Poll: Middle fingers

[GundamSentinel]

I do give people the finger on occasion, but never seriously. My computer gets the finger often enough.

 

[sms_117b]

I used to when I was younger, then I learned that index and middle finger (palm fasing you) is a really old British...gesture...against the French, every time I use it I also insult the French, awesome.

Spoiler: For those curious of an origin

British archers that we're captured by the French had their index and middle fingers removed so that they couldn't fire a bow again, the gesture comes from uncaptured soldiers taunting the French saying "look! We've still got our archery fingers aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah"

 

[No_Remainders]

In Bruges is a damn good film. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story with a side of dark humour.

It was probably Colin Farrell's best.

OT: Yeah, I do it sometimes for shits and giggles.

 

[Wyane380]

I like to give people the Five-Dollar Footlong. It's effective at confusing other drivers who, more often than not, hurt themselves in the confusion.

 

[revolutionaification]

The middle finger thing is not a myth as far as i know. The story I hear is that back in some war when bows were still commonly used captured archers would have their middle fingers cut off since the two fingers that they primarily use to draw the bow the middle and ring, share a tendon or something (not entirely sure), so cutting off the middle one would severely cripple their ability to shoot anymore. The capturers would then show off their middle fingers to the captured archers.

This is close but it was the middle and index fingers, hence the 'V' sign that seems to be used more frequently in the UK. Though I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who was told this (I was convinced he'd just made it up).

Personally, I do use it with my friends, usually when I'm on the phone, particularly to a family member, and they're pissing me off.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

In Bruger is a hilarious film.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

People do it all the time. It's not just a movie thing. I don't personally (well, maybe once or twice) but I've seen people middle-fingering all the time.

 

[bobknowsall]

I've used it myself, and seen it used. It's handy when you want to get the point across quietly or subtly.

It's understandable that you might never have seen it, though. It's not madly common or anything.

 

[Wadders]

I prefer to do this, usually accompanied with a cry of "jog on!"

Its more British

I only ever use it jokingly though, I never get angry enough to use it properly.

 

[Fawcks]

I've done it before. Sometimes in a card game after pulling off the move that wins me the game (Yay card games!), or in real life when verbal communication is not possible (If I'm outside the car and can't verbally express my discontentment, this works fine too).

 

[SimplyTheWest]

In Bruges is a damn good film. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story with a side of dark humour.

It was probably Colin Farrell's best.

OT: Yeah, I do it sometimes for shits and giggles.

Going out on a limb here and saying that it IS Colin Farrell's best.

And, like most British people here, I generally flick the V's preferably.

 

[HotFezz8]

yeah your stepping all over my pet hate, so please excuse me whilst i childishly shout

TOO MANY MOTHER FUCKING OPTIONS!!! YOUR NOT A COMEDIAN. NO ONE LAUGHS. ITS "YES" OR "NO".

YOU WANT TO STRETCH YOURSELF ADD A "MAYBE"

 

[GeorgW]

Yeah, everybody uses it around here (Sweden), but more in a joking sense. If you're mad at someone, you usually just hit them or you know, use your F*ing words!!

 

[Lazzi]

Only when Im mildly agrivated, usally only to people I know.

 

[Eumersian]

All the time. Especially when I get into arguments with my section leader over me staying on trombone. He's a jerk.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I've never seen someone do it in any context other than as a joke except in movies.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Not too often. I will occasionally use it but only when I'm really angry ("Fuck" I throw around all the time).

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I prefer to do this, usually accompanied with a cry of "jog on!"

Its more British

I only ever use it jokingly though, I never get angry enough to use it properly.

In Australia, we call it the forks, as opposed to the V-victory sign, which is the other way round.

Also, depending on your ethnicity, you can flip under the chin, brush under the nose to signify the other person is snooty or just give the plain old single finger.

I don't drive, so when my fiance is driving, I'm in the passenger's seat. It's my job to flip the bird to idiot drivers who put us in danger...

EDIT: Also, when done to someone's face, like to a friend, people here generally take their time flipping the bird, pretending to wind the finger up, or to blow it up...

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Pff. No. How juvenile.
It is worse than name calling in terms of childishness. "I MAD. THIS FINGER. MEAN FUCK YOU"

I do it facetiously all the time. But never seriously. It is too ridiculous.

 

[TheTaco007]

I don't think I've ever done it when I'm mad, but my friends and I all flip each other off instead of waving. (Like if you see one of your friends at a distance, instead of waving at him, flip him off.)