2006-12-19 01:32:33 · 20 answers · asked by ASISH H 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It's swearing, so if you did it to a police officer, you'd be committing an offence. Some people would ignore it, but others would want to make an example of this sort of action. Even spitting at someone is assault, but not everyone would have you arrested. I think the rule is that if there is likely to be offence caused, just don't do it. Or if you don't mind taking the chance of being arrested, do it.
2006-12-19 09:50:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here in America when someone gives the middle finger, it's very offensive. It means to go "f' yourself. If you ever give this gesture to a police officer, chances are you will be arrested. If someone is doing this to you on a regular basis, you might want to re-evaluate yourself and change a few things. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
2006-12-19 15:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by cookie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oct. 15, 2003, 4:59PM
`Shooting the bird' rude, crude but legal
Appeals court overturns conviction
By THOM MARSHALL
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
...wrote Coggin a ticket for the Class C misdemeanor of "disorderly conduct -- gesture."...
...3rd Court disagreed, noting "the evidence was legally insufficient to establish that (Coggin's) gesture tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace." They reversed the conviction and ordered acquittal...The court's majority opinion, filed Thursday, quoted a Merriam-Webster OnLine definition of the "bird" as "an obscene gesture of contempt made by pointing the middle finger up while keeping the other fingers down."
The jurists further explained that "the middle finger jerk was so popular among the Romans that they even gave a special name to the middle digit, calling it the impudent finger: digitus impudicus.
2006-12-19 09:52:42 · answer #3 · answered by Michael I 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The gesture itself is not illegal. A police officer or any other person may take offence and if something else is said or done it may form part of behaviour construed to be a breach of the peace. The power of arrest is conditional. If you stop 'committing the offence' ie you desist and your name and address can be confirmed there is no power of arrest.
2006-12-19 09:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
like throwuing a snowball at a police officer, rasing the middle finger at a member of the police is an ofence of which you can be cautioned for, raing the middle finger or throwing a snowball at a member of the public may just mean you end up in a coma (nobody takes to either of them lightly!)
2006-12-19 10:08:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It may just be a finger to some people but the action of it is taken as aggressive and insulting behaviour. It's not the action as such, it is what it represents in our society, like slang words.
2006-12-19 09:43:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
that state court of virginia ruled that "flipping the bird" , even to a police officer, is an expression that is considered to be free speech and protected under the bill of rights
2006-12-19 09:45:19 · answer #7 · answered by MICHAEL M 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Uh Yes, Very offensive. It is a Silent way of Cursing at them. I suggest to never do so again. Its very wrong.
2006-12-19 09:40:10 · answer #8 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure if it is illegal, but it is offensive. If you're already in trouble with the Law, that could be another count against you. My advice? Stay on the good guy's good side.
2006-12-19 09:36:07 · answer #9 · answered by Trillium 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is an offense and now a days people don't take those sort of things very well.
2006-12-19 09:38:12 · answer #10 · answered by soh_rin 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋