I'm 69

rude to point…

. . .was a thing growing up.

But I don't remember my mom and dad giving a rip, lol.

I remember one of my friends say that it's to force us to use our words and not over rely on the pointing.

... I did hear "it's not polite to point." many times.

I would move on to, "... over on your left ..." sort of language.

I don’t think it had anything to do with which finger was used, but more that it would draw attention to that person from people who weren’t in the conversation and thus didn’t know the context, so that those people might jump to conclusions and decide that you were singling the person out for something bad about them.

So, maybe I recall something but not the specifics... Forgive the photo size... Only one I could find

https://mediaproxy.salon.com/width/1200/

Whenever I need to direct someone's attention toward a person, I extend my arm toward that person with a full, open hand instead of pointing with my index finger.

I cannot point. My muscles freeze if I try to. If I have to point to an object I make sure there are no humans in the line of sight before I do it.

But then, I still send thank you notes, too. Color me ancient. A dinosaur.

there are three fingers pointing back at you."

I had forgotten that bit of parental lore.

It was a polite thing. The saying was, when you point your finger, 3 fingers point back at you.

Yes, I remember. If it was a person the adults would say it was rude and impolite, other people might notice and look at person who'd get embarrassed. For other things the answer was because it was uncouth and childish.

If someone sees you pointing at them, you might spark a confrontation.

I was around a lot of older folks in the 1980's. They would pop a gasket when I pointed at something. I always thought it was ridiculous.

Is what mom would say.

My mother was the master of pointing at people, all while telling me that it's rude.

It's as if she can't talk without that finger.

Sorry you had to go through that, but, yah, us moms can have a moment of insanity now and then.

Miss Rachel (points) “What’s that?” The pre schoolers and kindergarteners are taught rudimentary sign language. I’m assuming that us repressed Irish Boomers are learning our Italian in-laws were right all along. Talk with your hands.

Maybe it was an extension of that "children must be seen and not heard thing". It called attention to the one pointing more than the other way around.

It was rude to point. I still can’t really point at a person or point out a person.

We were asked not to do things like point at strangers out in public when saying something about them, even if it wasn't anything bad. I stand by that. I used to eat out with a friend every Monday night who pointed at everything and it made me self-conscious.

Pointing out a building or what direction to go or at someone in a meeting or in a class who is answering a question - no issue there.