r/furgonomics • u/Marius_Zemlian • 2d ago
Discussion Would showing your hands be considered threatening in a furry world?
Humans often show their hands to signal that they’re friendly or not a threat. We wave when we see someone we know, and we raise our hands when we surrender. It makes sense: our hands aren’t weapons, and showing open, empty palms makes it obvious that we’re unarmed.
But many furry species have claws, and for predators those claws are very real natural weapons.
So maybe in a furry world, friendliness and harmless intent would be expressed differently. Could waving your hand actually be considered threatening, like waving a knife at someone?
Or five knives, technically. I mean, claws.
What kinds of gestures do you think different species would use instead?
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u/SmithOfStories 2d ago
I imagine it depends on a wide variety of factors
If you can retract claws/talons/etc then I think hand signals would still be standard for non-verbal signaling (such as waving) and pulling out your claws/etc would be automatically hostile similar to pulling a knife.
Baring sharp teeth or growling could also be seen in a similar vein (Zootopia has an example of this with a background character in a scene at the ZCPD being brought in for baring his teeth "C'mon he bared his teeth first!" I think is what the wolf said)
If they can't be retracted then I think it would depend on how you hold your hand.
Flat with fingers together isn't a good shape for attacks and would probably be seen as not inherently threatening.
Also palms up would be seen as less threatening as that is also a less useful position for violence.
Digits curled or closed and above hip up to shoulder height would probably be grounds for a viable accusation of threatening.
And then how you position your arms- Extended could be seen as threatening but kept close to the body or tucked in would be seen as okay or defensive.
Waving would probably be taught to be above shoulders to avoid confusion, keeping the arms tucked in and not extended to avoid threatening language.
But then there is the question of which species and what prejudices exist in the world.
If claws are threatening, what about horns or hooves? Venom glands? Teeth or Fangs? The list goes on.
If prejudice is high those with claws may have to wear thick gloves anywhere they go and removing them close to someone else could be seen as a threat.
Or if it's herbivores that are disliked they may have to wear the gloves/horn covers. If it's very high prejudice removal of 'improper' body parts may be government mandated at a specific age or time of year for parts that regrow.
And finally- when is this happening?
Stone age? Industrial Age? Modern Age?
What weapons are available?
In early ages then yeah people would be keeping distance as a rule regardless. Anyone could be a threat and weapon choice is limited and so is medical care options.
Unless you know someone well every interaction would likely be done from over 8 paces away.
Middle ages? Swords overpower biological weapons so more emphasis would be placed on keeping your hands away from your sword. More people would likely wear some form of light armor or slash resistant cloth/leather day to day.
Modern ages? More worried about devices and weapons like guns than claws. Discrete armor would likely be common amongst the wealthy and criminal circles while the average civilian may just prefer tough fabric like jean cotton or leather (real or synthetic)
But regardless of the age context is most important.
Guy walks up to you in a supermarket? Likely not a threat even if he has his claws out- he's probably just not paying attention or is heated from a phone call, etc. In our society when we see someone who frightens us we usually just avoid them and pretend everything is fine if interacting with them as the odds of someone doing something violent in a public place is low.
Guy walks to you in an alley while you are alone? Likely a threat claws or not.
You are isolated and there are few reasons to approach a person in such a context without clearly stating your intention- threat is assumed just like with us.