Do you flash the "Devil's Horns"?

Do you flash the "devil's horns" at concerts or other situations? Has it become way too mainstream, when even politicians or non-metal musicians such as Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift or even generic rock bands are seen sporting it. We all know the supposed Dio origins of said horns-also the supposed occult use, but what's your opinion? Does the horns truly represent a symbolic representation of heavy metal (or the devil)? I find it to be occasionally uncomfortable to actually do it anymore-it's been co-opted and commercialized to the point that I think it's lost it's original meaning. Should metal adapt a new symbol? I also find it ironic that when you do the horns upside down it resembles an "M" ( for Metal obviously). What other gesture could we possibly use to replace it?

^^ What Shawn said.

Its still a metal symbol and YES

Sure. Mostly at work or social gatherings. It still tends to make people feel uncomfortable and not get too close to me.

The future is this:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

 

And yes I do.  

The simple and direct "raised fist" works good enough for me.

Fat Freddy wrote:

^^   What Shawn said.

So, I take it you gentlemen are opposed to critical thinking? So, I should just take everything at face value? This reeks of anti-intellectualism. At what point do you gentlemen feel topics become "over analyzed"? Why are you insulting my topic and laughing at me? Can you not respond to the topic without being rude or would that hurt your brain?  

Short-Fuse wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

^^   What Shawn said.

So, I take it you gentlemen are opposed to critical thinking? So, I should just take everything at face value? This reeks of anti-intellectualism. At what point do you gentlemen feel topics become "over analyzed"? Why are you insulting my topic and laughing at me? Can you not respond to the topic without being rude or would that hurt your brain?  

In my experience, thinking critically is only beneficial when it's applied to topics that matter.  

Well it does matter to me. As a christian, the last thing I want is to show allegiance to the devil.

This would be a good thing to ask Scott of Ultimatum, since he's in a Christian metal band. I've never seen a picture of him doing it...

^^^^^ I don't think this is real

I hear that the tooth fairy is a pretty nasty character too, be careful not to leave any change under your pillow.

Quote :

So, I should just take everything at face value? This reeks of anti-intellectualism. At what point do you gentlemen feel topics become "over analyzed"? Why are you insulting my topic and laughing at me? Can you not respond to the topic without being rude or would that hurt your brain?

Wow, you really DO have a "Short Fuse." So... it's not just a clever name.

Quote :

As a christian, the last thing I want is to show allegiance to the devil.

Oooookay, that sinks it. I'm leavin'. (Exits, stage left)

Short-Fuse wrote:

Well it does matter to me. As a christian, the last thing I want is to show allegiance to the devil.

Look up the origins of the "horns," which actually don't represent horns. They have nothing to do with the devil or religion, no matter what the satanic church wants you to believe. Best place to start is look for interviews with Dio on the subject.

There is at least one picture on NLTM of Scott flashing the horns, can't remember where it is.

corplhicks wrote:

There is at least one picture on NLTM of Scott flashing the horns, can't remember where it is.

View the evil here (twice!!)

http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/ultimatum.htm

For years I stayed away from using the "horned salute". I can certainly understand why a Christian wouldn't want to associate with that symbolism Short-Fuse. In an of themselves symbols are meaningless and have no power whatsoever. As I Christian I hold to the Scripture, "Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world". I was at a UNM football game and everyone in the crowd was doing the devil horns thing, including the cheer leaders. It was only slightly different from how most metal fans do the sign. It was a symbol of the school, and was suppose to look like a lobo (wolf). So to the school it has a completely different meaning than it does to metal fans.

Gene Simmons has been doing a similar salute since the 70's as well, holding his pick with his middle fingers and extending the outer fingers and thumb. In sign language this actually means "I love you", but to Simmons it was just a 'salute to the crowd'.

Basically I see the \m/ salute as meaning "METAL!" and not anything demonic or evil. I've done the salute from stage many times.

According to the Wikipedia page it's also a symbol for cuckoldry. So, it seems to have many negative connotations at any rate. From the Wikipedia page : "In Italy, when directed towards someone, the sign implies cuckoldry; the common Italian word for cuckolded is cornuto, literally "horned".
Of course you can't be assured of any thing you read in Wikipedia, but it's interesting none the less.

If something means everything then it can't mean anything.

It's a symbol and like any other symbol can have many different meanings. Dio told stories of his grandmother using it as it was suppose to 'ward off demons' or something like that.

The cross is a symbol as well. Depending on who you ask it will have different meanings. Upside down many people today seem to think it's a Satanic symbol. However, even the upside down cross was originally a Christian symbol and is still used and recognized by the Catholic church as representing the death of Peter, who was believed to be crucified upside-down as he did not think himself worthy to die in the same manner as his Savior.

It's an interesting discussion nonetheless.

"I leave symbols to the symbol-minded" - George Carlin

Could be horns on a steer for all I know........At least, that is what the University of Texas thinks. Dio, who made the horns popular in Metal took them from his grandma who used it as a sign to wart off evil.

I have no issue with flashing the horns and it is far from showing "allegiance to the devil"

I used to wear the peace symbol as a kid and all the elders at church loved to tell me that it was the 'broken cross' turned upside down. Even got a tract on it one time.

I found this blog/article on the subject while searching for that photo of Gene Simmons...
http://thedaily23.blogspot.com/2010/04/is-sign-of-horns-hand-gesture-satanic.html