The man pored the camera while holding up both thumbs

Man with both thumbs up — Man with thumbs up

The same gesture may have different meanings in different countries and cultures. If it simply means something different, it can be laughed at, but if it is unintentionally insulting to the other person, it may get you into trouble.

In Bulgaria, for example, unlike Japan and most Western countries, the nodding gesture is a sign of denial. They have to nod their head and say "Nay" (No in Bulgarian). This is a little bit complicated. Or, I am a foreigner, so I am trying to understand whether they are trying to say "No" or not. But this would be a laughing matter if it happened.

On the other hand, the thumbs-up gesture is said to have insulting implications in some countries. Here in Indonesia, it has a positive connotation, as in Japan and other Western countries, but in Afghanistan and Iran, it seems to have a negative connotation. Giving a thumbs-up with a positive nuance can unintentionally offend the other person. It's a true cultural misunderstanding. It must be difficult for people to notice such misunderstandings because they don't realize that they are doing something wrong.

A thumbs up is a positive nuance that is also employed in the FACEBOOK like button. What kind of pattern does the Like button on FACEBOOK look like in such a country?

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