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The always loved ‘Wiggly finger’ pointing action was thought to be a fun Wiggles trademark. The truth behind the action will shock you!

The gesture, which involves wiggling the hands with just the thumb and index finger pointing outwards, hides a very sad fact about male entertainers who work with children.

Wiggles co-founder Murray Cook told SBS’ The Feed on Monday that the move was created to show where the entertainers’ hands were when they were photographed with children.

‘The thing of being a man in early childhood [education], when you’re a teacher in early childhood, you have to be aware that you can be accused of things,’ Murray, 58, told The Feed’s Marc Fennell.

‘In photos for instance, if there are kids there, if you’ve got your hands doing this [Wiggles finger gesture], everyone sees where your hands are.’

He added: ‘It’s a shame that it’s an issue, but it’s an issue and you have to protect yourself, as well.’

Did you realise this sad fact?

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  • This makes total sense.
    I work with special needs children and we had a guy start work last year and he refused to touch the kids in anyway. He didnt last long at the job as many of the kids cant walk without being held. But I understood where he was coming from.

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  • Well, now that I know this it does seem like a logical reason!

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  • Wow I thought it was just a way to wiggle. Never even thought that hands were an issue.

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  • Sad that it’s necessary but was a smart decision.

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  • There are a lot of sad things happening in our world these days – everyone has to protect themselves against everyone else. Its one if the reasons there are very few male teachers these days as well and it is such a pity because although women are great they don’t know everything and sometimes young boys would prefer to confide in a male not a woman, but there’s none in the school these days because they might do something to little ones. However even women do the wrong thing at times with children in schools.

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  • I saw the Feed with Murray, great he is still playing music. The hand gesture looks like what kids do or in my day used to do imitating a gun, pity they did not choose anything else.

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  • Oh, I had no idea. I agree, it must be tough being in early education (or any education) when you are a man.

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  • I never realised that but it certainly makes sense. Very sad that our world has turned into this.

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  • I always thought it was just a trademark and fun thing they did. It is sad the true reason behind this but I understand and then they can’t be accused of things so fair enough.

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  • It’s a sad fact in our society today unfortunately.

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  • Just the thumb up has always been everything is good. I have heard that different nationalities interpret finger actions in different ways.
    Motorsport has distinctive hand/finger actions according to where a problem with their car is. Others may take exception to them. It has been standard practise for many years.

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  • It’s actually sad that you have to be so careful for that what another might think / suggest.

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  • I never realised this was the reason. I thought it was just a signature gesture to do with the Wiggles. It’s sad but I can understand the reasoning in this day and age.

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  • Can’t say I’m shocked. But I am a little surprised, I always thought the finger jiggle was a Wiggles invention. A smart idea though, sad sign of our times

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  • Wow, I didn’t realise that but what a sad reflection of our times. And good on them for being proactive, acknowleding the sad state of the world we live in, and working with it.

    Reply

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