Are pineapples really a swinger symbol? What about other swinger signs?
By now you may have heard the cute viral story of a couple vacationing last year. The wife bought matching swimsuits for tropical sunning, with the pineapple motif on his and hers. She was perplexed when they received an extra amount of friendliness from other vacationers.
Someone finally enlightened them that pineapples were a secret swinger symbol, and that there were swingers at the resort.
Someone reportedly left them a message commiserating about not knowing about these swinger code signs. “At least you didn’t bring a huge pineapple pool float to the local country club pool like we did for two years.”
Read: Swinger Lifestyle 101: All About Swingers
Pineapple Swinger Symbol
The pineapple has long been a symbol in various parts of the world for hospitality, beauty, and virility, to name a few.
A pineapple sign on the door symbolized hospitality and welcome. When sailors came home from a long time at sea, they signaled an open door to the community, meaning guests were welcome—come join the party.
Although the pineapple swinger symbol is not too serious and is something that was a bit humorous, it took off as a bona fide swinger code. Hospitality indeed!
Read: How to Find Swinger Parties Near You
While there are specific swinger cruises, where everyone aboard is like-minded and looking for a little adult entertainment, lots of general cruises have a swinger culture. Posting a cute upside-down pineapple on your cabin door signifies to others that you are swingers and open to connecting with other swinger couples for conversation, dining, sunshine, dancing, and sex.
The tropical theme fits naturally with many cruises and doesn’t stand out. And placing the pineapple swinger symbol upside down means it’s unlikely to create a mistaken assumption.
Not all swingers on cruisers post upside-down pineapples on their door as a secret swinger sign. Others prefer just to meet people and connect casually and naturally. You never know who will knock at your door.
Read: How to Find Swinger Couples
On the other hand, the pineapple motif can be a swinger sign anywhere, having made its rounds from tropical destinations to land ho. Remembering that the pineapple is a very old custom signifying welcome, don’t assume every pineapple you see means the folks behind the pineapple are swinging.
However, if the pineapple is upside down and you have other reasons as well, it might be safe to say hello and find out what’s going on!
There are pineapple socks, pineapple fridge magnets, pineapple ties, pineapple bikinis, pineapple pendants, and pineapple bandanas. Pineapples are popular. You can playfully use these to invite people to wonder, but don’t take too them seriously unless it is carefully positioned upside down and not likely by chance.
For example, there are upside-down pineapple cocktail cups for cruises and bars. These are a swinger sign, yes, but you’ll want to proceed with caution in case someone inadvertently liked the glass!
Read: How to Introduce Your Partner to Swinging
Swinger Code Signs
Code signs have long been in use for sexual practices and sexual lifestyles, as ways of signaling to others when society was closed-minded and alternate lifestyles had to be hidden and underground.
There was the famous gay hanky code, an elaborate system of right and left pocket, and various hanky colors, signaling what someone was into. There are subtle and overt signs and symbols for kink, from collaring to ownership badges and shields.
Remember that people may wear these secret swinger code symbols and signs without realizing it, so always approach with that possibility in mind.
There’s also the obvious possibility that you may not be attracted to the couple who answers the cruise ship door, so to speak, or to whoever knocks on yours, so swinger code symbols are just that—symbols, not a green light.
Read: 34 Swinger Terms and Slang Words Defined
That said, there are different swinger code signs in use.
More Swinger Signs and Symbols
The upside-down pineapple is a common swinger sign, but another one is someone wearing a black ring. This is fairly subtle and useful in general when out and about.
The Swingers Ring
Cooper Beckett, host of Life on the Swingset podcast, gave good advice at The Stranger. “If someone wearing a black ring on their right hand approaches you, start a conversation with them, ‘I see you’re wearing a black ring on your right hand. Maybe we’re in the same club.’”
The black ring can also be worn on the thumb, but Bennett advises against wearing it on the middle finger, as a black ring on your bird finger used to symbolize asexuality.
Other swinger code signs like a woman wearing an anklet or toe rings, garden gnomes outside, or a hot tub in your backyard, are way too vague and commonplace to work out well.
Toe rings are popular accessories with unsuspecting fashionistas who have no idea it has a swinger symbolism, so these codes just aren’t reliable or realistic.
Read: Swinger Clothing: What to Wear at a Swingers Party
Wedding Ring on Right Hand
One swinger code sign that is gaining more traction is for couples to wear their wedding ring on the opposite hand. This is subtle but clear. It is possible for someone else to choose the other hand for their wedding ring, say for better fit or aesthetic preference, but not common.
Read: Married Swingers Tell All: What Swinging in Marriage is Really Like
Using Beckett’s approach above if you see someone you like in the wedding ring switch is a good way to go forward. “I see you’re wearing your wedding ring on the opposite hand. I’m wondering if we are in the same club.” If you get a blank look or an explanation about gaining weight and the other hand working best, you’ll know to back off politely. But if the wearer is a swinger, he or she will let you know.
You can have fun with swinger signs and secret swinger codes like an upside-down pineapple doorknocker or a black ring on your thumb, and see what happens. But perhaps the best way to meet other swingers is still on dating sites that specialize in polyamory and swinging, or at parties with like-minded people.
Read: How to Be Swingers: A Guide for Swinging Beginners
Are you a swinger? What swinger signs and codes do you use?
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