Finger (gesture)

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"The finger" is a very common offensive hand gesture.

In western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a popularly known obscene hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of the hand while bending the other fingers at the second knuckle. A known variation includes extending the thumb as well. A variation of the gesture is made showing someone the back of the hand, with fingers extended, and telling the recipient to "read between the lines."

The gesture is also known as "the bird", "the highway salute", "flipping the bird", or "flipping/flicking (someone) off." The gesture is mostly used as an alternate way of saying "Fuck you."

1 Origin
2 Famous examples
- 2.1 In politics
- 2.2 In popular culture
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] Origin

The origin of this gesture is highly speculative, but is quite possibly thousands of years old. It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings^[1] and reference is made to using the finger in the Ancient Greek comedy The Clouds by Aristophanes. It was defined there as a gesture intended to insult another. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. Another possible origin of this gesture can be found in the first-century Mediterranean world, where extending the digitus impudicus was one of many methods used to divert the ever present threat of the evil eye.^[2]

There is a popular story about English bowmen waving fingers at the French knights who did not manage to cut them off during the Hundred Years War. However, this is a confusion with the origins of the V sign, which are themselves in question.^[3]

Another possible origin is the phallic imagery of the raised middle finger (the middle finger being the longest finger on the human hand), similar to the Italian version of the bent elbow insult. Also, there is a variation of the finger where it can be done by performing The Fangul, by sticking out the finger during the throwing motion.

[edit] Famous examples

[edit] In politics

In some subcultures in the United States, it is known as the "one-fingered victory salute," which gained popularity after this video appeared on the Internet in October 2004, showing George W. Bush, at the time of the film the Governor of Texas, using the gesture while goofing off before beginning filming of a public address.
In Canada, showing the middle finger is sometimes called the "Salmon Arm salute" (or "Trudeau salute") after Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, because of a famous photo of him giving the finger to protesters in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. He had also used the gesture in the Canadian House of Commons. Prior to becoming Premier of Alberta, the then environment minister Ralph Klein was caught on camera giving the finger to a protester during a 1990 meeting about a contentious pulp mill project. [2]
In November 2004 President Bush visited Canada on his first official visit. As his motorcade made its way from the airport to downtown Ottawa he was greeted by many waves and signs. Some were excitedly welcoming him, others were telling him to leave. Along with the waves of greeting people were also giving him the finger. Bush responded to this saying, "I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave, with all five fingers, for their hospitality."
In 1968, captured crewmembers of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) used a discreet version of the finger as a covert signal of "obscene derisiveness and contempt" (quoted from a newspaper caption) in propaganda photos taken by their North Korean captors.^[4] The gesture was explained to the North Koreans as 'the Hawaiian Good Luck sign'.
In 2003, the influential newsmagazine The Economist featured an illustration of a cactus tree shaped as if giving the finger on the cover of its September 20 issue. The illustration reflected the cover story, on the outcome of the Cancun ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization.^[5]
On February 2nd 2007 Mirek Topolánek, prime minister of Czech republic gave the finger to Czech parliament left-wing deputies^[6] and later he explained to the media and Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic the gesture as friendly gesture towards Miroslav Kalousek, one of his cabinet ministers.

[edit] In popular culture

The United States FCC has banned display of this gesture on broadcast television as an obscenity. As a result, the gesture is often censored, and airbrushed out or replaced with large-pixel blocks. This gesture occurs frequently on television shows like The Jerry Springer Show or on music videos shown on MTV and VH1, although the popular show South Park does not censor it. This practice was explicitly parodied in the first episode of Drawn Together, where Princess Clara isn't sure if Foxxy Love has flipped her off because Foxxy's hand was pixelated at the time.
Silent film comedian Harold Lloyd can be clearly seen giving the finger in his last silent film, Speedy.
Ignignokt and Err of Aqua Teen Hunger Force are usually seen using this gesture, which remains uncensored because their 8-bit pixelated format only allows one finger to be visible anyway. Master Shake also gives Meatwad the finger on several episodes, uncensored.
The character Craig from the show South Park often gives the finger at random times, as does the rest of his family.
Country/rock and roll legend Johnny Cash famously took out an ad in Billboard magazine after the success of his album Unchained that featured a picture of him giving the finger at his 1969 Concert at San Quentin and a caption sarcastically "acknowledg[ing] the Nashville music establishment and country radio for their support."
The gesture is used by the characters Maverick and Goose in the 1986 movie Top Gun, both toward the pilot of an enemy fighter jet and then repeated to Top Gun instructor, Charlie, during class, in the explanation of the previous encounter.
The gesture is used frequently by Stone Cold Steve Austin of the WWE, who began using the gesture after adopting his "Stone Cold" gimmick in the late 1990s. After entering a ring, Austin usually climbs the ringpost in each corner, raises his arms and gives the gesture. Austin does not turn his hands, so technically he's giving the finger to everyone behind him. He also gives his opponent the finger before applying the Stone Cold Stunner.
In the sitcom Seinfeld:
- In the episode "The Pledge Drive", George Costanza's storyline revolves around his obsession with the belief that people are purposely giving him the finger.
- In one of his stand-up monologues for the show, Jerry Seinfeld questions why the gesture is considered offensive since all you are doing is showing the other person one of your fingers.
There is a recurring character in The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, an Australian sketch-comedy show on Network Ten, who pretends to pull something out of his pocket, but actually gives the other person the finger.
Comedian Dane Cook is famous for using the finger often. However, he got tired of this and began using what he calls "The Super Finger" or "SuFi" (the thumb, middle and ring finger).
Miami Dolphins fullback Larry Csonka appeared on the cover of the August 7, 1972 issue of Sports Illustrated with the middle finger of his right hand extended across his shin in a variation of the finger. Csonka received hate mail for years afterward.
The 1972 Topps Baseball Card of Detroit Tigers manager Billy Martin shows him extending his middle finger down his bat.
In the 1989 film Heathers, J.D. gives Veronica the finger after saying to her "I know what you want" during the confrontation in the boiler room. In response, Veronica shoots off J.D.'s finger symbolically emasculating him, which happens later on in the final scene between J.D. and Veronica.
In the movie "Bean", a motorcyclist gives bean the finger.At the end Bean doesn't know what it means, he thinks it's like saying goodbye so he gives the bird to the family he was staying with.
In the 2000 film X-Men, Wolverine gives the finger to Cyclops by retracting the two outermost of his three claws.^[7]
On the flash cartoon website Homestar Runner, the character Strong Bad answers an email where he discusses his favorite ways to give someone the finger, including the "Double Deuce"; giving someone the finger with both hands. [3] It is important to note that Strong Bad lacks visible fingers.
After an Atlanta Falcons loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Georgia Dome on November 26, 2006, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick made the obscene gesture at Atlanta fans, holding up two middle fingers. Vick has said, "I'm sorry and I apologize to all the young kids and to whoever saw me make that gesture. I just let my emotions get the best of me in that situation and it won't happen again."^[8]
In the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Ricky Bobby gives the finger to Jamie McMurray after winning another race.
Former NASCAR Driver Shane Hmiel gave the finger to Dale Jarrett after he confronted Hmiel in his car after an incident at Bristol Motor Speedway where Shane Hmiel wrecked Jarrett.
In the movie Click, Adam Sandler's character gives the finger to his ex-wife's husband, but he takes it back.
In the photograph that appears on the back cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's third album, Nuthin' Fancy, keyboardist Billy Powell is giving the finger.
After his underwhelming match with Goldberg at WrestleMania XX, Brock Lesnar gave the crowd and Stone Cold Steve Austin the double birds after giving him the "Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Heey heey heey...Goodbye!" chants. Austin responded back by giving Brock the Stone Cold Stunner.
After being ejected from the Jan. 20, 2007 NBA game in Charlotte vs. the Bobcats, Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith saluted the crowd with both middle fingers. ^[9]
In Dogma, Bartelby and Loki were banished from Heaven after Loki gave God the finger (not shown).
In the movie Tommy Boy, Tommy is seen speaking into a fan making Star Wars references wearing a toy glove. After David Spade's character leaves while insulting Tommy, Tommy briefly puts the toy glove back on and quickly gives him the finger.
Indian cricket team coach Greg Chappell gave the finger to supporters of Sourav Ganguly in Kolkata after he was heckled following the omission of Saurav Ganguly from the team.^[10]
Mad magazine in issue #166, April 1974, featured a hand flipping the bird on the cover with the words "Number One Ecch Magazine" across the top. [4]
In the 1997 film Titanic, Kate Winslet's character, Rose, is seen giving a smug middle finger to Spicer Lovejoy, after she escapes his relentless pursuit of her in a locked downward heading elevator, and effectively leaves him with no means of following her.
The 1987 Overkill EP !!!Fuck You!!! features the finger on the album cover.
The gesture is on the Kid Rock CDs Devil Without a Cause and Cocky.
The Red Dwarf character Kryten was the first robot/android ever to give a human the finger.
In a scene in the movie The Matrix, agents of the matrix are offering the protagonist "Neo" the opportunity to cooperate in the search for the refugees that had phoned Neo earlier. Neo sarcastically replies that that was a good deal, but that he had a better one; "How about I give you the finger (accompanying hand gesture), and you give me my phone call."
Singer Madonna was forced to re-edit the music video for her 2006 single Sorry because certain scenes showed the popstar giving the gesture to the camera. Music video stations refused to air it until the images were removed.
In the movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Kumar is seen flipping off two jocks while commentting "Thank you, come again."
In the 2007 movie Ghost Rider, Ghost Rider is seen giving the finger to a force of police as he escapes down the river.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ron gives the finger while ranting about Malfoy.
In the movie Final Destination 3, Julie Christiansen, Erin Ulmer, and Frank Cheeks can be seen giving the finger.
In Office Space, Joanna gives the finger to her boss while quitting.
The cover of the Ben Folds album Ben Folds Live depicts the entire audience giving Ben the finger.

[edit] Notes

^ Adams, Cecil. "What's the origin of 'the finger'?" Straight Dope, 4 September 1998
^ Malina, Bruce J., The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology, 3rd Ed., (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)
^ Mikkelson, Barbara. "Pluck Yew", Snopes.com, 29 September 1999
^ Russell, Stu. "The Digit Affair"
^ Issue Cover for September 20, 2003, economist.com
^ http://www.blesk.cz/Clanek69122.htm
^ That scene was one of only two inserted by original scriptwriter Joss Whedon that was retained in the final version.
^ Collier, Gene. "Collier: NFL players flip any given Sunday", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 29 November 2006
^ Associated Press wire. [[1]], 21 January 2007
^ http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/227286.html