i did not know about the hand signal for help me, and my stupid ass thought she was flirting.

The Signal for Help (or the Violence at Home Signal for Help) is a single-handed gesture that can be used over a video call or in person by an individual to alert others that they feel threatened and need help.[1] Originally, the signal was created as a tool to combat the rise in domestic violence cases around the world linked to self-isolation measures that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

The signal is performed by holding one hand up with the thumb tucked into the palm, then folding the four other fingers down, symbolically trapping the thumb by the rest of the fingers.[3] It was designed intentionally as a single continuous hand movement, rather than a sign held in one position, so it could be made easily visible.

The Signal for Help was created by the Canadian Women's Foundation and introduced on April 14, 2020.[4] It soon spread via the TikTok social video platform and was adopted by the international Women's Funding Network (WFN). It received widespread praise from Canadian[5] and international[6][7] news organizations for helping provide a modern solution to the issue of a rise in domestic violence cases.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_for_Help

did you know the hand signal for help me?
yes
27.8%
no
72.2%
Poll ended at .
@amiserabilist yes — what I still don’t know is what the fuck you’re supposed to do when you see it
SnowyCA :vivaldi_red: (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Paul, please allow me to share an article that explains what to do if you see someone flash the hand signal for help. https://canadianwomen.org/signal-for-help/

Vivaldi Social
*sparkling anxiety* Evelyn (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Quick & dirty summary: Reach out discreetly; and let them tell you what they need/are in a position to safely accept. - Call them and ask yes or no questions, e.g. Do you want me to call the police? Do you need a ride somewhere? Can I find a shelter for you? Do you want me to come over? Can I bring you anything? - Or text, chat, social media, etc; & ask general questions: How are you doing? How can I help you out? Can we get together sometime soon? - Keep checking in periodically, unless they ask you not to.

beige.party
@ombremad @amiserabilist There are some other ideas around this thread, I'd recommend checking out :)

@shaedrich @amiserabilist oof. I’m highly skeptical about those advices, because I feel like it’s only going to expose to victim to further retaliation.

Actually some organizations outright advise against direct intervention because of that. ie. https://www.pcadv.org/about-abuse/intervention/

There’s no clear and definitive answer to this, admittedly, but I wish this specific initiative made use of more cautious language. Willing to help someone is not enough, and putting them in an even greater danger down the road is also, unfortunately, something that happens. I fear the savior syndrome would make bystanders feel like it’s more about themselves and their ability to help, and less about the victim.

What to Do When You See or Suspect Abuse - PCADV

Intervention in a domestic violence situation can be difficult. Learn how to identify abuse, how to help someone, how to report abuse, & more.

PCADV
@ombremad @amiserabilist Good point 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing, I had a feeling pointing in that direction at the back of my mind when watching the video and reading the thread, but I couldn't articulate that well enough and didn't know what the right reaction would be since I can neither draw from experience nor have I encountered such a training before, so this is definitely helpful 👍🏻