When we get mad at someone we give them the middle finger...where did this come from???
88348
he first written record of the insult occurred in ancient Greece, where the playwright Aristophanes (the Adam Sandler of his day) made a crude joke mixing up the middle finger and the penis. Even back then, the bird was considered an aggressive, phallic put-down.\n\nIt has been argued by anthropologists that the finger is a a variant of a classic "phallic aggressive" gesture used by primates. By jabbing a threatening phallus at your enemy like a wild animal, you aren't just belittling him, but also making him your sexual inferior. Instead of using a real penis, civilized Janes and Platos called upon the substitute wieners within their own hands to mock, threaten, and humiliate opponents.\n\nAnd boy, did it. When the Romans imported the art, music, and culture of the Greeks, the finger came along, too. Roman Emperor Caligula, a pioneer in perversity, frequently shocked his citizens by forcing them to kiss his middle finger instead of his hand. One of his subjects, Cassius, who Caligula often taunted as being too effeminate, finally had enough humiliation and assassinated him. Clearly, the bird was not to be taken lightly.\n\nDuring the Middle Ages, the finger went underground. It was still known, but the Catholic Church frowned upon its use, as the middle finger was supposed to be holy in the Mass. The unholy insult lurked deep within the hearts of filthy- minded folks everywhere, hiding from sight until the 19th century when it began to crop up again thanks to a new invention -photography.\n\nIn 1886, Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn slipped his little finger fastball into the Boston Beaneaters team picture. The split-second art of photography could turn the once-boring painted portrait into a spontaneous work of rebellion, humor and spunk. Americans everywhere quickly got into the act.\n\nIn the polyglot, immigrant mish-mash of early 20th century America, the finger was the one symbol every man, woman and dog could understand. With the invention of the automobile, it could be delivered from behind the safety of glass & steel, and at great speeds. All the finger needs to deliver its punch is a clear line of sight. Check out THIS horizon line, baby!\n\nThroughout the 20th century, the finger has penetrated all levels of society. Roughhewn farmers did it, hippies did it, and even the Vice President of the United States got into the act. At a campaign stop for Senator Bob Dole in 1976, Nelson Rockefeller was heckled by protesters telling him what they thought of his Vietnam war policy by casting their middle finger votes. Never one to back down, Rocky just flipped it right back.\n \nConsidering the Vice-president of the USA could flip off with impunity, it is no surprise that only a few months later, an appellate court in Connecticut ruled the finger was not legally obscene, releasing it from its gilded cage.\n\nAt the dawn of a new millennium, we can rest assured this once endangered bird is thriving. Today it appears in films ("Titanic"), books (Elizabeth Wurtzel's "Bitch"), school yards, and most recently, network television (on "NYPD Blue"). Instead of shunning this "obscene" gesture, we must treasure its rich cultural heritage. We are living in the Golden Age of The Finger. Get used to it.
570313
I think it's a social thing. Ok ok ok...I know I'm going to get over analytical here, but here goes. Someone will really want to reach out to someone they would like to be friends with. But they don't know what to say. So they figure, find some common ground. Misery loves company they say....right? So if I dog our boss to a co worker...won't he have a comeback and complain right along with me? Or if I go up to someone I barely know and complain about the weather, won't they surely agree with me and help out the conversation with a complaint of their own? \n\nSad part is....it would seriously work the opposite way too. Somehow people just feel safer being on the "complaining" side than being one of the "shiny happy people" that so many want to slap. ;) And why is that? We are often jealous of someone else's happiness because we are still working to achieve our own. \n\nAren't we ever satisfied? yeahhh.....of course we are. But society will always have something to complain about just for the sake of having a common bond. :)
1143647
There is a man I work with who is terribly angry all of the time and an alcoholic.  I was curious about this same thing, so I seduced him.  His johnson was the size of my thumb.  I got up and left.  If he's angrier now, nobody can tell.  But I got my answer - and now you do too.
1065968
The term "I am with stupid" comes from and is used by people who like to stand on the bones of others...make their partner look lower to make themselves look higher.  \nUnfortunately for the couple, whether this is said in jest, and even if it is received well, it's still   REALLY    F R I G G I N    RUDE !!!\n\nA person that puts-down  a person they are coupled with  is clearly inferior inside themselves, and  needs to boost their own pitifully low ego  by using demeaning.\n\nSo sorry for that kind of person,   and truly sorry for their partner.\n\nstw
1057367
Because its oh so much easier to point the finger at someone other than ones self. After all if we examine our own behavior we might have to make an effort to change it. Remember these are the same type of people who burned witches. What can we expect form them?
330743
made a guy cry from doing it when we were small kids - but think he just cried coz I hit him at all, didn't really matter where it was.\nLater in life, had a bad Bast$rd of a boyfriend who used me as a punching bag - returned the favour one day and booted him in the bollocks as if my life depended on it - he puked!!!
1144885
Some people get easily frusterated when asked certain questions because it causes them to take a closer look at themselves. It is always much easier to for them to not deal with whatever issues they have by avoiding thier problems. Anger is a powerful emotion. O lot of people carry anger for a long time and unfortunately they become comfortable with it. It becomes and automatic response without them even knowing that they are reacting that way.
855008
Yes, you overreacted, and your response was childish - might as well run over and dump your food on her head.  \nIf someone offends you, don't assume that they will just magically realize this.  (and how is your swearing and vulgar gesture any more polite than her swearing?  two wrongs don't make a right!) \n\nWhat you should have done is gone over to her and politely said, "Pardon me, but would you please refrain from swearing so loudly?  It is disturbing other people.  Thank you."  \n\nAlso, part of your anger problems stems form the fact that you perceive this act as an attack on you, something you need to "retaliate" for.  You need to remind yourself that people do not do these things to piss you off, it is nothing personal against you.  They are simply absorbed in their own lives and actions - they are thinkig about themselves, not you... just like you.  \nPlease consider anger managment therapy, and try to let other people's rudeness be your inspiration to be more polite, not less.
1109106
Name calling debases people and shows others that you are stooping to thier level.\n\nIt shows that you lack intellegence to come up with different alternatives, instead of lowering yourself to some ones level, to bring you down.\n\nAbusive langauages hurt, and people take offense, thus it calls for retaliation when some one offends a person, that person feels they are slighted and it starts the "one upmanship" routine.\n\nIts juvenile to call people names and asnnine to debase some one no matter what they have done to you.  Uplift some one, if you REALLY want to show your intelligence, instead of destroying some ones integrity...\n\nI wish you well..\n\nJesse
1108622
How can a person with a good sense of humor be irritated?\n\n Most of us are here to learn tolerance through fun, right?
417746
I am not a professional but I sense that this is your way of taking your anger and frustration out on yourself to avoid taking it out on others.  Maybe you are angry with yourself?  I don't know your history.  At any rate, I think it would be a good idea to seek out professional help in this because it is possible that the behavior will get more damaging.
86429
cool down - getting upset isn't good for you.  Plus, if you know it's crap, why let it upset you?  Show that you are superior and let them know "hey, what you are saying just isn't making any sense!"
267192
My goodness, people jump the gun, don't they.  Don't feel stupid, because it is NOT a stupid question.  Answer 2 is correct.  It originated in INDIANA.  So "DUH" to the person that gave you a hard time.  Do research before you ridicule someone, sheesh!
609627
It DOES originate from the item a man would have been allowed to beat his wife with. If the item was smaller than his thumb, then he could beat her with it, but anything bigger than his thumb was not allowed!
1051938
when i get mad, i usually just vent out and that's it... there's no need to get even. i just talk to the person concerned (of course after i have already calmed down) so we can have this straightened out. you don't have to get even, it will make matters worse.
743506
Oh, boy.  Here's a true story for you.\n\nA teacher of my acquaintance was once insulted in class by a young lad who had recently learned how to give the finger.\n\nThe teacher was shocked, of course, but struggled to ignore the boy.\n\nWell, the boy kept it up, and the teacher sensed he was starting to lose control of the class (NEVER lose control of the class, as you know!).\n\nHe casually walked to the boy, keeping his eyes on the class, continuing his lecture.  He seized the boy's upraised finger, and held on.\n\nThe harder the boy struggled to free himself, the firmer the teacher held it.  After a good five minutes, the teacher let go, not once having indicated that he was paying attention to anything but the lecture.\n\nThe moral of the story:  don't let them get your goat!
874784
I think anger comes from hurt. Something's probably hurting you and anger & annoyance is your outlet for it.   My mom used to tell me that getting angry does not hurt the one you're angry at, but eats you inside. It made me mad when she said that (lol) but I think she was right. I wish I had some constructive advice for you, because just saying "let it go" is easy to say, but doing it is hard. the only thing I do, is when I catch myself feeling that way is to ask myself "is this even going to matter in 5 years" and most of the time it's no, and I doubt I will even remember it in 5 years, so then my annoyance kind of slips away, because it doesn't matter!