The culture of the middle finger is something we are all familiar with today. Whether it’s from a friend as a joke or from an angry driver on the road, it remains one of the oldest and most notorious insults in human history. We can feel incredibly angry when receiving it, yet also amused when giving it to others. Undoubtedly, “flipping someone off” is one of the most powerful insults. It’s simple but highly effective, serving as the perfect way, without any words, to say (passively but assertively) : “I don’t like you.”
Origin
This gesture has existed for at least two thousand years, dating back to the Roman and ancient Greek eras. Throughout history, the “salute with one finger” quickly developed, and we, as human beings, have bestowed upon it immense power. So much so that this finger has sparked numerous controversies (for any reason, particularly in the sports world), and even deaths (possibly in road rage incidents).
At times in history, the finger received a different meaning, which is the meaning we know today: discontent towards someone or something. However, when this shift occurred remains unclear, and historians continue to debate it.
This gesture is believed to have arrived in America around the 1800s with Italian immigrants.
Charles Radbourn, pitcher for the Boston Braves, gives the middle finger in 1886. The first person to do so on camera. (Wikipedia).
Since then, the middle finger has evolved within Western pop culture, sometimes even becoming the center of some quite interesting headlines. For instance, in 1968, when North Korea captured the USS Pueblo and its crew, the sailors began posing with their middle fingers in photographs, tricking the North Koreans into believing it was merely a sign of good luck. Eventually, when North Korea realized what this act truly signified, they severely punished the crew.
Then in 1982, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (father of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) flashed the middle finger to a group of protesters while on a train in western Canada. This incident became a nationwide highlight, as from that point onward, the middle finger became known as the “Trudeau salute” in Canada. Even now, it still resonates: in 2017, a student asked Justin Trudeau’s son why his father did that (you can find the video of this on YouTube, where Justin skillfully dodged the question).
Adele gives the middle finger at the Brit Awards (Reuters)
Overall, the middle finger is certainly one of the more intriguing aspects of our society. It is undeniable that every Western citizen is familiar with it and likely will continue to be for generations to come. Its appearances in history and popular culture are quite humorous, and observing the overall evolution of the gesture is also fascinating.
However, it is we, as humans, who have given the finger its influence and power. Therefore, it could lose its meaning in the future (or perhaps not). Ultimately, that will depend on society, but it will be interesting to see how the culture of the “middle finger” continues to evolve in the future.
