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I'm a vet. Absolutely not floored.

What's got you so blown away?

I learned to play that game in bootcamp... actually from a buddy of mine that was definitely not white. And it definitely had nothing to do with racism. However it had everything to do with punching the person that looks! :)
You are correct to be surprised and confused.

> And it definitely had nothing to do with racism

This is entirely the point of the gesture. They pointedly co-opted a harmless symbol to create confusing situations just like this one.

It seems to be playing out (according to plan) in two scenarios:

1) People unknowingly use the gesture and are then vilified for it.

2) White supremacists use the gesture publicly and have plausible deniability.

More info:

- https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/09/18/ok-sign-white...

- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/03/ok-sign-gestur...