From Yahoo:

Apparently, the middle finger has long been considered a phallic symbol in many cultures, possibly because it is the longest of the digits. Displaying it to someone is an insult of the first degree, though the gesture seems to be one of aggression rather than sexuality. According to a contributor on the always interesting Urban Legends Archive, the upright stab of the middle finger represents "phallic domination/hostility."

Despite the popular and widely circulated story that the gesture comes from the 1415 battle of Agincourt, this ultimate insult actually dates back as far as to ancient Greece and Rome. The first written record of someone "flipping the bird" comes from the writings of Aristophanes, who spoke of it in "The Clouds," a play from 423 B.C. The Romans even had a special name for the middle finger -- they called it digitus infamis (infamous finger) or digitus impudicus (indecent finger).

Though the interpretation of the gesture varies from country to country, it is fairly widespread. In England, one might display either the middle finger solo, or the index and middle finger together (with the palm facing inward) to convey the same message. And in a recent court case in Japan, a judge ruled, "The sign of raising the middle finger with the back of one's right hand down is recognized in Japan as an act signifying insult or provocation, although it is not as common as in the U.S."

These days, the gesture is becoming more commonplace and is danger of losing some of its "badness." Witness all these celebrities famously giving the finger. It seems even squeaky clean pop princess Britney is not above displaying her longest digit. What is the world coming to?

Thats cool.  I had no idea that the Greeks and Romans flipped people off!  I should talk to my Globial Studies teacher about that one.

Sock

I must say that it is a gesture that I would never use... ...!
Over here it can be an arrestable offence if it is likely to create a conflict and cause a breach of the peace...!
A motorist can be arrested if he/she raises the middle finger in anger, when driving in traffic... ...!

So beware... ...!!
...a wave and a smile is much nicer... 8)...!
LOL...!

Cheers all... ...!
Paul.
(England).

Quote:


Hi Andrew... ...!

Raising the middle fingure to someone who they dont like, is generally done by people who WISH that they had a gun to use instead.... ...!

...it's a sad world we live in... ...!

Cheers Andrew... ...!
Paul.
(England).

I didn't know the history of this "flipping off". Whether it's true or not, I always understood the good old British V sign, with index & middle fingers extended, originated at Agincourt. The story goes that without these fingers, captured English longbow archers could safely be released as they could take no further part in the battle. The V sign was used to taunt the French by proving they still possessed these all-important digits & has been a traditional light-hearted insult since. We often used the V sign at school. As young lads we knew it was rude but we didn't appreciate its significance or history then. Winston Churchill adopted the 2-finger V sign as his "V for Victory" salute throughout WWII. I never saw it as an aggressive gesture.

I didn't come across the single-finger gesture until comparatively recently & first saw it used in Hollywood films. I always though it particularly crude & typical of the "slob" culture that appears to be acceptable today. The meaning is obvious & lacking the subtlety of the V sign. It always seemed offensive to me & indicates aggression & crudity rather than being a cheeky insult. I would never use it myself - although I might still give the occasional V sign to someone I know & purely in fun.

PS. I'm sure Fozzer is right & suspect that using these & other aggressive gestures towards other road users is one cause of the road-rage incidents which are becoming more common every day.

PPS. This is the proper V for victory sign. Despite some reports I've read, Winnie used it with the hand facing both ways.

  Hagar wrote, "I didn't come across the single-finger gesture until comparatively recently....".
  From what I've heard "flipping the bird" did not become prominent in Europe until after the Second World War.  The gestsure was probably left behind by U.S. GIs!!
  This is not to say that Europeans did not have other hand gestures of equivalent meaning.  (The clenched fist in the crux of the folded arm comes readily to mind, but there are others depending what part of Europe your from.)

  As for the "V" for sign, its meaning has change somewhat also.  Since the "Hippie" days of the late 1960's if the "V" sign is given with the palm facing out it stands for "Peace".  If it is give with the back of the hand facing out then it stands for "Victory".

  I get it now!!! Mr. Churchill was actully telling the Jerrys off!  How sly!  I was always told it was "V" for Victory, excuse me for being so dense.

  Hagar........thanks for the warning.

  Katahu wrote, "the middle finger was once considered the POINTING finger......."
  Come to think of it, I once worked with a guy from Pakistan who was always pointing with his middle finger.  It used to drive me nuts.  He was one of the nices guys I ever met so I don't think he ment anything by it, its just the way he pointed at stuff.