A Tale of that 'Middle' Finger

C

Craig H.

#11
Actually, in Europe, if you want to show the number 2 with your fingers, you hold up your thumb and index finger. In the USA, we treat the thumb as the fifth finger, in Europe it is the first.
So, "thumbs up" and "we're number one" are expressed in the same way? Interesting...
 
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Steve Prevette

Deming Disciple
Staff member
Super Moderator
#12
So, "thumbs up" and "we're number one" are expressed in the same way? Interesting...
Yep. Actually I was taught this before a student trip to Europe. If you order a beer holding up your index finger, we were told we would likely get two beers as the waitress/waiter would assume we were also holding up our thumb.
 

harry

Super Moderator
#15
Claes post in the thread 'Letters to the editor, anyone? ' reminded me of this thread which was started by me some months back.

This little 'tale' was extracted from one of our local paper whose Editor was trying to blunt the effect/meaning of the middle finger sign which had caused much misunderstandings, fights and injuries etc in a number of 'road rage' cases throughout our country.

I don't know about you, but nowadays, when I see people raising the middle finger, I break into laughter for it reminds me of the English soldiers plucking yew! Never mind if it is historically true or not but as far as the intention (of that editor for the newspaper), I think he had succeeded.

No need to write a letter of complaint, Claes. Just laugh it off.

Regards.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
C

Craig H.

#17
But I enjoy writing such letters. Getting a laugh was the general purpouse of it... At the cost of the honking menace, naturally... :notme:

/Claes
And that is the key in this type of "battle". Getting mad and "blowing one's top" at the miscreant lends them a sort of power. We are now on the same level.

On the other hand, making the person in question look ridiculous, and inviting others to laugh at them, rather than with them, makes them a valid target for all to enjoy. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but ridicule can be a rather effective hand grenade.
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#18
Sadly, road rage continues to garner headlines - witness this story from the Chcago Tribune last week
Friends mourn road-rage victim

South Side man put a smile on your face, ex-neighbor says

By Azam Ahmed
Tribune staff reporter
Published December 29, 2006


Friends and neighbors of a Chicago man who was shot and killed in what police called an incident of road rage expressed shock and sadness Thursday, a day after his death.

Larry Watkins, 20, of the 1800 block of West 58th Street was driving along East Garfield Boulevard when he and another driver got into a traffic-related quarrel about 9 p.m. that ended with Watkins' being shot, police said. He was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m. at Northwestern Hospital from a gunshot wound in the head, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.




Police late Thursday would not say whether anyone was in custody for the shooting. Police said the assailant fled the scene after the shooting, and they described the car as a late-model, maroon Pontiac Grand Prix.

Jamahl Smylie, a neighbor of Watkins', said he was driving Wednesday night and noticed Watkins' black Monte Carlo behind a cordon of police tape on the 100 block of East Garfield Boulevard. Smylie said the car had smashed into several other cars.

"He was a real cool guy, he never had any problems with anyone around here, and that's odd in this neighborhood," Smylie said, as he and others gathered on the corner across from Watkins' building. "He wasn't in the middle of any of the violence around here."

According to his landlord, Frank White, Watkins moved into the four-unit building this summer, and he was living with his girlfriend in their five-room apartment. Neighbors said Watkins lived with an infant and a young child as well.

Watkins' family and girlfriend could not be reached for comment.

"He was respectful, and I never had a problem out of him," said building manager Charles Spearman. "He always called me Mr. Charles."

Former neighbors on the 7500 block of South Yale Avenue stood in the well-trimmed courtyard of the building where Watkins had lived previously and recalled his sense of humor. They said Watkins came back to visit every now and again.

"He used to stand out here and just talk and laugh with the people that walked by," said 17-year-old Takiela Bell. "He was a really good guy."

Siobahn Miller, 18, said she had known Watkins for a few years.

"If you came outside with a frown on your face, you went back in with a smile on your face," she said. "He kept us laughing."

----------

[email protected]
 
B

Bigfoot

#19
Claes post in the thread 'Letters to the editor, anyone? ' reminded me of this thread which was started by me some months back.

This little 'tale' was extracted from one of our local paper whose Editor was trying to blunt the effect/meaning of the middle finger sign which had caused much misunderstandings, fights and injuries etc in a number of 'road rage' cases throughout our country.

I don't know about you, but nowadays, when I see people raising the middle finger, I break into laughter for it reminds me of the English soldiers plucking yew! Never mind if it is historically true or not but as far as the intention (of that editor for the newspaper), I think he had succeeded.

No need to write a letter of complaint, Claes. Just laugh it off.

Regards.
I COULDN'T THINK OF A MORE APT PLACE TO POST THIS PICTURE THAN UNDER A TALE OF THAT 'MIDDLE' FINGER.
 

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