What's the origin of the "shame on you" finger stroking?

Question

As a child, most of us saw and understood the stroking of one index finger by the other index finger, held at a right angle, to mean "shame on you." Where did it come from? Is/was it only used in the U.S.? Is it still used and understood by kids today?

Answer 1

Hmmmm. I know I won't get "best answer", as I only came here because I was intrigued by your question, and thought that I would find out for myself where and how it originated.

Guess we're both still in the dark, huh?

But then again, come to think of it, there are many universally understood "signals", and I don't' know where any of them came from either. There is the well known middle finger. There is the peace sign - I guess that originated in the Bay Area in the 1960's, but just why they decided on the rabbit-ear or V of the fingers to mean "peace", I have no clue?

Quite an interesting question. Everything originates somewhere, and for some reason. At least IMO.

Answer 2

I have European parents and I'm telling you now I'm over forty but to get that finger wagging in my face by my mother is NOT A GOOD THING! You automatically know if you are not in knee deep sh*t you can only pray for a speedy death!. Sorry I can't help with your answer.