r/AskBrits • u/Advanced-Night-9028 • 21h ago
Culture What is the age limit for waving at firemen?
So saw a TikTok of a guy listing things you shouldn’t be doing as an adult man, on was asking Lorry Drivers to honk their horn. Firstly it’s fun and I will continue ie to do this.
The main question is as a kid it’s socially acceptable to wave at firemen as it’s pure and wholesome, I am assuming as an elderly person you can also get away with waving at them as it’s also sweet and innocent.
My question what is the cut off age can I no longer wave at firemen? And what age can I start waving at them again? Or does it not matter? And do Firemen appreciate people waving of all ages?
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u/aeroncaine22 21h ago
They would probably think you have special needs.
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u/Existential-Egg-117 20h ago
I think it's fine to wave. The firemen will probably just assume you've got special needs, but that's ok.
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u/Advanced-Night-9028 20h ago
I mean I probably do but fuck it! After reading the comments the consensus is “Fuck it, wave at them”
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u/Atlantean_Raccoon 21h ago
I know a woman in her 40s who still does it, although she has received a few police cautions for sexual harassment.
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u/Ricky_Martins_Vagina 21h ago
I didn't know waving at firemen was a thing 🤨 I'm 38 and gonna start doing it though, to make up for lost time
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u/Advanced-Night-9028 21h ago
It’s great! When you’re a kid they would wave back or even honk the horn! And was something I always did but as a 30 man I didn’t know if it would be weird
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u/stuaird1977 21h ago
Maybe don't wave at them when they are doing 60 in a 30 with their blues on. For the record I've never once waved at a fireman
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u/Advanced-Night-9028 21h ago
You’ve never waved at a Fireman? You’re missing out buddy!
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u/stuaird1977 21h ago
Sounds as daft as people waving at planes
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u/CoachSevere5365 14h ago
You wave at planes to try to get them land in your playground. As a little kid I remember us waving (like landing crew) at a Vulcan bomber as it flew over our school. Looking back it was a stupid thing to do. It didn't land was because the playground was too small..
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u/Slow-Transition572 21h ago
I refuse to wave at firemen.
I don't know why we need them.
Fire men? People who go round spreading fire? Assholes!
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u/MaleficentGroup811 21h ago
“Assholes”? Don’t you have fires in America?
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u/Slow-Transition572 20h ago
Can I hide behind the excuse that I was calling them donkey pits, not anuses?
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u/repeating_bears 20h ago
it is an extremely obvious joke
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u/Slow-Transition572 20h ago
They're making a joke too, about how I said ass instead of arse - which to be fair is quite the sin on a British sub 😔
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u/sesameprawntoast50 21h ago
What do you think of policemen
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u/Slow-Transition572 20h ago
I've heard of head lice, but not po lice.
Regardless, anybody spreading any form of lice is a wrongun.
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u/CandieDahling 21h ago
No age limit, but I tend not to if they're operating a hose.
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u/Ferocious-Muppet 21h ago
Yes it could be taken in the wrong way if you wave at them whilst they've got their hose out.
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u/NetflixVodka 21h ago
What are the age limits for harmlessly enjoying your life? None.
Go for it. The world would be a better place if people didn’t needlessly judge, or give a crap about losers needlessly judging them.
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u/JeremyBeadle1980 21h ago
In Florida this year, we hired a Mustang, I was flying down the roads, giving the honk your horn arm movement.
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u/Distinct_Ad_5598 21h ago
My gf, I and some friends were having beers at a pub opposite a fire station in the summer. One of the girls with us mentioned she liked the architecture of the fire station.
There happened to be a group of firemen washing the engines. My drunk gf then dragged said friend over to the station and made her get into the fire engine for photos.
They are in their 40s….
Hope that answers your question.
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u/Kandis_crab_cake 21h ago
Don’t give a fuck about what others think, if that brings you joy it really doesn’t matter about convention or norms.
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u/mustbiteexceed 21h ago
You can wave at firefighters until your 90s. And the correct term is firefighter, not fireman. Not just PC but firefighter sounds so much cooler than fireman
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u/Separate_Heron8656 21h ago
Next youll tell me i cant wink at the man leading the funeral procession
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u/Rob1965 20h ago
I’ve never waved at firemen, but at 61 I still wave at boats! 👋⛵️
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u/Advanced-Night-9028 20h ago
I’ve never waved at a boat!
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u/Rob1965 20h ago
You haven’t lived!
People nearly always wave back! 🙂
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u/Lunchy_Bunsworth 20h ago
Depends. They might not appreciate being waved at if they are tackling a fire. Otherwise it does seem a bit of an odd thing for an adult to do.
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u/Whithorsematt 20h ago
Probably about the same ages that you stop believing in Father Christmas and start looking like Father Christmas.
Waving at people in steam trains on the other hand...
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u/Sirlacker 19h ago
Do what the fuck you want at any age as long as it's not impeding or offending anyone.
If you want to ask that car or motorcycle to rev, do it.
If you want to ask a trucker to use their horn, do it.
If you want to get excited about trains, do it.
If you want to ask the police to put their siren on, do it.
Life it too short to pretend to be whatever version of "manly" or "adult" has been decided for that week. Be happy, do the thing if it isn't harming or stopping anyone from doing something important.
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u/Infinite_Spring_3564 18h ago
There’s no ‘answer’ to this question. You think it’s fine for adults to do; others think it’s weird and childish. You’re both perfectly fine to think that. Treating this like a solid Yes/No question to which there is a cast-iron answer is annoying. Do whatever harmless thing you want and stop asking for ‘permission’.
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u/Ok-Championship2931 17h ago
Under Section 1 (1) of the waving at Fireman Code it is written in law:
The waving and smiling at fireman in the United Kingdom is only permitted between the ages of 11 and 70, anybody waving outside of permitted ages is considered socially incontinent and subject to lawful sanction.
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u/Electronic-Rope-9331 21h ago
Do you want to wave to the fireman? Then wave to the fireman. Simple. Do not care what other people think.
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u/dirtywastegash 21h ago
He should add one to his list.
As an adult man you shouldn't be telling other people how to live their life
That would kind of cut the video short though
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u/ReviewEnvironmental2 21h ago
My plan is to never grow up.
The people who matter don’t mind, and the people who mind don’t matter.
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u/Nimanjneb 20h ago
I am a firefighter (the official term as there are a lot of women also in the fire service) and we regularly get people waving at us of all ages. It’s just a sign of respect and appreciation for what we do. There is never any judgement for anyone being “too old”. It’s a nice gesture and, if the crew notice, you’ll always get a wave back. Community interaction is a huge part of what we do and we always want your experience to be a positive one with us, especially if we’re there helping you on the worst day of your life.