The Vulcan Salute in Real Life

[TerokNor]

I can do it with both hands easily, though with right a bit better than with left.
I don´t use it.

TerokNor

 

[Elder Knight]

I used it with my Trek friends as a teenager, but eventually I grew out of it.

. . . Must be something wrong with this one!

 

[UncleRogi]

I used it with my Trek friends as a teenager, but eventually I grew out of it.

. . . Must be something wrong with this one!

Does any of us ever really grow out of it?

 

[Gul Re'jal]

In my home country (Poland) and in my adopted country (Hong Kong) I could walk on a street in full uniform, with my hand stretched in Vulcan greeting, wearing pointed ears and it would be a miracle if anyone would know what all that meant.

But I can make the Vulcan salute with both hands without problems

 

[Gary7]

I can do it with both hands, and do the inverse back/forth (middle+third finger separate then apart). But I'd only do it as an occasional joke gesture to someone I know who appreciates Star Trek. Getting into the habit of doing it all the time and saying "Live Long and Prosper"? Ummmm... that would scream "Star Trek Geek" out loud across a silent crowd, causing all to look and stare. I value my privacy and... dignity!

 

[I am Surak]

What could be nicer than to wish for somebody to "Live Long and Prosper"
I realize reading through this thread that I do not greet people enough this way.

 

[Mary Ann]

I can do the salute easily with both hands, and tend to show it only to my husband and kids because I don't know anyone locally who watches Trek. At work I'm the wierd one because I don't watch Eastenders or X-Factor, and I'm proud of that.

 

[Listener4]

Can do the salute with either hand. I have a photograph from my 13th birthday with myself and my brother giving the vulcan salute.

 

[estar9821]

I can do it easily with both hands. I've gotten in the habit of using the salute the way one would normally use a wave, just to be unique. I reserve the "Live long and prosper" saying for special occasions only.

 

[wissaboo]

my step-son's mother used to have a boyfriend who liked trek. I guess they told him about me and when we met he flashed me a vulcan salute down low so no one else saw.

 

[FormerLurker]

I think the thing that astonishes me the most about the salute is not only the number of supposed Trek geeks who get it wrong, but the number of supposed Trek geeks in modern entertainment(see "Big Bang Theory") who get it wrong. The biggest misconception is that all it is is the middle and ring finger divided. Pretty uniformly I see over and over again, especially among actors playing Trek geeks, the thumb tight against the hand/forefinger, when it's always been presented on ST with the thumb straight out to the side. You'd think that with there being no exceptions to how it is properly done in ST that no one would get it wrong, but they do. A lot.

 

[Joshua Howard]

I can do it easily with both hands. I've gotten in the habit of using the salute the way one would normally use a wave, just to be unique. I reserve the "Live long and prosper" saying for special occasions only.

It is nice to know that I'm not the only one out there doing that.

I think the thing that astonishes me the most about the salute is not only the number of supposed Trek geeks who get it wrong, but the number of supposed Trek geeks in modern entertainment(see "Big Bang Theory") who get it wrong. The biggest misconception is that all it is is the middle and ring finger divided. Pretty uniformly I see over and over again, especially among actors playing Trek geeks, the thumb tight against the hand/forefinger, when it's always been presented on ST with the thumb straight out to the side. You'd think that with there being no exceptions to how it is properly done in ST that no one would get it wrong, but they do. A lot.

I agree. Anyone who makes that mistake can only be a pervert imposter, because nobody who became familiar with the salute by watching the shows would make that mistake. Only someone who saw a Trek fan perform the salute, forgot half of it, and then tried to replicate it later would do that.

It's like a Star Wars fan who doesn't know what color Vader's light saber is. It's a dead give away.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Like a secret handshake, I think that it is something which works out well for use in any situation, as a non-trek person will probably either not notice or not pay it attention, while a Trek fan will immediately recognize the salute wherever it is given.

Sorry Joshua, there's nothing secret about it. The Vulcan salute is one of the mostly widely-known bits of Trek, right up there w/, "Beam me up, Scottie," and "Live long and prosper." I've seen non-fans use the salute to greet fans specifically to make fun of them.

In answer to your questions... Yes, I can do it pretty easily. But I rarely do. Occasionally when joking w/ another Trekkie. Same w/ saying, "Live long and prosper."

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I use it in my classroom with my 5th graders as our sign for "be quiet." Of course, I'm the only one in the room who understands the Star Trek reference.

Cool!

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Kreacher, please use the "Multi Quote" button when addressing more than one poster. For new members we allow a certain leeway when it comes to board functions but posting one right after the other could be considered spamming. Just an FYI. If you have any questions on how to use this function, feel free to send me a PM.

Thanks!

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I use it in my classroom with my 5th graders as our sign for "be quiet." Of course, I'm the only one in the room who understands the Star Trek reference.

Cool!

Will do, Smufula.

^ Kreacher, please use the "Multi Quote" button when addressing more than one poster. For new members we allow a certain leeway when it comes to board functions but posting one right after the other could be considered spamming. Just an FYI. If you have any questions on how to use this function, feel free to send me a PM.

Thanks!

Just making sure I remember how!

 

[Elder Knight]

In my home country (Poland) ...

My own Polish-Americxan grandfather's family name was "Serek." Sound familiar? Perhaps all Vulcans are Polish!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

In my family we like to turn our hand around so the back is the the person we are saluting and do an "up yours" gesture while in the Vulcan salute gesture. This has come to mean that something geeky is badass.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Every now and then I would do it in public. Much easier with the left hand then the right, as with left it's natural, where as with the right - it's a struggle. So at conventions I generally do it with the left hand (where as Zachary Quinto did it with his right hand)

 

[Elder Knight]

Re:

Every now and then I would do it in public. Much easier with the left hand then the right, as with left it's natural, where as with the right - it's a struggle. So at conventions I generally do it with the left hand (where as Zachary Quinto did it with his right hand)

You'd better hope that no one quotes that out of context!