| steering with the "thumb rudder"
Posted: 5/16/2008 10:19:37 PM | What I wanted to ask the ladies here at AAGal concerns holding hands as you're walking along with your g/f,SO, or wife. This has happened to me with many different former g/f, so I thought I would put it to you for clarification. What happens is you clasp hands, as you are walking, and the woman grabs the base of the guys thumb in a lock, and starts "steering" the direction you're walking ! A couple of the ladies have actually grabbed my wrist in an arm-lock and started pointing the thumb in our travel direction like a joystick.
What's up with this, is it a natural act, something you're taught mother to daughter, or something that's written up in fashion magazines ? I've responded to this more recently by pulling my hand away and saying "please stop that". Twice women I've been with claimed they didn't even know they're doing this.
I've done a thread search by all words I could think of and come up with nothing. And please, I'm curious, but would appreciate a minimum of gender bashing here, so thank you all very much in advance. | |
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| steering with the
Posted: 5/16/2008 10:23:56 PM | Yes well some men have a tendency to be lead by appendages...
*shrugs*...
Maybe its like symbolic? hehe... | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/16/2008 10:24:36 PM | I have never heard of this but if it works and will keep me ever from having to enter Home Depot you can bet I will employ this if I ever hold the hand of a man again.
seriously they steer you? wow I need to talk to my mom and find out why she didnt tell me this one - | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/16/2008 10:25:25 PM | I have never heard of this, or seen it happen.
I'm not much of a hand holder, anyway.
Besides, if we're going somewhere and he doesn't know his way, he can just follow me! | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/16/2008 11:03:53 PM | This is the weirdest question I've read on here so far.
My best guess is that maybe you unconsciously attract women to yourself who are control freaks?
When I'm holding hands with my hubby I am just so into touching him that I move my fingers around all different ways, sometimes rub my other hand up and down his arm while we're walking... wait I'm gettin sweaty....
lol. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/16/2008 11:46:05 PM | I get this question..
I do this sometimes and with my exa aalways steered him when holding hands...the reason for it?
He had no thought for whether I had enough space to walk beside him without me crashing into a wall/tree/person etc...sounds funny in hindsight..but it was actually quite a horrible experience so I have up holding his hand.
He only thought of his own space..when you hold hands you need to take notice of the fact you have two people's space to watch for. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 3:32:14 AM | I just squeeze the hand tighter and yank . I think it wakes them from a daze. Their hoping I'm not going to want to go in my favorite shop, so when they keep walking you have to "yank" them and guide them in................  The thumb thing......naw............thats sorta like leading them by the nose dontcha think? | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 3:48:56 AM | I thought this was a funny question too, but I know that people do all kinds of things without realising.... We just went for a walk, so I tried this out. My special someone: "owwwwww". Apparently, it's quite uncomfortable - and it's clearly not something I normally do, even unconsciously. However, he is a considerate chap who steers me away from obstacles, rather than into them.
If the OP keeps experiencing being steered by the thumb, I expect that it is because he's either wandering around all over the place and oblivious to where his partner wants to go, or because there's something about his thumb that makes it preferable to hold, compared with the rest of his hand - sweaty hands, perhaps? | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 4:52:29 AM | Ladies,
Thank you all for some very interesting replies. I was beginning to wonder if it was a widespread practice because it's been done so often to me. Maybe that's just a simple coincidence. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 4:58:14 AM | I have never heard of this... but on the other hand I have had a man steer me. They hold your hand tuck it under their arm and lead you in what ever direction they want. I can be led every once in a while... I think the last time was 2004...
~Charmed~ | |
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| steering with the
Posted: 5/17/2008 5:25:17 AM | Yes well some men have a tendency to be lead by appendages...
*shrugs*...
Maybe its like symbolic? hehe...
If it leads me to the promised land, I'm all for it. 
And lostgirl, what's wrong with the Home Depot? I can literally spend hours in there and some of the women that work and shop there are hot. There's probably a young stud waiting there just for you too. You should make up some BS about needed your plumbing fixed and I bet half the men that work there will volunteer to do it for you. Free of charge of course. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 5:40:18 AM | Hi ~Charmed~,
I was wondering if he maybe led you into a Home Depot? Apparently domicile upkeep and improvement isn't all that popular with the fairer sex.
I was hoping some of the ladies might relate a story or two of a guy's version of the thumb rudder. Thank you. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 5:44:18 AM | Hi Rivereye
Of course love Home Depot... I own an electric Miter saw...
I guess this is similar to having the man lead while dancing. I like it when the man takes charge in a very gentlemanly way. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 6:16:00 AM | WOW. Did I ever have thw wrong idea of what a "thumb rudder" was. 
I thought it was more like a joystick/love button kinda deal... | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 6:19:46 AM | Oh...and the "force" don't work on women either (never mind thumb ruddering).
Last night I asked some chica to come home with me...and she told me to go to hell...so I asked for a map...I laughed and went home alone...
Stupid Jedi mind tricks. 
What a scam...about as bad as those x-ray glasses I bought from a Mad magazine in 2nd grade. I couldn't see threw anyone's clothing...isn't that false advertising?
Shaba! | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 6:37:45 AM | | LOL I have never done this either but thanks so much...I had tears of laughter reading this and some of the responses!! | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 7:34:29 AM | Never experienced it, never even heard of it.
IME, when a fellow wants to 'steer', it's usually just with a light touch in the small of the back (akin to dancing) to make you aware of an upcoming directional change.
For me, I find a simple hip-check works best when I'm the one trying to steer.
HnH  | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 9:10:44 AM |
I thought it was more like a joystick/love button kinda deal
CanadianBeef---That's exactly what I thought it was!
OP...I've never done this - that I can remember. Like someone else said, maybe they were just controlling women.
Home Depot? My fav store......Yep..Lots of hot men in there!
HR | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 9:27:18 AM | | I ... have honestly never heard of this. I can't say that I've ever done it, but maybe I have. You state that two women said they didn't even know they were doing it. I don't know, maybe they -are- controlling women. That's the only explanation I can actually think of. | |
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_JAFO_
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Joined: 11/9/2007
Msg: 21 | |
| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 9:53:32 AM | I don't think it's a trait limited to one gender.
I had a s/o do that to me and I find it just as annoying as you do OP.
It sure takes the fun out of holding hands when you're being bossed around through body language. Maybe it's a control thing? | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 10:05:25 AM | This all goes to prove no one talks anymore. "Honey, I want to go into the store on the left" no need to poke or pull thumbs. Well I correct myself....poking is good. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:50:23 PM | You know, Alexis,
I wish I could argue with you there...
J A F O- was it a "grip the base of the thumb" thing? This is the first time someone has mentioned that the guys also use this particular method, and it only makes sense that some would, really. | |
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| steering with the thumb rudder
Posted: 5/18/2008 8:29:16 AM | Hugs~n ~hisses,
Ha Ha, remember "the bump"? I've got to agree with Galonthemt, "gee honey, let's go this way" seems a lot less manipulative... | |
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