NationStates Jolt Archive

Anyone seen the video footage where Winston Churchill sticks his two fingers up to the crowd? What the hell is going on? I though it was an anti-French insult.

Ah what?

The V for victory sign?

worst thread ever.

Actually, the two finger flick off, or smeg, is found in much of Europe. It comes from the english longbowman. in a war they were deadly, 100 yard range of death, and no one could compete with them. So when an army would beat the english, they would cut the first two fingers off the longbowman, so they couldn't shoot the bow anymore.

The english took that into an insult to be like, screw you, I still have my fingers.

The sticking up of two fingers by Churchill was a 'v' for victory sign, not an insult.

Sticking two fingers up is an anti-French insult, or was. It comes from the fact that because our archers/longbowmen always caused huge casualties for French armies, they would capture the archers and cut their middle and index fingers off so that they couldn't fire their arrows. At the beginning of a battle, our archers would show their two fingers as though to say "Come and get 'em!"

the two finger sign is an insult in europe. it was because of the longbowmen of the english used two fingers to shoot their arrows, so if they were captured the french cut off their two fingers so they couldn't shoot anymore. so the english used to use their present two fingers to taunt the french before they got captured.

the two finger sign is an insult in europe. it was because of the longbowmen of the english used two fingers to shoot their arrows, so if they were captured the french cut off their two fingers so they couldn't shoot anymore. so the english used to use their present two fingers to taunt the french before they got captured.

... :headbang:

Actually, the two finger flick off, or smeg, is found in much of Europe. It comes from the english longbowman. in a war they were deadly, 100 yard range of death, and no one could compete with them.


The effective range of the longbow is much greater than that.

So when an army would beat the english, they would cut the first two fingers off the longbowman, so they couldn't shoot the bow anymore.

The english took that into an insult to be like, screw you, I still have my fingers.

Although this explanation is widespread, there is no actual evidence to support its truth from medieval times, and so it has to remain at best questionable. The use of the single finger gesture (which most British people presume to be an American invention) does however seem to pre-date the 2-finger sign by at least a thousand years.

Why was the title of this thread changed?

This makes me wonder about something else...

what is the significance of anime characters pulling down one bottom eyelid and sticking out the tongue?

is it some form of "the finger" in Japanese culture?

Why was the title of this thread changed?

A request was made in the "Moderation" forum: http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7809741#post7809741

Why was the title of this thread changed?

I think the author took the replies to the post as a beat-down, rather than a communal attempt at smart-arsism.

The use of the single finger gesture (which most British people presume to be an American invention) does however seem to pre-date the 2-finger sign by at least a thousand years.

So what's the story there?

So what's the story there?

"DIGITUS IMPUDICUS" appears in various Roman-aged texts, apparently. Whether the modern gesture actually corresponds to the ancient one or not is probably a matter for debate - after all, the thumbs-up=good/thumbs-down=bad gesture seems to be a supposition based on an undescribed gesture by Roman nobles and authorities used to signal pleasure or displeasure during gladiatorial combat - but evidence seems to suggest that DIGITUS IMPUDICUS did refer to a one fingered gesture representing the male genitalia.


As to why us Brits believe it to be of American origin: I guess because the two-fingered V sign (which may actually represent the female genitalia) has surplanted its use here, and for most of us growing up in the sixties and seventies our first experience of the one-finger sign would have been through US produced films or TV.

[Generic flame against thread creator]

As I have always understood it, if it is flashed with the palm to the viewer, it is V-for Victory, but if it the back of the hand is to the viewer, it is the equivalent of the finger.

This may not, however, be accurate.

This may not, however, be accurate.

Well tough luck, because it is.

Anyone seen the video footage where Winston Churchill sticks his two fingers up to the crowd? What the hell is going on? I though it was an anti-French insult.IMPORTANT NOTE: The 'V' sign with the folded fingers facing towards the crowd = Victory
The 'V' sign with he folded Fingers facing the person making the sign = European Flick Off.

Very important. many a dignatary accidentally insulted everyone when they didn't want to.

This makes me wonder about something else...

what is the significance of anime characters pulling down one bottom eyelid and sticking out the tongue?

is it some form of "the finger" in Japanese culture?Yup. Check which finger is used. the middle one. The eye is in the shape of the Female Genitilia, so the middle finger pointing to the eye is basically saying F**k you.

And it's not only a Japanese thing... 2 1/2 Men had it as well as the Movie Aliens (and I'm sure you'll see it elsewhere.)

and the tongue sticking out is just to add insult to injury.

What an extremely random thread...

I heard that in some Middle Eastern countries, the thumbs-up is a serious insult... Probably caused some sticky situations over the years...

**The Armed Republic of Lekkerheid**
Proud member of the United Sick Alliance

What an extremely random thread...

I heard that in some Middle Eastern countries, the thumbs-up is a serious insult... Probably caused some sticky situations over the years...

**The Armed Republic of Lekkerheid**
Proud member of the United Sick AllianceNever heard of that one... wonder what it means to those ME countries?

IMPORTANT NOTE: The 'V' sign with the folded fingers facing towards the crowd = Victory
The 'V' sign with he folded Fingers facing the person making the sign = European Flick Off.

Very important. many a dignatary accidentally insulted everyone when they didn't want to.

Yup. Check which finger is used. the middle one. The eye is in the shape of the Female Genitilia, so the middle finger pointing to the eye is basically saying F**k you.

And it's not only a Japanese thing... 2 1/2 Men had it as well as the Movie Aliens (and I'm sure you'll see it elsewhere.)

and the tongue sticking out is just to add insult to injury.

Thank you! I've been wondering about that for a long time.