm quietens down.
better than shouting above the noise of the room. if i have got the wrong signal sorry.

[fiona]

Wouldn't it have been amazing if someone had done this at the big gig and it had worked? Sorry... just a random thought lol

[HanSeeingRed]

haha, that would have been impressive Fiona!

Does anyone else put up their first two fingers (can't get this to sound right after reading double entendres!!) and shout two ears?

[fenris]

I was told that with Brownies, it is two fingers - representing Rabbit ears because rabbits are good listeners, and it also used to resemble the two fingers of the Brownie salute.

For Guides, it is one of several hand signals, used to signal to groups over distances, and as companion to the whistle signals.

But everyone was probably told different stories . . .