Jeff BerganFeb 5
Natasha  🇪🇺

These flags would be so useful in daily life when you're having one of those days and want to let people know.

'I am dragging my anchor.' 'I require a tug.' 'Stop carrying out your intentions.'

And my personal favourite 🚩: 'I am on fire; keep clear of me.'

Feb 2 at 3:30pmWeb
Show threadlaen🪻Feb 2

@Natasha_Jay
pretty much everyone would be* flying the plague flag these days

*should be

Show threadNatasha  🇪🇺Feb 2

@moonrabbit
"I am toxic, avoid"

(I hope you're managing okay, I'm here with Isabel)

Show threadlaen🪻Feb 2

@Natasha_Jay
lol! that could be relevant in two ways for a fair few people ...

and i'm not sure i'd call it ok, but yes thank you. i'm upright! i hope you're both having a good day and that the weather is better than it is here? take care you both 

Show threadNatasha  🇪🇺Feb 2
@moonrabbit
Okay if a bit quiet, and certainly taking care 🫂
Show threadlaen🪻Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay
i'm very sure that you are. the very best care! 
Show threadAri "Second Breakfast" JacksonFeb 2
@moonrabbit @Natasha_Jay AGREED
Show threadEsslar2Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay "My engines are going full speed astern," oh, I could sure think of a lot of times that would have come in handy!
Show threadJules she/herFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I too am maneuvering with difficulty
Show threadNatasha  🇪🇺Feb 2
@afewbugs
Keep well clear at slow speed...
Show threadJules she/herFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay You are running into danger!
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKFeb 2

@afewbugs @Natasha_Jay

they are still valid on the sea and tidal waterways (although nowadays folk use VHF radio and other communications methods).

P (Papa) is also known as "Blue Peter", which inspired the BBC kids TV programme (which is still running, but seems to be operating from the lifeboats rather than the full size vessel)

Show threadFediThing Feb 2

@vfrmedia @afewbugs @Natasha_Jay

I wonder if they still teach these to sailors? 🤔

Guess it might be useful if your radio was broken and you didn't have any other signalling method?

Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKFeb 2

@FediThing @afewbugs @Natasha_Jay

they still do, for exactly that reason (a 12/24v battery failure could also knock out the main VHF set, and/or the handheld may not have charged batteries or even be present)

Show threadChadee 🦨🐋, Dream Witch 🌕 🌊Feb 3

@vfrmedia @afewbugs @Natasha_Jay @FediThing Most boats still carry the flags and a book of flags. Not often used, but the capability is there.

The diver down flag which is really common in tourist or industrial areas isn't shown here, but it's very well known.

Show threadHeddersFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay "No meaning" seems a bit on the nose.
Show threadMyYeeHaaFeb 3
@Natasha_Jay @hedders Could be interpreted as "I have no words..."
Show threadSiderea, Sibylla BostoniensisFeb 4

@Natasha_Jay @hedders @MyYeeHaa

I think it means "This Flag Pole/Line Intentionally Left Blank". So you can signal, "It's not that I forgot to signal, it's that I have nothing I need to say."

Show thread__Miguel_Feb 2

@Natasha_Jay I think I had a needlepoint picture of some of those pictures...

Probably still in my old bedroom at my parents's house...

Show threadThe Human CapybaraFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I want a t-shirt with the one "You are running into danger".
Show threadJust Tom... 🐁Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay As I get older I find that I am often "manoeuvring with difficulty".
Show threadRolloTreadwayFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I would like to be able to fly the I Am Disabled; Communicate With Me flag when I'm feeling in need of company.
Show threadLaurensFeb 2

@RolloTreadway That's a bit bleak 😕

@Natasha_Jay

Show threadPossumanthaFeb 3
@ElBeeToots @RolloTreadway @Natasha_Jay How do you mean? Being disabled is a situation nearly everyone experiences at some point. It's just another part of the human experience.
Show threadS T E L L A R  Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay https://rabbitwaves.ca/site/flags_maritime.html
Rabbit Waves

Rabbit Waves

Show threadbit101Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay I need the "I am manoeuvring with difficulty" one.
Show threadbit101Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay I'm adding these to slack.
Show threadbit101Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay I was joking when I said I'm adding them to slack, but I shared the image on my company's slack, and I think someone is going to do it.
Show threadPossumanthaFeb 3
@bit101 @Natasha_Jay wait you can add things to slack?
Show threadNot a Spring OnionFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay Nihilist movement ship: "No Meaning"

Anti-nihilist movement ship:
"Negative No Meaning"

Show threadBolet modo Sombrero de paja 🏴‍☠️  Feb 2
"You are running into danger" looks like a threat more than just a message
Show threadChuffFeb 2
We need an emoji set of these
Show threadChuffFeb 6
@barkmin
Show threadAngua Feb 2
@Natasha_Jay

Well they date back to the days of cannons and sailing ships, above all flammable ones with months at sea.
Semaphore required proximity and there was a risk of unintended consequences ...

I invite you to finish the gag yourself as I can't decide on the punchline; or at least a clean one.
Show threadAgnieszka R. TurczyńskaFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay They can be combined to extend the meaning. Three letter codes starting from M are medical related. If you see someone carrying MPP, rather avoid unless you're a doctor. But even in this case avoid sexual intercourse 😅
Show threadArne 🌻🌈Feb 3
@agturcz @Natasha_Jay MPP doesn’t sound so dangerous. MMP, on the other hand… 😬
Show threadAgnieszka R. TurczyńskaFeb 3
@Natasha_Jay @ajnn I might have misremembered the code 😅
Show threadrobrykFeb 3
@agturcz @Natasha_Jay There used to be way more longer codes than the basic ones and the medical ones, but those got obsoleted by radio. Medical one didn't, because it also helped with communicating with a doctor without a shared language and as a framework for describing symptoms and treatment.
Show threadPingYourOwnDeviceFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I'm guessing Russia should change their naval ensign to "I am dragging my anchor"?
Show threadA.B. MurrowFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay

IF
X Inverse French flag = "keep clear of me"
THEN
French Flag = ???

Show threadswopeFeb 2

@abmurrow

Upside-down flag indicates distress...

🇫🇷 = Keep clear of me, I'm in distress

@Natasha_Jay

Show threadA.B. MurrowFeb 2
@swope @Natasha_Jay Or, don't keep clear of me, AKA: The Maritime Ooh La La Accord
Show threadCaptain ButtonFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay

The #ttrpg game world of Tekumel has these in the Tsolyani culture:

"Nothing will demonstrate the Tsolyani love for visual displays of social intangibles as well as a description of the Meshqu plaques.

[...]

are hung upon a hook outside their owner's door . Different colours and designs indicate the person's moods and willingness to receive visitors, and guests are expected to respond accordingly:

1/2

Show threadCaptain ButtonFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay

yellow Meshqu ( Plaque of Grievous Mourning)
white plaque ( Badge of Prayerful Indisposition)
Plaque of Haughty Indignation
Badge of Immediate Availability
Signifer of Inaccessibility
Badge of Solemn Contemplation
Badge of Interminable Repose
Plaque of Serene Alimentation
Plaque of Indefinable Sorrow
Plaque of Understandable Depressions
Plaque of Joyous Conviviality
Badge of Instant Bravery

More somewhere at:

https://www.tekumel.com/

2/2

Tékumel :: The World of the Petal Throne

Tékumel: The World of the Petal Throne.

Show threadKaroliinaFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay for some reason i was reminded of horse ebooks
Show threadThird spruce tree on the leftFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay "I am carrying dangerous goods"
Oh really which are?
"My opinions"
Show threadMichaelFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay this is so cool, do you have a photo of all the flags?
Show threadNatasha  🇪🇺Feb 2
@seven_708
I don't and it bugs me. Image searches haven't returned the original book, which I'd love to know too. I assume these changed over time.
Show threadMichaelFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay 😔 I’ll try to search as well. Will let you know if I find anything.
Show threadMichaelFeb 3
@Natasha_Jay a bit more of them.
Show threadIron and InkFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay "I am maneuvering with difficulty" has to be one of my favorites
Show threadIrinaFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I like "No Meaning" too. Want to fly a flag but have no interesting conditions.
Show threadДими́трийFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay

BRAVO ZULU

We had to memorize these in Surface Warfare Officer school. (That memory has since been erased and reformatted to make room for Adventure Time lore.)

Show threadRobFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay 'I require a tug'
Show threadElias MårtensonFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay why is the Skåne flag there, and why does it say no meaning?

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

Flag of Scania - Wikipedia

Show threadCrystalFeb 2
@loke Meanings of flags, my father told me about that when I was a child. He showed me the flag alphabet and told me the flags had secondary meanings in addition to the letters of the alphabet. He told me there also were special flags with one or more meanings, such as when one ship accidentally raised our country's flag upside down, the sailors on his ship called over and asked if the next ship was in distress. If your flag is listed with no meaning then I believe that means it has no international-flag-meaning other then the original meaning, as a country flag.
Show threadanyGouldFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay I'm amused at "No meaning". I just felt like flying a flag. :D
Show threadBig DuckyFeb 2

@Natasha_Jay cool! Found the Wikipedia article for the current list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Code_of_Signals (scroll down to single flag signals - I couldn’t figure out how to link directly to the section on mobile)

My favorite: "Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals." Could be handy in so many situations.

International Code of Signals - Wikipedia

Show threadPaul BarnfatherFeb 2
It me
Show threadslyborgFeb 2
@Natasha_Jay Feeling J every day
Show threadBytebro 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇬🇱Feb 2

@Natasha_Jay

I'll go with "I am manoeuvring with difficulty"!