re: Horns Down Sign

FULL DISCLOSURE: This is long & for comedic purpose. If you don't do LONG, DON'T READ! If you don't have a sense of humor, DON'T READ. Otherwise, enjoy, or not.

Before we can get to the “Horns Down Sign” (HDS), we must go to the origin of the hand sign that it emulates.

“The "sign of the horns" (pointing the index and pinky fingers while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb) is the most well-known hand gesture associated with Satanism and occult practices.”

The Sign of the Horns (il Cornuto)

Modern Satanism: In LaVeyan Satanism, the gesture is used as a formal salutation or invocation. It is frequently associated with Baphomet, a goat-headed deity figure in occultism.

Wicca: The gesture is used in Wiccan rituals to invoke or represent the Horned God.

Regional Meanings: In many Latin and Mediterranean countries, if this sign is pointed directly at someone and twisted, it is an offensive gesture used to suggest a person's spouse is unfaithful.

Modern American College Sports Meanings: Used by supporters of a specific learning institution in Texas in the original upright (fingers pointing vertical) position in various arm positions (often utilizing both arms/hands).”
The supporters of this institution, particularly fans of their sports programs, claims this symbol they refer to as “Hook ‘Em Horns” colloquially represents the power & intimidating qualities of a huge male bovine creature with enormous horns (shaped similar with the Il Cornuto above).

This beast is referred to as “Bevo” as a result of an act (cow rustling) by students of their in-state rival learning institution. The following is disputed but likely true. It is said that the rivals had recently defeated the “Hook ‘Ems” by a score of 13-0 and proceeded to “brand” the score into the very visible hide of the bovine.

Panic ensued as this would certainly prevent their mascot from being on display at sporting events reminding everyone of their recent loss to their #1 rival. In accordance with the long-standing traditions of representing what they really are, the answer was obvious. Take a red-hot bar of iron and 13-0 becomes “BEVO”, with a little artistic branding technique.

Problem solved!

In the irony of all ironies, BEVO is what is known as a “steer.”

For those absent an agrarian association:

“A steer is a male bovine (cattle) that has been castrated at a young age before reaching sexual maturity. Because they lack the testosterone of intact males, steers are much more docile and are primarily raised for beef production. “Speaks volumes, huh?

Perhaps this is related to the Regional Meanings: defined above.

Epilogue:
Thus the “Horns Down” sign (HDS), or the inverted (“Hook ‘Em) emerged as the antithesis to the demagoguery associated with everything burnt orange.

Reactions from orange to the HDS have ranged from drunken diatribes & social violence to the extreme of forcing the Big 12 conference to not allow the HDS to be displayed directly to any opposing Big 12 player for any reason.

This behavior is defined by the medical community as follows:

“Megalomaniacs: These individuals use intimidation and put-downs to protect a fragile ego and exert control over others.” By-the-book you know.

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pgaddxn

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