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I'll post this in the Europe forum, as it's mostly a western gesture. If you for some reason aren't familiar with this one: you simply raise your middle finger while closing all other.
How offensive do you think this gesture is? And in what circumstances?
A few examples:
1) An unknown guy on the street raises the finger at you
2) A friend of yours raises the finger tongue in cheek at you
3) A fellow motorist raises the finger at you
4) As a spectator you raise the finger at the referee during a football game
5) Your ma raises the finger at you
In anglo countries they also have the inverted V-sign. Do you find it offensive? If you know what it is, do you find it equally, less or more offensive.
The most common comparable gesture I have seen while living in Europe involves both arms, not sure if you're familiar with that one. You place your left hand in the crook of your right elbow as you raise your fisted right hand.
Flipping the bird is more common among the younger crowd in Europe from what I have seen, but in general, these types of uncouth gestures are nowhere nearly as commonplace as they are in the US.
The most common comparable gesture I have seen while living in Europe involves both arms, not sure if you're familiar with that one. You place your left hand in the crook of your right elbow as you raise your fisted right hand.
I've seen people combine those; flipping the bird on the finger of the right hand.
That belongs to Italy mostly..they are very gestual..Also in Spain and France but not comparable. It's a Roman thing, in old Rome they had laws against digitus impudicus.
I'm not offended by it anyway but if I was then going by the examples:
1) That would be offensive
2) Not offensive at all (I do it all the time to my friends or at the poker table)
3) That would be offensive
4) I wouldn't consider that offensive, just showing displeasure at a decision
5) I'd love to see my mum do that but wouldn't consider it offensive
With the backwards V sign, I've always considered it less offensive than the middle finger and personally I prefer it but don't use it here in Finland as often people don't understand it
Actually had a strange little girl stick her middle finger up at me the other day outside a shop, I burst out laughing as it was so unexpected, certainly not offended at all! (although I think she was offended that I laughed)
"It's one of the most ancient insult gestures known," says anthropologist Desmond Morris.
"The middle finger is the penis and the curled fingers on either side are the testicles. By doing it, you are offering someone a phallic gesture. It is saying, 'this is a phallus' that you're offering to people, which is a very primeval display."
I'll post this in the Europe forum, as it's mostly a western gesture. If you for some reason aren't familiar with this one: you simply raise your middle finger while closing all other.
How offensive do you think this gesture is? And in what circumstances?
It's offensive and will cost you several hundreds euros here unless it's between friends.
I cannot even image parents showing their middle fingers to their children.
The middle finger means F off and I personally find it extremely rude and offensive. I would say that I find the middle finger more offensive than cursing.
The most common comparable gesture I have seen while living in Europe involves both arms, not sure if you're familiar with that one. You place your left hand in the crook of your right elbow as you raise your fisted right hand.
Flipping the bird is more common among the younger crowd in Europe from what I have seen, but in general, these types of uncouth gestures are nowhere nearly as commonplace as they are in the US.
Wtf is that??
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